Amlodipine Use in Patients with Chronic Arterial Ischemia

Mechanism of Action and Benefits

• Amlodipine has a unique mechanism of action compared to non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, with little direct effect on contractility, atrioventricular conduction, and heart rate, as noted by the American Heart Association 1

Comparison with Other Calcium Antagonists

• Amlodipine is well-tolerated in patients with mild left ventricular dysfunction, unlike other calcium antagonists, according to the American College of Cardiology 2

Special Considerations

• Amlodipine is one of the few calcium channel blockers that can be used safely in patients with heart failure, as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology 3

Combination Therapies

• The American Heart Association recommends combining amlodipine with beta-blockers for better control of ischemia, as this combination has been shown to be more effective than amlodipine monotherapy in reducing ambulatory myocardial ischemia 4
• Calcium channel blockers, including amlodipine, are recommended for ischemic symptoms when beta-blockers are not successful, are contraindicated, or cause unacceptable side effects, as stated by the American College of Cardiology 1