Amlosin Drug Interactions

Cyclosporin: No drug interaction studies have been conducted with cyclosporin and amlodipine in healthy volunteers or other populations, with the exception of renal transplant patients. Various studies in renal transplant patients report that co-administration of amlodipine with cyclosporin affects the trough concentrations of cyclosporin, from no change up to an average increase of 40%. Consideration should be given for monitoring cyclosporin levels in renal transplant patients on amlodipine.
Tacrolimus: There is a risk of increased tacrolimus blood levels when co-administered with amlodipine. In order to avoid toxicity of tacrolimus, administration of amlodipine in a patient treated with tacrolimus requires monitoring of tacrolimus blood levels and dose adjustment of tacrolimus when appropriate.
Ethanol (Alcohol): Single and multiple 10 mg doses of amlodipine had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of ethanol.
Aluminum/Magnesium (Antacid): Co-administration of aluminum/magnesium (antacid) with a single dose of amlodipine had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of amlodipine.
Simvastatin: Co-administration of multiple doses of 10 mg amlodipine with 80 mg simvastatin resulted in a 77% increase in exposure to simvastatin compared to simvastatin alone. Limit the dose of simvastatin in patients on amlodipine to 20 mg daily.
CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Co-administration of a 180 mg daily dose of diltiazem with 5 mg amlodipine in elderly hypertensive patients (69 to 87 years of age) resulted in a 57% increase in amlodipine systemic exposure. Co-administration of erythromycin in healthy volunteers (18 to 43 years of age) did not significantly change amlodipine systemic exposure (22% increase in area under the concentration versus time curve [AUC]). Although the clinical relevance of these findings is uncertain, pharmacokinetic variations may be more pronounced in the elderly.
Strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir) may increase the plasma concentrations of amlodipine to a greater extent than diltiazem. Amlodipine should be used with caution when administered with CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Clarithromycin: Clarithromycin is an inhibitor of CYP3A4. There is an increased risk of hypotension in patients receiving clarithromycin with amlodipine. Close observation of patients is recommended when amlodipine is co-administered with clarithromycin.
CYP3A4 Inducers: There is no data available regarding the effect of CYP3A4 inducers on amlodipine. Concomitant use of CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampicin, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) may decrease the plasma concentrations of amlodipine. Amlodipine should be used with caution when administered with CYP3A4 inducers.