Generic Name: amlodipine and atorvastatin (am LOE di peen and a TOR va sta tin)
Brand Names: Caduet

What is Caduet?

Caduet contains a combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin. Atorvastatin is a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, or "statin." It reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL).

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. Amlodipine relaxes the blood vessels, improving blood flow and making it easier for the heart to pump.

Caduet is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) or chest pain (angina), and to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors.

Caduet is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.

Caduet may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

Important information about Caduet

You should not use Caduet if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or atorvastatin (Lipitor), if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease. Stop taking this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Before taking Caduet, tell your doctor if you have ever had liver or kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, or a thyroid disorder, or if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.

In rare cases, Caduet can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Caduet will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage.

There are many other drugs that can increase your risk of serious medical problems if you take them together with Caduet. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Caduet is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Before taking Caduet

You should not use Caduet if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or atorvastatin (Lipitor), if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.

If you have any of these other conditions, your doctor may need to adjust your Caduet dose or order special tests:

• history of liver disease;
• history of kidney disease;

• heart disease;

• diabetes;

• a thyroid disorder; or

• if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.

In rare cases, Caduet can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. This condition may be more likely to occur in older adults and in people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use. Certain other drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems, and it is very important that your doctor knows if you are using any of them:

• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

• gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibric acid (Fibricor, Trilipix), or fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Lipofen, Lofibra, Tricor, Triglide);

• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) or erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin);

• antifungal medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal);

• HIV medications such as ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), and others; or

• medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others).

FDA pregnancy category X. Caduet can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not take Caduet if you are pregnant. Stop taking this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy while you are taking Caduet. Amlodipine and atorvastatin may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Caduet.

See also: Caduet pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Caduet?

Take Caduet exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Caduet is usually taken once a day, with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time each day. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Do not break a Caduet tablet. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the pill.

You may need to stop using Caduet for a short time if you have:

• uncontrolled seizures;

• an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low potassium levels in your blood);

• severely low blood pressure;

• a severe infection or illness; or

• surgery or a medical emergency.

To be sure Caduet is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

Caduet is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

You may need to take Caduet on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Caduet dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 12 hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, and severe warmth, redness or tingly feeling.

What should I avoid while taking Caduet?

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Caduet will not be as effective in treating your condition if you do not follow the diet plan recommended by your doctor.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. Alcohol can also further lower blood pressure and can increase some of the side effects of Caduet.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Caduet and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Caduet side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Caduet: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;

• fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine;

• swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all;

• severe drowsiness, feeling like you might pass out;

• fast or pounding heartbeats;

• worsening chest pain;

• chest pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; or

• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Caduet side effects may include:

• headache;

• mild muscle pain;

• diarrhea;

• mild nausea;

• stomach pain or indigestion;

• dizziness;

• joint pain; o

• flushing (warmth or redness in your face).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Caduet side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Caduet?

Before taking Caduet, tell your doctor about all other medicines you are using, especially:

• birth control pills;

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

• cimetidine (Tagamet);

• digoxin (Lanoxin);

• diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem);

• efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla);

• nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Transderm-Nitro, and others),

• rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate);

• spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide); or

• any other "statin" medication such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), or simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Caduet. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Caduet.

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

Copyright 1996-2010 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision Date: 04/27/2010 3:42:47 PM.