Capoten vs. Norvasc

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

Capoten (captopril) and Norvasc (amlodipine) are prescribed to treat high blood pressure.

Capoten is also used to treat heart failure, and to prevent kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes.

Norvasc is also used to prevent and treat heart pain or chest pain from angina.

Capoten and Norvasc belong to different drug classes. Capoten is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker (CCB).

Common side effects of Capoten include:

• a dry and persistent cough,
• abdominal pain,
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• skin itching or rash,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• fatigue,
• headache,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• loss of taste,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dry mouth,
• sores inside your mouth or on your lips,
• numbness in the hands or feet,
• kidney failure and
• increased levels of potassium in the blood.

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).

Capoten (captopril) is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prescribed for treating high blood pressure, heart failure, and for preventing kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes. Capoten is available as a generic drug.

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.

Capoten may interact with gold injections, lithium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, drugs that can dilate blood vessels, aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Norvasc may interact with other blood pressure medications.

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

Capoten dose ranges from 25-150 mg two or three times daily.

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.