Amlodipine (Norvasc) Nursing Considerations
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Amlodipine (Norvasc) Nursing Considerations
Outline
Generic Name
Amlodipine
Trade Name
Norvasc
Indication
Hypertension, angina
Action
Blocks transport of calcium into muscle cells inhibiting excitation and contraction
Therapeutic Class
Antihypertensive
Pharmacologic Class
Ca channel blocker
Nursing Considerations
• May cause gingival hyperplasia
• Grapefruit juice may increase drug level
• Monitor blood pressure and pulse prior to and during therapy
• Monitor intake and output
• Assess for signs of CHF
• Assess characteristics of angina
• Instruct patient of interventions for hypertension and how to take blood
pressure
Transcript
Hey guys, let’s talk about amlodipine. Also known as Norvasc. This medication comes in an oral suspension and also a tablet as seen here in this picture. Remember that the therapeutic class is what the drug does in the body and the pharmacologic class is the actual chemical effect. So for amlodipine, its therapeutic class is anti-hypertensive, which means it reduces blood pressure and it does this by blocking calcium into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. Okay. So what is amlodipine’s action? It blocks the transport of calcium into the muscle cells and it inhibits the excitation and contraction that leads to things like hypertension and angina, which is why amlodipine is indicated for these issues. So a few of the side effects of amlodipine include a headache, swelling of the feet and ankles, and even dizziness. Guys, these side effects tend to be more common with the higher doses of the drug.
Okay, so let’s look at some nursing considerations with amlodipine, assess your patient for signs of CHF and angina, monitor your patient’s blood pressure and pulse. The drug level is increased by grapefruit juice. So make sure your patient is aware of this. Amlodipine may cause gingival hyperplasia, which is an overgrowth of gum tissue. So let your patient know about this. And also teach your patient appropriate hypertension interventions, including how to take their own blood pressure. Guys, I actually had a patient once who had this gum issue and it was later realized that it might be because of long-term amlodipine use. That’s it for amlodipine or Norvasc. Now go out and be your best self today and as always happy nursing.
pharmacology
Concepts Covered:
- Pregnancy Risks
- Medication Administration
- Prenatal Concepts
- Labor Complications
- Newborn Care
- EENT Disorders
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Depressive Disorders
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Postpartum Complications
- Bipolar Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Postoperative Nursing
- Cardiac Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Shock
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Vascular Disorders
- Lower GI Disorders
- Respiratory Disorders
- Urinary Disorders
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Upper GI Disorders
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Neurological
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Immunological Disorders
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Microbiology
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Hematologic Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Nervous System
- Learning Pharmacology
- Dosage Calculations
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland