Avsar (amlodipine besylate + valsartan): Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

What it's for (Indications)

Treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina.
It can be used as initial therapy, add-on therapy for patients not controlled on monotherapy, or as a substitute for titrated components.

Dosage Information

Type	Guideline
Standard	Administer once daily. Initial therapy for hypertension can start with 5/160 mg, titrated upwards as necessary to a maximum of 10/320 mg once daily. Dosage adjustments can be made after 1 to 2 weeks of therapy, as the majority of the antihypertensive effect is observed within this timeframe. It can be taken with or without food. This combination can be used as add-on therapy for patients not controlled on monotherapy or as a substitute for titrated components. Patients experiencing dose-limiting adverse reactions on monotherapy may be switched to this combination containing a lower dose of the problematic component.

Type

Guideline

Standard

Administer once daily. Initial therapy for hypertension can start with 5/160 mg, titrated upwards as necessary to a maximum of 10/320 mg once daily. Dosage adjustments can be made after 1 to 2 weeks of therapy, as the majority of the antihypertensive effect is observed within this timeframe. It can be taken with or without food. This combination can be used as add-on therapy for patients not controlled on monotherapy or as a substitute for titrated components. Patients experiencing dose-limiting adverse reactions on monotherapy may be switched to this combination containing a lower dose of the problematic component.

Safety & Warnings

Common Side Effects

Common side effects include peripheral edema, dizziness (including vertigo), headache, fatigue, nausea, flushing, rash, alopecia, angioedema, palpitations, dyspnoea, abdominal pain, back pain, nasopharyngitis, and upper respiratory tract infection.
Peripheral edema and vertigo are common reasons for discontinuation.

Serious Warnings

Black Box Warning: WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY. Discontinue amlodipine and valsartan tablets as soon as possible when pregnancy is detected. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
Use with caution in patients with cardiogenic shock, aortic stenosis, unstable angina, left ventricular outflow obstruction, severe hypotension, or unstable heart failure following myocardial infarction.
Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to dihydropyridines should be closely monitored.

How it Works (Mechanism of Action)

Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle, with a greater effect on vascular smooth muscle cells. It also possesses antioxidant properties and enhances the production of nitric oxide (NO), an important vasodilator, which contributes to blood pressure reduction. Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) which selectively blocks the binding of angiotensin II to the AT1 receptor, leading to vasodilation and reduced blood pressure. The combination provides complementary mechanisms of action.