Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Deepika Beereddy, MBBS [2]
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Black Box Warning
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WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY
See full prescribing information for complete Boxed Warning.
*When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Azor as soon as possible.
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Overview
Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil is an antihypertensive agent that is FDA approved for the treatment of hypertension. There is a Black Box Warning for this drug as shown here. Common adverse reactions include edema, dizziness, headache.
Adult Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
- Azor is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, alone or with other antihypertensive agents , to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including the class to which this drug principally belongs. There are no controlled trials demonstrating risk reduction with Azor.
- Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management, including, as appropriate, lipid control, diabetes management, antithrombotic therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, and limited sodium intake. Many patients will require more than one drug to achieve blood pressure goals. For specific advice on goals and management, see published guidelines, such as those of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program’s Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC).
- Numerous antihypertensive drugs, from a variety of pharmacologic classes and with different mechanisms of action, have been shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and it can be concluded that it is blood pressure reduction, and not some other pharmacologic property of the drugs, that is largely responsible for those benefits. The largest and most consistent cardiovascular outcome benefit has been a reduction in the risk of stroke, but reductions in myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality also have been seen regularly.
- Elevated systolic or diastolic pressure causes increased cardiovascular risk, and the absolute risk increase per mmHg is greater at higher blood pressures, so that even modest reductions of severe hypertension can provide substantial benefit. Relative risk reduction from blood pressure reduction is similar across populations with varying absolute risk, so the absolute benefit is greater in patients who are at higher risk independent of their hypertension (for example, patients with diabetes or hyperlipidemia), and such patients would be expected to benefit from more aggressive treatment to a lower blood pressure goal.
- Some antihypertensive drugs have smaller blood pressure effects (as monotherapy) in black patients, and many antihypertensive drugs have additional approved indications and effects (e.g., on angina, heart failure, or diabetic kidney disease). These considerations may guide selection of therapy.
- Azor may also be used as initial therapy in patients who are likely to need multiple antihypertensive agents to achieve their blood pressure goals.
- Patients with moderate or severe hypertension are at relatively high risk for cardiovascular events (such as strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure), kidney failure, and vision problems, so prompt treatment is clinically relevant. The decision to use a combination as initial therapy should be individualized and should be shaped by considerations such as baseline blood pressure, the target goal, and the incremental likelihood of achieving goal with a combination compared to monotherapy. Individual blood pressure goals may vary based upon the patient’s risk.
- Data from an 8-week, placebo-controlled, parallel-group factorial study provide estimates of the probability of reaching a blood pressure goal with Azor compared to amlodipine or olmesartan medoxomil monotherapy. The figures below provide estimates of the likelihood of achieving the targeted systolic or diastolic blood pressure goals with Azor 10/40 mg compared with amlodipine or olmesartan medoxomil monotherapy, based upon baseline systolic or diastolic blood pressure. The curve of each treatment group was estimated by logistic regression modeling from all available data of that treatment group. The right tail of each curve is less reliable because of small numbers of subjects with high baseline blood pressures.
- The figures above provide an approximation of the likelihood of reaching a targeted blood pressure goal (e.g., Week 8 SBP <140 mmHg or <130 mmHg or a DBP <90 mmHg or <80 mmHg) for the high-dose treatment groups evaluated in the study. Azor 5/20 mg, the lowest dose combination treatment group, increases the probability of reaching blood pressure goal compared with the highest dose monotherapies, amlodipine 10 mg and olmesartan medoxomil 40 mg.
- For example, a patient with a baseline blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg has about a 48% likelihood of achieving a goal of <140 mmHg (systolic) and a 51% likelihood of achieving a goal of <90 mmHg (diastolic) on monotherapy with olmesartan medoxomil 40 mg, and about a 46% likelihood of achieving a goal of <140 mmHg (systolic) and a 60% likelihood of achieving a goal of <90 mmHg (diastolic) on monotherapy with amlodipine 10 mg. The likelihood of achieving these same goals increases to 63% (systolic) and 71% (diastolic) on Azor 5/20 mg, and to 68% (systolic) and 85% (diastolic) on Azor 10/40 mg.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)
Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in adult patients.
Non–Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in adult patients.
Pediatric Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric) in the drug label.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)
Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in pediatric patients.
Non–Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in pediatric patients.
Contraindications
Do not co-administer aliskiren with Azor in patients with diabetes.
Warnings
|
WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY
See full prescribing information for complete Boxed Warning.
*When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Azor as soon as possible.
|
Fetal toxicity
Pregnancy Category D
- Use of drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy reduces fetal renal function and increases fetal and neonatal morbidity and death. Resulting oligohydramnios can be associated with fetal lung hypoplasia and skeletal deformations. Potential neonatal adverse effects include skull hypoplasia, anuria, hypotension, renal failure, and death. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Azor as soon as possible [see Use in specific Populations (8.1)].
Hypotension in Volume- or Salt-Depleted Patients
- Olmesartan medoxomil. Symptomatic hypotension may be anticipated after initiation of treatment with olmesartan medoxomil. Patients with an activated renin-angiotensin system, such as volume- and/or salt-depleted patients (e.g., those being treated with high doses of diuretics) may be particularly vulnerable. Initiate treatment with Azor under close medical supervision. If hypotension does occur, place the patient in the supine position and, if necessary, give an intravenous infusion of normal saline. A transient hypotensive response is not a contraindication to further treatment, which usually can be continued without difficulty once the blood pressure has stabilized.
Vasodilation
- Amlodipine. Since the vasodilation attributable to amlodipine in Azor is gradual in onset, acute hypotension has rarely been reported after oral administration. Nonetheless, exercise caution, as with any other peripheral vasodilator, when administering Azor, particularly in patients with severe aortic stenosis.
Patients with Severe Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease
- Patients, particularly those with severe obstructive coronary artery disease, may develop increased frequency, duration, or severity of angina or acute myocardial infarction on starting calcium channel blocker therapy or at the time of dosage increase. The mechanism of this effect has not been elucidated.
Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
- Amlodipine. Amlodipine (5-10 mg per day) has been studied in a placebo-controlled trial of 1153 patients with NYHA Class III or IV heart failure on stable doses of ACE inhibitor, digoxin, and diuretics. Follow-up was at least 6 months, with a mean of about 14 months. There was no overall adverse effect on survival or cardiac morbidity (as defined by life-threatening arrhythmia, acute myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for worsened heart failure). Amlodipine has been compared to placebo in four 8-12 week studies of patients with NYHA class II/III heart failure, involving a total of 697 patients. In these studies, there was no evidence of worsening of heart failure based on measures of exercise tolerance, NYHA classification, symptoms, or LVEF.
Patients with Impaired Renal Function
- Azor. There are no studies of Azor in patients with renal impairment.
- Olmesartan medoxomil. Changes in renal function may be anticipated in susceptible individuals treated with olmesartan medoxomil as a consequence of inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. In patients whose renal function may depend upon the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (e.g., patients with severe congestive heart failure), treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists has been associated with oliguria or progressive azotemia and (rarely) with acute renal failure and/or death. Similar effects may occur in patients treated with Azor because of the olmesartan medoxomil component.
- In studies of ACE inhibitors in patients with unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis, increases in serum creatinine or blood urea nitrogen (BUN) have been reported. There has been no long-term use of olmesartan medoxomil in patients with unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis, but similar effects would be expected with olmesartan medoxomil and Azor.
Patients with Hepatic Impairment
- Amlodipine. Since amlodipine is extensively metabolized by the liver and the plasma elimination half-life (t1/2) is 56 hours in patients with severely impaired hepatic function, exercise caution when administering Azor to patients with severe hepatic impairment.
- Patients with hepatic impairment have decreased clearance of amlodipine. Starting amlodipine or adding amlodipine at 2.5 mg in hepatically impaired patients is recommended. The lowest dose of Azor is 5/20 mg; therefore, initial therapy with Azor is not recommended in hepatically impaired patients [See Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].
Sprue-like Enteropathy
- Severe, chronic diarrhea with substantial weight loss has been reported in patients taking olmesartan months to years after drug initiation. Intestinal biopsies of patients often demonstrated villous atrophy. If a patient develops these symptoms during treatment with olmesartan, exclude other etiologies. Consider discontinuation of Azor in cases where no other etiology is identified.
Laboratory Tests
- Azor. There was a greater decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit in the combination product compared to either component. Other laboratory changes can usually be attributed to either monotherapy component.
- Amlodipine. In post-marketing experience, hepatic enzyme elevations have been reported.
- Olmesartan medoxomil. In post-marketing experience, increased blood creatinine levels and hyperkalemia have been reported.
Adverse Reactions
Clinical Trials Experience
- Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Azor
- The data described below reflect exposure to Azor in more than 1600 patients including more than 1000 exposed for at least 6 months and more than 700 exposed for 1 year. Azor was studied in one placebo-controlled factorial trial. The population had a mean age of 54 years and included approximately 55% males. Seventy-one percent were Caucasian and 25% were Black. Patients received doses ranging from 5/20 mg to 10/40 mg orally once daily.
- The overall incidence of adverse reactions on therapy with Azor was similar to that seen with corresponding doses of the individual components of Azor, and to placebo. The reported adverse reactions were generally mild and seldom led to discontinuation of treatment (2.6% for Azor and 6.8% for placebo).
Edema
- Edema is a known, dose-dependent adverse effect of amlodipine but not of olmesartan medoxomil.The placebo-subtracted incidence of edema during the 8-week, randomized, double-blind treatment period was highest with amlodipine 10 mg monotherapy. The incidence was significantly reduced when 20 mg or 40 mg of olmesartan medoxomil was added to the 10 mg amlodipine dose.
- Across all treatment groups, the frequency of edema was generally higher in women than men, as has been observed in previous studies of amlodipine.
- Adverse reactions seen at lower rates during the double-blind period also occurred in the patients treated with Azor at about the same or greater incidence as in patients receiving placebo. These included hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, rash, pruritus, palpitation, urinary frequency, and nocturia.
- The adverse event profile obtained from 44 weeks of open-label combination therapy with amlodipine plus olmesartan medoxomil was similar to that observed during the 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled period.
Initial Therapy
- Analyzing the data described above specifically for initial therapy, it was observed that higher doses of Azor caused slightly more hypotension and orthostatic symptoms, but not at the recommended starting dose of Azor 5/20 mg. No increase in the incidence of syncope or near syncope was observed. The incidences of discontinuation because of any treatment emergent adverse events in the double blind phase are summarized in the table below.
Across all treatment groups, the frequency of edema was generally higher in women than men, as has been observed in previous studies of amlodipine.
Adverse reactions seen at lower rates during the double-blind period also occurred in the patients treated with Azor at about the same or greater incidence as in patients receiving placebo. These included hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, rash, pruritus, palpitation, urinary frequency, and nocturia.
The adverse event profile obtained from 44 weeks of open-label combination therapy with amlodipine plus olmesartan medoxomil was similar to that observed during the 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled period.
Amlodipine
- Amlodipine has been evaluated for safety in more than 11,000 patients in U.S. and foreign clinical trials. Most adverse reactions reported during therapy with amlodipine were of mild or moderate severity. In controlled clinical trials directly comparing amlodipine (N=1730) in doses up to 10 mg to placebo (N=1250), discontinuation of amlodipine due to adverse reactions was required in only about 1.5% of amlodipine-treated patients and about 1% of placebo-treated patients. The most common side effects were headache and edema. The incidence (%) of dose-related side effects was as follows:
- For several adverse experiences that appear to be drug- and dose-related, there was a greater incidence in women than men associated with amlodipine treatment as shown in the following table;
Olmesartan medoxomil.
- Olmesartan medoxomil has been evaluated for safety in more than 3825 patients/subjects, including more than 3275 patients treated for hypertension in controlled trials. This experience included about 900 patients treated for at least 6 months and more than 525 treated for at least 1 year. Treatment with olmesartan medoxomil was well tolerated, with an incidence of adverse events similar to that seen with placebo. Events were generally mild, transient, and without relationship to the dose of olmesartan medoxomil.
- The overall frequency of adverse events was not dose-related. Analysis of gender, age, and race groups demonstrated no differences between olmesartan medoxomil- and placebo-treated patients. The rate of withdrawals due to adverse events in all trials of hypertensive patients was 2.4% (i.e., 79/3278) of patients treated with olmesartan medoxomil and 2.7% (i.e., 32/1179) of control patients. In placebo-controlled trials, the only adverse event that occurred in more than 1% of patients treated with olmesartan medoxomil and at a higher incidence in olmesartan medoxomil treated patients vs. placebo was dizziness (3% vs 1%).
Postmarketing Experience
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Postmarketing Experience in the drug label.
Drug Interactions
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Drug Interactions in the drug label.
Use in Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category (FDA):
There is no FDA guidance on usage of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in women who are pregnant.
Pregnancy Category (AUS):
There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in women who are pregnant.
Labor and Delivery
There is no FDA guidance on use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil during labor and delivery.
Nursing Mothers
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in women who are nursing.
Pediatric Use
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in pediatric settings.
Geriatic Use
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in geriatric settings.
Gender
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil with respect to specific gender populations.
Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil with respect to specific racial populations.
Renal Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in patients with renal impairment.
Hepatic Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in patients with hepatic impairment.
Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in women of reproductive potentials and males.
Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil in patients who are immunocompromised.
Administration and Monitoring
Administration
General Considerations:
- The side effects of olmesartan medoxomil are generally rare and apparently independent of dose. Those of amlodipine are generally dose-dependent (mostly edema).
- Maximum antihypertensive effects are attained within 2 weeks after a change in dose.
- Azor may be taken with or without food.
- Azor may be administered with other antihypertensive agents.
- Dosage may be increased after 2 weeks. The maximum recommended dose of Azor is 10/40 mg.
Replacement Therapy:
- Azor may be substituted for its individually titrated components.
- When substituting for individual components, the dose of one or both of the components can be increased if blood pressure control has not been satisfactory.
Add-on Therapy:
- Azor may be used to provide additional blood pressure lowering for patients not adequately controlled with amlodipine (or another dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker) alone or with olmesartan medoxomil (or another angiotensin receptor blocker) alone.
Initial Therapy:
- The usual starting dose of Azor is 5/20 mg once daily. The dosage can be increased after 1 to 2 weeks of therapy to a maximum dose of one 10/40 mg tablet once daily as needed to control blood pressure.
- Initial therapy with Azor is not recommended in patients ≥75 years old or with hepatic impairment.
Monitoring
- Monitor renal function periodically in patients receiving olmesartan medoxomil and NSAID therapy.
- Monitor blood pressure, renal function and electrolytes in patients on Azor and other agents that affect the RAS.
- Monitor serum lithium levels during concomitant use.
IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding the compatibility of Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil and IV administrations.
Overdosage
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil overdosage. If you suspect drug poisoning or overdose, please contact the National Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) immediately.
Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Mechanism of Action in the drug label.
Structure
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Structure in the drug label.
Pharmacodynamics
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Pharmacodynamics in the drug label.
Pharmacokinetics
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Pharmacokinetics in the drug label.
Nonclinical Toxicology
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Nonclinical Toxicology in the drug label.
Clinical Studies
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Clinical Studies in the drug label.
How Supplied
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil How Supplied in the drug label.
Storage
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Storage in the drug label.
Images
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Patient Counseling Information
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Patient Counseling Information in the drug label.
Precautions with Alcohol
Alcohol-Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.
Brand Names
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Brand Names in the drug label.
Look-Alike Drug Names
There is limited information regarding Amlodipine besylate and Olmesartan medoxomil Look-Alike Drug Names in the drug label.
Drug Shortage Status
Price
References
The contents of this FDA label are provided by the National Library of Medicine.