Norvasc

Norvasc is a drug licensed to treat high blood pressure, angina, and coronary artery disease. This prescription drug is a form of calcium channel blocker that helps slow down the rate at which calcium moves into your heart and blood vessel walls, which relaxes the vessels and allows better blood flow. Potential side effects of Norvasc include swelling, dizziness, and nausea.

Norvasc Medicine

What Is Norvasc?

Norvasc^® (amlodipine besylate) is a prescription medication used to treat various conditions of the heart and blood vessels.

Who Makes It?

Norvasc is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc.

What Is Norvasc Used For?

The medication has been licensed for several uses. These uses for Norvasc include:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart disease (also known as coronary artery disease), including:

Angina (chest pain), including exercise-induced angina (also known as chronic stable angina or exertional angina) and vasospastic angina (also known as Prinzmetal's or variant angina)

Coronary artery disease in people who do not have congestive heart failure.

(Click Norvasc Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

How Does It Work?

Norvasc is part of a class of drugs called

calcium channel blockers. It helps slow down the rate at which calcium moves into your heart and into the blood vessel walls. This, in turn, helps to relax the vessels, which allows better blood flow and causes lower blood pressure. It also makes it easier for the heart to pump blood.

There are two basic types of calcium channel blockers: dihydropyridine and non-dihydropyridine. The most important difference between the two types is that non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers can slow down the heart rate, while dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers do not. Norvasc is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, which means that it does not have an effect on heart rate.

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