Why is Amlodipine Banned in Canada?

Have you ever heard of a drug or medication called amlodipine? You might, and also might not have heard about it. Or are there theories or speculations that you have heard about this drug and you wanna verify?  

Are you a Canadian resident and you want to confirm if amlodipine is available or has been banned in Canada? Then don't worry, this article will answer all these questions.

Amlodipine medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agencies in some regions of the world but is still banned in certain regions. This article tells you what this drug is, its uses, and its side effects, and this post majorly focuses on if this drug has been banned in Canada, and why it is or not. 

Just read through this post and get educated on vital things you should know about amlodipine.

Firstly, What Is Amlodipine?

Amlodipine belongs to the calcium channel blocker class of medicines.  It is used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), and certain types of heart failure.

It works by relaxing your blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through them.

Amlodipine, or Amlodipine Besylate, has been available as an effective treatment for high blood pressure since 1989.

Amlodipine acts to lower the heart rate and relax the muscles around the blood vessels, which helps to reduce blood pressure and make people less likely to suffer from stroke or heart attack. 

Read Also: Heart Palpitations

What is amlodipine used for?

Amlodipine is a medication that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It works by relaxing blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure. It also makes your heartbeat slow. 

This drug works by slowing down calcium entry into your cells. Calcium channels are proteins that normally allow calcium to enter your heart and smooth muscle cells, enabling them to contract.

Amlodipine works by blocking these channels from doing so, which relaxes (widens) blood vessels and allows blood to flow more easily through them. 

Amlodipine is used for hypertension, chest pain (angina), certain types of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), and other conditions.

It’s also sometimes used before surgery or procedures such as angioplasty to help prevent chest pain caused by coronary artery spasms. Amlodipine can be taken alone or with other medicines. 

What are the dangers of taking amlodipine?

Though amlodipine can provide relief in some cases, it has some serious side effects that make it risky to use in many instances.

As with any medication, there are certain side effects that you should watch out for. The more serious of these include abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), which can lead to heart failure or even death.

Anyone taking amlodipine should be watched closely for signs of arrhythmia, including irregular heart rate, palpitations, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

The dangers of taking amlodipine include fainting, low blood pressure, and irregular heart rate. Because it can harm your heart, you must have a doctor supervise your use of amlodipine. 

If you’re going to be participating in any type of physical activity while using amlodipine, then always check with your doctor first.

You may also experience some side effects from taking amlodipine, such as stomach pain or dizziness.

Other side effects include leg cramps and headaches, though these are less severe than arrhythmias.

In addition, some people have reported feeling lightheaded after taking amlodipine. Other side effects that you should be aware of are less serious, but can still be bothersome. 

These include nausea, dizziness, weakness, or muscle cramps. Some people also experience constipation or dry mouth after taking amlodipine.

If any of these symptoms persist or worsen, you should contact your doctor immediately. The most common side effect reported by those who take amlodipine is drowsiness.

Anyone who experiences excessive drowsiness while taking amlodipine should not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until they have consulted with their doctor about other options for treatment. 

If you are currently taking amlodipine, it’s important to tell your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.

If you experience any serious side effects, stop using amlodipine immediately and contact your doctor right away.

How safe or dangerous is it to take amlodipine?

Like all drugs, amlodipine is safe if taken as prescribed. To be on the safe since the refractive index of this drug is quite high, and this leads to the drug being too volatile, and any deviations from the normal standard of intake could lead to complications, so just take the drug when only necessary and prescribed by your doctor

It comes with serious risks if you don't take it as prescribed. If prescribed for you, and you start taking it, and then you stop taking it, your blood pressure or chest pain may get worse, and you might get the same result if you take the drug above the prescribed dosage. This could result in significant issues like a stroke or a heart attack.

Amlodipine is dangerous for people with kidney disease. It’s also not safe to take during pregnancy because of its potential to cause birth defects.

Is amlodipine banned in Canada?

No, it is not. Amlodipine is not on Canada's list of prohibited substances. The reason why it is rumoured to have been banned is that a study alleged that women who took Calcium Chain Blockers (CCB) like Amlodipine were prone to certain types of breast cancer after a long period (10years), including the most common type, invasive ductal breast cancer.

Another large population study found significant evidence that CCB use does not raise the risk of cancer.

Much public health and regulatory authorities throughout the world have expressed worry about this research with contradictory results.

Another study on a bigger population contradicted this notion, showing that Calcium Chain Blockers did not raise the risk of cancer, with convincing evidence. Another reason is that it was recalled by the FDA in February 2020 due to faulty bottles. 

Despite these issues, amlodipine is not on Canada's list of prohibited substances. With a valid prescription, you can buy amlodipine in Canada, and border health officials will let you in with enough medication for a single course of therapy or a 90-day supply, whichever is less, of both prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Where can I buy Amlodipine over the counter (OTC) and prescribed in Canada?

If you want to buy Amlodipine over-the-counter (OTC), then legally you can’t. It's only available on prescription from your doctor or a licensed pharmacist.

Prescriptions are written by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant. You'll also need to show two pieces of ID before purchasing Amlodipine. Amlodipine is only bought with a valid prescription in Canada. 

Countries that have banned amlodipine and why they did so.

Although amlodipine has proven to be an effective medication for managing high blood pressure, some countries have banned or restricted access to it, citing side effects that could be fatal. 

Some countries and regions in Holland, the Netherlands, the UK, and Europe have banned amlodipine because it has not passed their health rules and regulations because of its risky damaging unwanted side effects. 

ALTERNATIVES OF AMLODIPINE

Other calcium channel blockers function similarly to and have the same effect as amlodipine. Lacidipine, felodipine, nifedipine, and lercanidipine are a few examples.

Other channel antagonists, such as verapamil and diltiazem, have a distinct impact on the heart.

Other blood pressure medications include beta-blockers (atenolol, nadolol), angiotensin receptor blockers (candesartan, valsartan), and calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, felodipine), and diuretics (furosemide).

Doctors are increasingly relying on multiple medications to control hypertension. 

Conclusion on amlodipine

Long-term usage of Amlodipine may cause artery and heart weakness and dysfunction. It can also damage blood arteries in the brain, heart, and kidneys, leading to stroke, kidney, or heart failure.

It can also harm blood arteries in the brain, heart, and kidneys, leading to stroke, kidney, or heart failure.

The toxicity of an overdose can be managed or treated by monitoring ECG readings, vital signs, respiratory system function, glucose levels, renal function, electrolyte levels, other parameters. and urine output.

Amlodipine overdose can cause blood vessels to dilate, severe hypotension, and an increase in heart rate. When fluid resuscitation does not relieve low blood pressure, vasopressors might be used.

Some people may not be able to take amlodipine due to other health conditions they have or because they’re on other medications.

If you’re currently pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before using amlodipine as well as if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or a history of stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions about Amlodipine

1. Is There a Generic Version of amlodipine?

Amlodipine is a generic drug. Norvasc and Katerzia are brand-name variants of the drug. A generic drug is a carbon copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name drug. The generic is thought to be equally as safe and effective as the brand-name medication.

2. Is Norvasc and amlodipine the same?

Amlodipine is an oral drug that is prescribed by doctors to treat certain cardiovascular diseases. Norvasc is the most frequent brand name in the United States.

3. Can I take vitamin D with amlodipine?

Yeah, amlodipine can be taken with other drugs, except if only prescribed by the doctor.