Exforge vs. Norvasc

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) and Norvasc (amlodipine) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

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

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

Both Exforge and Norvasc contain a calcium channel blocker. Exforge also contains an angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

Side effects of Exforge and Norvasc that are similar include dizziness, lightheadedness, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

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

Side effects of Norvasc that are different from Exforge include headache, swelling (edema) of the ankles or feet, drowsiness, tired feeling, nausea, and abdominal or stomach pain.

Both Exforge and Norvasc may interact with heart medications, other medications that lower blood pressure, and "statins."

Exforge may also interact with alcohol, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, vitamin or mineral supplements that contain potassium, diuretics (water pills), other cholesterol medications, cyclosporine, lithium, ritonavir, antibiotics, antifungals, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Norvasc may also interact with nitroglycerin.

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 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).

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.

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.

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.

Norvasc may interact with other blood pressure medications.

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

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 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.