Vasotec vs. Norvasc

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

Vasotec (enalapril maleate) and Norvasc (amlodipine) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Vasotec is also used to treat congestive heart failure, kidney problems caused by diabetes, and to improve survival after a heart attack.

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

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

Side effects of Vasotec and Norvasc that are similar include dizziness or lightheadedness.

Side effects of Vasotec that are different from Norvasc include weakness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Side effects of Norvasc that are different from Vasotec include headache, swelling (edema) of the ankles or feet, drowsiness, tired feeling, nausea, abdominal or stomach pain, or flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Vasotec may interact with alcohol, gold injections to treat arthritis, lithium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or diuretics (water pills).

Norvasc may interact with nitroglycerin, simvastatin, or any other heart or blood pressure medications.

Common side effects of Vasotec include:

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

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Vasotec including:

• dry cough,
• loss of taste sensation,
• loss of appetite,
• drowsiness,
• headache,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea, or
• skin itching or rash.
• fainting,
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat, weak pulse, tingly feeling),
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat, body aches, flu symptoms),
• changes in the amount of urine,
• swelling, rapid weight gain,
• confusion, increased thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest,
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding,
• fast or uneven heartbeats,
• chest pain, or
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

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).

Vasotec (enalapril maleate) is an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure, kidney problems caused by diabetes, and to improve survival after a heart attack.

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.

Vasotec may interact with gold injections to treat arthritis, lithium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Vasotec is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. 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.

Dose of Vasotec varies depending on the condition being treated.

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.