Amlodipine (Norvasc) Nursing Considerations

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.