Exforge vs. Azor

• Are Exforge and Azor the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Exforge?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Azor?
• What Is Exforge?
• What Is Azor?
• What drugs interact with Exforge?
• What drugs interact with Azor?
• How Should Exforge Be Taken?
• How Should Azor Be Taken?

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) and Azor (amlodipine and olmesartan medoxomil) are combinations of a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

Side effects of Exforge and Azor that are similar include dizziness or lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the medication, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Side effects of Exforge that are different from Azor include spinning sensation and cold symptoms (such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat).

Side effects of Azor that are different from Exforge include drowsiness, swelling hands/ankles/feet, hair loss, or skin rash or itching.

Both Exforge and Azor may interact with heart medications, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, vitamin or mineral supplements that contain potassium, diuretics (water pills), other medications that lower blood pressure, cyclosporine, lithium, “statins” or other cholesterol medications, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Exforge may also interact with alcohol, ritonavir, antibiotics, and antifungals.

Azor may also interact with tacrolimus.

Side effects of Exforge include:

• dizziness,
• spinning sensation, or lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Other side effects of Exforge include flushing, and cold symptoms such as runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Exforge including:

• swelling hands/ankles/feet,
• fainting,
• fast heartbeat,
• unusual change in the amount of urine,
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat), or
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat).

Common side effects of Azor include:

• dizziness or
• lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Other side effects of Azor include:

• drowsiness,
• swelling hands/ankles/feet,
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling),
• hair loss, or
• skin rash or itching.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Azor including:

• swelling hands/ankles/feet,
• fainting,
• fast heartbeat,
• unusual change in the amount of urine,
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow or irregular heartbeat), or
• severe or persistent diarrhea.

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) is a combination of a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

Azor may interact with heart medication, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), or other medications that lower blood pressure. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Azor is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to a fetus. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Exforge may interact with heart medication, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), or other medications that lower blood pressure. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. Exforge is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to a fetus. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Azor may interact with alcohol, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), lithium; or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Exforge (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Exforge (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Exforge Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Exforge is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.

The usual starting dose of Azor is 5/20 mg once daily. The dosage can be increased after 1 to 2 weeks of therapy to a maximum dose of one 10/40 mg tablet once daily as needed to control blood pressure.