Norvasc vs. Prinivil

• Are Norvasc and Prinivil the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Norvasc?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Prinivil?
• What is Norvasc?
• What is Prinivil?
• What Drugs Interact with Norvasc?
• What Drugs Interact with Prinivil?
• How Should Norvasc Be Taken?
• How Should Prinivil Be Taken?

Norvasc (amlodipine) and Prinivil (lisinopril) are both used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Norvasc is also prescribed for the prevention and treatment of heart pain or chest pain from angina.

Prinivil is also used to treat heart failure, and as supportive treatment in patients that suffer a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Norvasc and Prinivil belong to different drug classes. Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker (CCB) and Prinivil is a long-acting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

Common side effects of Norvasc include:

• headache,
• swelling (edema) of the ankles or feet,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• nausea,
• abdominal or stomach pain, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Common side effects of Prinivil include:

• Cough,
• Headache,
• Dizziness,
• Depressed mood,
• Drowsiness,
• Nausea,
• Upset stomach,
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhea, and
• Mild itching or skin rash.

Norvasc (amlodipine) is a calcium channel blocker (CCB) prescribed for the prevention and treatment of heart pain or chest pain from angina, and for the treatment of high blood pressure.

Prinivil (lisinopril) is a long-acting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat hypertension, heart failure, and supportive treatment in patients that suffer a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Prinivil is available in generic form.

Norvasc may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Norvasc may also interact with simvastatin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, diltiazem, and cyclosporine, or other heart medications.

Prinivil may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Prinivil may also interact with gold injections, lithium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, oral insulin or diabetes medications, aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or diuretics (water pills).

The usual initial antihypertensive oral dose of Norvasc is 5 mg once daily, and the maximum dose is 10 mg once daily. Norvasc dosages may need to be lowered in patients with liver dysfunction.

Prinivil is available in doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg tablets for oral use. Hypertensive patients usually start with 10 mg once a day and are often increased to 20 mg. Patients with renal failure or are on diuretics start at lower doses such as 2.5 to 5 mg.

Heart attack and heart failure patients also start out with low doses of 5 mg one per day.

Prinivil is not recommended for use in children <6 years old or those that have a glomerular filtration rate <30 mL per min; pediatric doses are determined by weight.