From the Guidelines
Amlodipine 10 mg once daily is generally better than 5 mg twice daily for blood pressure control. The once-daily dosing provides effective 24-hour blood pressure control due to Amlodipine's long half-life of 30-50 hours, which maintains steady blood levels throughout the day 1. This single daily dose promotes better medication adherence compared to twice-daily regimens, as patients are less likely to miss doses.
Key Points to Consider
- Pharmacologically, Amlodipine works by blocking calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle, causing vasodilation and reducing peripheral resistance, which lowers blood pressure 1.
- The 10 mg once-daily dose achieves the same total daily amount with simplified administration.
- When starting Amlodipine, begin with 5 mg once daily and increase to 10 mg if needed after 7-14 days, monitoring for side effects like peripheral edema, headache, or flushing.
- Take it at the same time each day, with or without food, for consistent blood levels and optimal blood pressure control.
Additional Considerations
- Using long-acting Amlodipine as a first-line calcium channel blocker is recommended for effective blood pressure control 1.
- Monthly visits until blood pressure target is achieved, and replacing 30-day prescriptions with 90-day refills can also enhance blood pressure management 1.
From the Research
Amlodipine Dosage for BP Control
- The effectiveness of Amlodipine in controlling blood pressure (BP) has been studied in various research papers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that can be used once daily in hypertension, with a starting dose of 5 mg once daily, and can be adjusted to 10 mg if necessary 2.
- The pharmacokinetics of Amlodipine allow for effective blood levels to be maintained throughout the dosing interval, providing good control of blood pressure 3.
Comparison of Amlodipine 10 mg Once Daily and 5 mg Twice Daily
- There is no direct comparison of Amlodipine 10 mg once daily and 5 mg twice daily in the provided research papers.
- However, studies have shown that Amlodipine has a long half-life (35-50 h) and duration of action, which allows it to sustain its anti-hypertensive effect for more than 24 h following a single dose 4.
- Amlodipine's ability to control BP for 24 h after once-daily dosing has been demonstrated in several studies 5, 6.
BP Control with Amlodipine
- Amlodipine effectively reduces blood pressure throughout the whole 24-h period without altering the normal circadian pattern 5, 6.
- The mean daytime and nighttime blood pressure are reduced with Amlodipine treatment, with no significant change in heart rate 5, 6.
- Amlodipine is well tolerated, although side effects such as edema, palpitations, dizziness, and flushing are more common with the higher dose of 10 mg 4.