Norvasc Indications

Although Norvasc is licensed for the treatment of high blood pressure, certain types of chest pain, and coronary artery disease, some healthcare providers also recommend the medication for treating other medical conditions. Some of these off-label indications for Norvasc include using it to treat congestive heart failure, Raynaud's syndrome, and migraines.

Norvasc Medication

An Overview of Norvasc Indications

Norvasc^® (the generic name is amlodipine besylate) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed to treat several conditions. These licensed Norvasc indications (uses) include:

High blood pressure (hypertension). Norvasc can be used alone or in combination with other blood pressure medications.
Certain types of chest pain (angina), including exercise-induced angina (chronic stable angina) and vasospastic angina (Prinzmetal's or variant angina).
Coronary artery disease without heart failure to reduce the risk of hospitalization due to angina and reduce the risk for angioplasty or bypass surgery.

Norvasc is part of a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It helps to slow down the rate at which calcium moves into your heart and blood vessel walls. This, in turn, helps to relax the blood vessels and allows better blood flow, causing lower blood pressure and reducing the risks that can occur with long-term hypertension (see Effects of High Blood Pressure).

For people with exercise-induced angina, Norvasc is thought to help with chest pain by reducing blood pressure, which makes it easier for the heart to pump blood.

For people with vasospastic angina, the medication is thought to block the coronary artery spasm that normally causes vasospastic angina symptoms.

(Norvasc Indications Continued: Page 2)