Pronunciation: am-LOE-di-peen/a-TOR-va-STAT-in
Generic Name: Amlodipine/Atorvastatin
Brand Name: Caduet
Caduet is used for:
Treating patients who have high cholesterol and high blood pressure or angina (chest pain). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Caduet is a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (atorvastatin) combination. Amlodipine works by widening blood vessels to reduce chest pain and high blood pressure. Atorvastatin works to decrease your risk of heart attack, stroke, and chest pain by lowering "bad" cholesterol (eg, triglycerides) and raising "good" cholesterol (eg, high-density lipoprotein [HDL]) in the blood.
Do NOT use Caduet if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Caduet
- you have active liver disease or persistent abnormal liver tests of unknown cause
- you are taking itraconazole, mibefradil, or an HIV protease inhibitor (eg, indinavir)
- you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Caduet:
Some medical conditions may interact with Caduet. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have low blood pressure; a severe infection; a blood infection; or a severe endocrine, metabolic, or electrolyte disorder; or if you are very ill
- if you have a history of heart problems (eg, heart failure, coronary artery disease), blood vessel problems, liver problems, diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney problems, muscle problems, a stroke, or uncontrolled seizures
- if you have recently had major surgery or a serious injury
- if you have a history of alcohol abuse or drink 3 or more alcohol-containing drinks per day
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Caduet. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Amiodarone, azole antifungals (eg, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole), colchicine, cyclosporine, daptomycin, diltiazem, dronedarone, fibrates (eg, clofibrate, gemfibrozil), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, indinavir , ritonavir), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin), imatinib, ketolide antibiotics (eg, telithromycin), macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin), mibefradil, nefazodone, niacin, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, delavirdine), quinine, streptogramins (eg, dalfopristin), or verapamil because the risk of side effects, such as severe muscle problems, may be increased
- Sildenafil because the risk of low blood pressure may be increased
- Vasopressin receptor antagonists (eg, conivaptan) because they may increase the risk of Caduet's side effects
- Bosentan, carbamazepine, efavirenz, rifamycins (eg, rifampin), or St. John's wort because they may decrease Caduet's effectiveness
- Cimetidine, digoxin, hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus), or spironolactone because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Caduet
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Caduet may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Caduet:
Use Caduet as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Caduet by mouth with or without food.
- Take Caduet at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after taking cholestyramine.
- Take Caduet on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
- Taking Caduet at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
- Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may increase the amount of Caduet in your blood, which may increase your risk of serious side effects. The risk may be greater with large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Avoid large amounts of grapefruit juice (more than 1 quart daily). Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet while you are taking Caduet.
- Continue to use Caduet even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol do not feel sick. Do not miss any doses.
- If you miss a dose of Caduet, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If more than one dose is missed, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Caduet.
Important safety information:
- Caduet may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Caduet with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Caduet may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
- Drinking alcohol daily or in large amounts may increase the risk of liver problems with Caduet. Talk to your doctor before you take Caduet if you drink more than 3 drinks with alcohol per day.
- Follow the diet, exercise, and weight reduction program given to you by your health care provider.
- Proper dental care is important while you are taking Caduet. Brush and floss your teeth and visit the dentist regularly.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Caduet before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- It may take several weeks for Caduet to work. Do not stop using Caduet without checking with your doctor.
- Check with your doctor before using any cough-and-cold products or diet aids because they may contain ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure.
- If you are taking Caduet for chest pain, it will not relieve the pain of a sudden attack if taken at the time of the attack. It prevents or reduces the number of chest pain attacks only if you take it on a regular schedule.
- Although rare, Caduet has been known to increase chest pain and increase the risk of heart attack, especially in patients with severe heart disease.
- Have your blood pressure checked regularly while taking Caduet.
- Caduet may infrequently cause muscle damage. The risk may be greater when you first begin to take Caduet, whenever your dose is increased, or if you have a history of kidney problems. The risk is also greater when taken with certain other medicines. Untreated, this can lead to a very serious condition known as rhabdomyolysis and kidney damage. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if they occur with fever or unusual tiredness.
- It is recommended that women of childbearing age use effective birth control while taking Caduet because it may cause fetal harm.
- Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and other blood tests, may be performed while you use Caduet. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Caduet with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially muscle damage.
- Caduet should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Caduet if you are pregnant. It may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. One of these medicines is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Caduet.
Possible side effects of Caduet:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; flushing; gas; headache; nausea; stomach upset or pain; tiredness; weakness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); change in the amount of urine produced or increased urination; changes in vision; dark urine; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; increased frequency, duration, or severity of chest pain; joint pain; muscle aches, pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with fever, unusual tiredness, or general body discomfort; numbness of an arm or leg; pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent stomach pain; sharp or crushing chest, jaw, or left arm pain; sudden leg pain; sudden, severe or persistent headache, vomiting, or dizziness; sudden shortness of breath; swelling of your feet or legs; tender, bleeding, or swollen gums; unexplained weight gain; worsening angina pain (eg, longer, more often, more severe); yellowing of eyes or skin.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Caduet side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include dizziness; fainting; fast heartbeat.
Proper storage of Caduet:
Store Caduet at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in a tightly closed container. Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Caduet out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Caduet, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Caduet is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Caduet. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Caduet resources
- Caduet Side Effects (in more detail)
- Caduet Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Caduet Drug Interactions
- Caduet Support Group
- 3 Reviews for Caduet - Add your own review/rating
- Caduet Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Caduet Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Caduet Consumer Overview
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