Amlodipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers (CCBs). These medications block the transport of calcium into the smooth muscle cells lining the arteries of the heart (coronary arteries) and other arteries of the body. Since the action of calcium is important for muscle contraction, blocking calcium transport relaxes arterial muscles and expands (dilates) coronary arteries and other arteries of the body. By dilating coronary arteries, amlodipine increases the flow of blood to the heart and is useful in preventing heart pain (angina) resulting from reduced flow of blood to the heart caused by coronary artery spasm (contraction). Relaxing the muscles lining the arteries in the rest of the body lowers blood pressure, which reduces the work that the heart must do to pump blood to the body. Reducing the work of the heart also lessens the heart muscle's need for oxygen, and thereby further helps to prevent angina in patients with coronary artery disease. Combining amlodipine with sildenafil (Viagra) and similar drugs used for treating erectile dysfunction may lead to excessive reductions in blood pressure with complications, particularly fainting upon standing (orthostatic hypotension).
Amlodipine significantly increases blood levels of simvastatin (Zocor). The dose of simvastatin should be limited to 20 mg daily by patients taking amlodipine.
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