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Can Amlodipine Be Taken In Place Of Nifedipine?
Question: NifedipineXL 90mg being replaced by Amiodipine Besylate 5mg because pressure is high and have leg pain?? Was started with Procardia a few years ago but now the cost of insurance takes you to generic??
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that Nifedipine XL and Amlodipine are both calcium channel blocker, part of the same pharmacological class and have same mechanism of action and similar adverse effects.
So, there is nothing to be concerned about.
Regarding the leg pain, I would like to know if it is in one or both legs? Do you have leg swelling?
Both these drugs can cause leg swelling as an adverse effect.
Anyway, I would recommend performing further tests to investigate for the possible causes underlying the leg pain:
- a Doppler ultrasound of the leg vessels to exclude peripheral arteriopathy or chronic venous insufficiency
- a nerve conduction study to exclude possible peripheral neuropathy
- uric acid plasma levels to exclude podagra
- blood electrolytes, including calcium plasma levels
- PCR and ESR for inflammation.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that Nifedipine XL and Amlodipine are both calcium channel blocker, part of the same pharmacological class and have same mechanism of action and similar adverse effects.
So, there is nothing to be concerned about.
Regarding the leg pain, I would like to know if it is in one or both legs? Do you have leg swelling?
Both these drugs can cause leg swelling as an adverse effect.
Anyway, I would recommend performing further tests to investigate for the possible causes underlying the leg pain:
- a Doppler ultrasound of the leg vessels to exclude peripheral arteriopathy or chronic venous insufficiency
- a nerve conduction study to exclude possible peripheral neuropathy
- uric acid plasma levels to exclude podagra
- blood electrolytes, including calcium plasma levels
- PCR and ESR for inflammation.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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