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Katerzia

Generic name: amlodipine [ am-LOE-di-peen ]
Brand names: Katerzia, Norliqva, Norvasc
Drug class: Calcium channel blockers

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on May 11, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is Katerzia?

Katerzia is used in adults alone or in combination with other medicines to treat chest pain (angina) and other conditions caused by coronary artery disease.

Katerzia is also used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children at least 6 years old. Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Katerzia may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Katerzia side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, when you first start taking Katerzia, your chest pain may get worse or you could have a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as: chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating.

Katerzia may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common side effects of Katerzia may include:

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.

Katerzia side effects (more detail)

Warnings

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take Katerzia if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

It is not known if Katerzia will harm an unborn baby. However, having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications or medical problems in both mother and baby. The benefit of treating hypertension may outweigh any risks to the baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

How should I take Katerzia?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Katerzia is usually taken once per day.

Take the medicine at the same time each day, with or without food.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid). Measure a dose with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using Katerzia even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Do not change your doses or stop taking any of your medications without your doctor's advice.

Your treatment may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and blood tests.

Store Katerzia tablets and oral solution (liquid) at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Store Katerzia oral suspension in the refrigerator, do not freeze.

Detailed Katerzia dosage information

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 12 hours late for the dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

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

Overdose symptoms may include rapid heartbeats, redness or warmth in your arms or legs, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Katerzia?

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

What other drugs will affect Katerzia?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Other drugs may affect Katerzia, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Katerzia drug interactions (more detail)

Popular FAQ

Research has suggested that taking your blood pressure medication at night instead of in the morning can provide better blood pressure control at night without compromising daytime blood pressure control and reduce your overall risk of dying because of cardiovascular disease by 45%. Continue reading

Swelling from amlodipine is a common, but often troublesome side effect of amlodipine with 5% to 9% of people stopping amlodipine because of it. If you develop swelling with amlodipine, tell your doctor right away because they may be able to change your blood pressure medications slightly to help reduce the swelling. Swelling caused by amlodipine does not usually respond to treatment with diuretics (such as furosemide) because it is caused by changes in capillary pressure that result in leakage into the spaces between capillaries (called the interstitial area) rather than water retention. Continue reading

Amlodipine can take more than 8 hours to start working, because it takes a long time to be absorbed. This means it is not a good choice for lowering blood pressure quickly, and other agents, such as hydralazine, clonidine, and nifedipine XL (which work within 1 to 2 hours) are preferred. Continue reading

Weight gain has been reported by some people taking amlodipine but this is not a common side effect and some people have also reported weight loss. Weight gain with amlodipine may also be a symptom of edema, which is when you retain fluid, which may be particularly noticeable around your ankles or lower legs. The risk of edema is greater in women compared with men and in those people taking a higher dosage of amlodipine, and edema is usually noticed as weight gain. Continue reading

More FAQ

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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