What drug class is amlodipine in?
Amlodipine belongs to the pharmacologic class of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs). It is used to lower blood pressure and treat certain types of chest pain.
How does amlodipine work?
As a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine relaxes and widens blood vessels by reducing calcium entry into vascular smooth muscle cells. That lowers vascular resistance, which reduces blood pressure.
What is amlodipine commonly used for?
Amlodipine is commonly prescribed for hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain), including chronic stable angina and vasospastic angina.
Is it different from other blood-pressure “classes”?
Yes. Amlodipine is a CCB (specifically a dihydropyridine CCB), which is different from:
- ACE inhibitors (e.g., lisinopril)
- ARBs (e.g., losartan)
- Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol)
- Diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide)
What side effects are patients asking about most?
Commonly reported side effects include swelling in the legs/ankles (peripheral edema), headache, flushing, and dizziness.