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Thousands of people take amlodipine every day to control high blood pressure, but very few really know how this medication works in the body. Often, the doctor writes the prescription and the patient simply starts taking the pill without understanding what it does, how long it takes to work, or what its most common side effects are.
And knowing this information can make a big difference to your cardiovascular health.
What is amlodipine and what is it used for?
Amlodipine is one of the most widely used medications in the world for treating high blood pressure. It is frequently prescribed because it is effective, safe, and affordable.
It can also be used to help people suffering from angina, that chest pain or pressure that occurs when the heart does not receive enough oxygen.
How does amlodipine work?
To put it simply, imagine that arteries are like tubes through which blood circulates. These arteries have a muscular layer that can contract or relax.
When these muscles contract, the space through which blood flows becomes narrower, and the heart must work harder to pump. As a result, blood pressure increases.
Calcium plays a key role in this process, because it helps those muscles to contract.
Amlodipine works by partially blocking the entry of calcium into the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. By doing so:
- The blood vessels relax.
- The arteries dilate.
- The blood circulates more easily.
- The heart works with less effort.
- Blood pressure decreases.
That is why amlodipine belongs to the group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.