Blood Pressure Management on Amlodipine 5mg
Direct Recommendation
Continue current therapy with amlodipine 5mg without modification, as the blood pressure of 132/78 mmHg is at or below guideline-recommended targets. 1
Blood Pressure Target Assessment
The current BP of 132/78 mmHg meets the guideline target of <130/80 mmHg for most adults, which is the recommended goal according to current hypertension management guidelines 1
The systolic BP of 132 mmHg is only 2 mmHg above the ideal target of <130 mmHg, which represents excellent control on monotherapy 1
The diastolic BP of 78 mmHg is well below the target of <80 mmHg 1
Rationale for Continuing Current Therapy
Amlodipine 5mg is providing adequate BP control without requiring dose escalation or additional agents 2
The FDA-approved dosing for amlodipine allows titration from 5mg to a maximum of 10mg daily, but dose adjustment should be based on blood pressure goals 2
Amlodipine provides 24-hour BP control with once-daily dosing, maintaining its antihypertensive effect even if a dose is occasionally missed 3
When to Consider Treatment Intensification
Add a second agent (ACE inhibitor/ARB or thiazide diuretic) only if BP rises to ≥130/80 mmHg on repeated measurements 1, 4
For non-Black patients requiring a second agent, add an ACE inhibitor or ARB to the amlodipine 4
For Black patients requiring a second agent, add a thiazide-like diuretic to the amlodipine 4
Consider uptitrating amlodipine to 10mg before adding a second agent if BP rises modestly above target 2
Monitoring Strategy
Confirm BP control with home blood pressure monitoring, targeting <135/85 mmHg at home 1
Schedule follow-up within 2-4 months to reassess BP and medication adherence 1
Reinforce lifestyle modifications including sodium restriction to <2g/day, weight management, and regular exercise 1
Critical Pitfall to Avoid
Do not add unnecessary medications when BP is already at target—this increases pill burden, cost, and risk of adverse effects without clinical benefit 1, 4
Avoid the common error of treating isolated clinic readings without confirming sustained elevation through home monitoring or repeat measurements 1