Amlodipine is a prescription medication that can be used to lower blood pressure. The effectiveness of this medication can be affected by mineral supplementation, especially calcium supplements. You should talk to your doctor before taking calcium supplements, especially if you are taking amlodipine or related medications.
Calcium Physiology
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and serves a variety of purposes. Most of the calcium in your body is stored in your bones and teeth, which are used as a reservoir to keep calcium levels in your blood and cells stable. You may take calcium supplements if you have concerns about osteoporosis, a condition that causes your bones to become brittle and break more easily. Calcium is also needed for your nerves and muscles to function properly.
Amlodipine Function
Amlodipine is a medication that is used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension. Amlodipine belongs to a class of medications known as "calcium channel blockers;" these drugs prevent calcium from binding to proteins in blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to relax and allows the blood to flow more freely, lowering blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers can also be used to treat a heart condition known as angina.
Amlodipine and Calcium Interaction
Amlodipine works by blocking the effects of calcium in the blood vessels, but it does not generally affect the amount of calcium in the bones or elsewhere in the body. However, taking calcium supplements can "saturate" the proteins in the blood vessels that respond to calcium, which would decrease the effectiveness of amlodipine and other calcium channel blockers. In fact, calcium chloride can be used as a remedy for an overdose of calcium channel blockers.
Considerations
It is important to weigh the risks and benefits of calcium supplementation if you are taking calcium channel blockers. If you need to consume more calcium, your doctor may put you on a different anti-hypertensive medication or monitor your blood pressure more carefully. You should always talk to your doctor before taking calcium supplements because of their ability to interact with other medications.
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