Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. Amlodipine inhibits calcium ion influx across cell membranes selectively, with a greater effect on vascular smooth muscle cells than on cardiac muscle cells. It is a peripheral vasodilator that acts directly on vascular smooth muscle to cause a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance and reduction in blood pressure.
Telmisartan is a nonpeptide Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) that shows high affinity for the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors, has a long duration of action, and has the longest half-life of any ARB.
Cardotel Tablet : The recommended dosage of Cardotel tablet is once a day. If necessary, the dosage may be increased to two tablets daily. The dosage however should be individualized. Tablets may be administered with or without food.
Cardotel-Plus Tablet : The recommended dosage of Cardotel-Plus tablet is once a day.
Amlodipine: Since the vasodilation induced by Amlodipine is gradual in onset, acute hypotension has rarely been reported after oral administration. Nonetheless, caution as with any other peripheral vasodilator, should be exercised. While administering Amlodipine, particularly in patients with severe aortic stenosis.
Impaired Hepatic Function: As the majority of Telmisartan is eliminated by biliary excretion, patients with biliary obstructive disorders or hepatic insufficiency can be expected to have reduced clearance. Tablets should be used with caution in these patients.
Telmisartan: Impaired Renal Function: As a consequence of inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, changes in renal function may be anticipated in susceptible individuals. In patients whose renal function may depend on the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (e.g., patients with severe congestive heart failure), treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists has been associated with oliguria and/or progressive azotemia and (rarely) with acute renal failure and/or death. Similar results may be anticipated in patients treated with this tablet.
Hypotension: Excessive fall of blood pressure can occur in some patients especially the elderly. Aggravation of angina: Rarely patients, particularly those with severe obstructive coronary artery disease, have developed increased frequency, duration and/or severity of angina or acute myocardial infarction on starting calcium channel blocker therapy. Drug withdrawal: Since coronary heart disease may exist without being recognized, patients should be warned against stopping the drug suddenly. Any discontinuation should be gradual and under observation.
Amlodipine: Rarely, patients, particularly those with severe obstructive coronary artery disease, have developed documented increased frequency, duration and/or severity of angina or acute myocardial infarction on starting calcium channel blocker therapy or at the time of dosage increase. The mechanism of this effect has not been elucidated.
Telmisartan: Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause fetal and neonatal morbidity and death when administered to pregnant women. Several dozen cases have been reported in the world literature in patients who were taking angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. When pregnancy is detected, tablets should be discontinued as soon as possible.
The combination of Amlodipine and Telmisartan is well tolerated. Side effects include headache, palpitations, flushing, edema, depression, dizziness, dyspepsia, dyspnea, muscle cramps, fatigue, cold extremities and bradycardia.
Alopecia: Loss of hair
No significant drug interaction of Amlodipine with others.
Digoxin: When telmisartan was coadministered with digoxin, median increases in digoxin peak plasma concentration (49%) and in trough concentration (20%) were observed. It is, therefore, recommended that digoxin levels be monitored when initiating, adjusting, and discontinuing telmisartan to avoid possible over or under-digitalization.
Warfarin: Telmisartan administered for 10 days slightly decreased the mean warfarin trough plasma concentration; this decrease did not result in a change in International Normalized Ratio (INR).
Other Drugs: Coadministration of telmisartan did not result in a clinically significant interaction with acetaminophen, amlodipine, glibenclamide, simvastatin, hydrochlorothiazide or ibuprofen. Telmisartan is not metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system and had no effects in vitro on cytochrome P450 enzymes, except for some inhibition of CYP2C19. Telmisartan is not expected to interact with drugs that inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes; it is also not expected to interact with drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, except for possible inhibition of the metabolism of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.
Pregnancy: The combination should preferably not be given during pregnancy. However it can be used in pregnancy only if the expected benefit outweighs the potential foetal risk.
Lactation: It is not known whether amlodipine is excreted in human milk. In the absence of this information, it is recommended that nursing be discontinued while this tablet is administered.It is not known whether telmisartan is excreted in human milk, but telmisartan was shown to be present in the milk of lactating rats. Because of the potential for adverse effects on the nursing infant, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.