Caduet

There are many ways you can work toward lower blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. Diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes can help. But many patients may need medicine to reach their goals.
Do you want to do more?
A clinical study compared two groups of patients with slightly Filagra elevated blood pressure and cholesterol. Both groups treated their conditions with diet and exercise. But one group also included Caduet in their treatment.
48% of those taking Caduet reached both treatment goals in just 4 weeks. Only 2% of those treating with diet and exercise alone reached their goals in the same time.
Not all patients will reach their blood pressure and cholesterol goals. Individual results will vary.
If you want to go for both your goals, ask your doctor if Caduet is right for you. Caduet combines two proven medicines—amlodipine besylate for high blood pressure and atorvastatin calcium for high cholesterol—in one pill to significantly lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Important Safety Information
Caduet is not for everyone. It is not for those with liver problems. And it is not for women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant.
If you take Caduet, tell your doctor if you feel any new muscle pain or weakness. This could be a sign of rare but serious muscle side effects. Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take. This may help avoid serious drug interactions. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment and may adjust your dose. If you have any heart problems, be sure to tell your doctor.
The most common side effects are edema, headache, and dizziness. They tend to be mild and often go away.
Caduet Indication
Caduet is a prescription drug that combines two medicines, Norvasc® (amlodipine besylate) and Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium). Norvasc is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), chest pain (angina), or blocked arteries of the heart (coronary artery disease); Lipitor is used along with a low-fat diet to lower the LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides in the blood. It can raise the HDL (“good” cholesterol) as well. Lipitor is used to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery, and chest pain in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease such as age, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, or family history of early heart disease.
Lipitor can also lower the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with diabetes and risk factors such as diabetic eye or kidney problems, smoking, or high blood pressure.
Caduet is one of many options for treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol, in addition to diet and exercise, that you and your doctor can consider.

Caduet Drug Description

CADUET® (amlodipine besylate, atorvastatin calcium) (amlodipine besylate and atorvastatin calcium) tablets combine the long-acting calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate with the synthetic lipid-lowering agent atorvastatin calcium.

The amlodipine besylate component of CADUET (amlodipine besylate, atorvastatin calcium) is chemically described as 3-Ethyl-5­methyl (±)-2-[(2-aminoethoxy)methyl]-4-(o-chlorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-6-methyl-3,5­pyridinedicarboxylate, monobenzenesulphonate. Its empirical formula is C₂₀H₂₅ClN₂O₅•C₆H₆O₃S.

The atorvastatin calcium component of CADUET (amlodipine besylate, Womenra atorvastatin calcium) is chemically described as [R-(R*, R*)]­2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β, δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]­1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid, calcium salt (2:1) trihydrate. Its empirical formula is (C₃₃H₃₄FN₂O₅)₂Ca•3H₂O.

The structural formulae for amlodipine besylate and atorvastatin calcium are shown below.

CADUET (amlodipine besylate, atorvastatin calcium) contains amlodipine besylate, a white to off-white crystalline powder, and atorvastatin calcium, also a white to off-white crystalline powder. Amlodipine besylate has a molecular weight of 567.1 and atorvastatin calcium has a molecular weight of 1209.42. Amlodipine besylate is slightly soluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol. Atorvastatin calcium is insoluble in aqueous solutions of pH 4 and below. Atorvastatin calcium is very slightly soluble in distilled water, pH 7.4 phosphate buffer, and acetonitrile; slightly soluble in ethanol, and freely soluble in methanol.

CADUET (amlodipine besylate, atorvastatin calcium) tablets are formulated for oral administration in the following strength combinations:

Each tablet also contains calcium carbonate, croscarmellose sodium, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, polysorbate 80, hydroxypropyl cellulose, purified water, colloidal silicon dioxide (anhydrous), magnesium stearate, Opadry® II White 85F28751 (polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, PEG 3000 and talc) or Opadry® II Blue 85F10919 (polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, PEG 3000, talc and FD&C blue #2). Combinations of atorvastatin with 2.5 mg and 5 mg amlodipine are film coated white, and combinations of atorvastatin with 10 mg amlodipine are film coated blue.

SIDE EFFECTS:Dizziness or lightheadedness may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. Swelling hands/ankles/feet, tiredness, or flushing may also occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, fast/pounding heartbeat.

This drug may infrequently cause muscle problems (which can rarely lead to a very serious condition called rhabdomyolysis). Tell your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness), change in the amount of urine.

This medication may rarely cause liver problems. If you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects, tell your doctor right away: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

PRECAUTIONS:Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to amlodipine or atorvastatin; or to other calcium channel blockers (such as nifedipine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease, alcohol use.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely.

To reduce your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Limit alcoholic beverages. Daily use of alcohol may increase your risk for liver problems, especially when combined with atorvastatin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially muscle problems and dizziness.

This product must not be used during pregnancy. Atorvastatin may harm an unborn baby. Therefore, it is important to prevent pregnancy while taking this medication. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss using at least 2 reliable forms of birth control (such as condoms, birth control pills) while taking this medication. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately.

It is unknown if amlodipine or atorvastatin passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this product is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.