What It Is
Amlodipine belongs to a class of medicines called calcium channel blockers, specifically a subgroup often used for their effects on blood vessels.
What It's Used For
Amlodipine is generally used to help manage high blood pressure and certain types of chest pain related to reduced blood flow to the heart.
How It Works
Amlodipine works by blocking calcium channels found in the smooth muscle cells that line blood vessel walls. Normally, calcium entering these cells triggers muscle contraction, which narrows blood vessels. By blocking this calcium entry, amlodipine causes the smooth muscle in blood vessel walls to relax, allowing vessels to widen. This widening reduces resistance to blood flow, which in turn helps lower blood pressure and can improve blood flow to the heart muscle itself.
History and Regulatory Status
Amlodipine was developed by a British pharmaceutical company and was introduced for clinical use in the early 1990s. It was notable at the time for having a longer duration of action than many earlier calcium channel blockers, allowing for once-daily use. It became one of the best-selling medicines in the world during the years following its introduction, largely due to the widespread prevalence of high blood pressure as a health condition globally. Since its patent protection expired in the mid-2000s, it has become widely available as a generic medicine and remains one of the most commonly prescribed blood pressure medicines worldwide.