Can these medicines be taken together?
Editor, MIMS,
New Delhi
Q: Can there be any side effects of taking amlodac L and carvedilol 12.5 mg together?
A:The side effects of amlodipine (amlodac) and carvedilol can occur irrespective of the 2 taken together or each taken separately. The possible side effects of amlodipine are: headache, water retention (oedema), fatigue, rash, nausea, flushing, dizziness, drowsiness, palpitations, abdominal pain, gum hyperplasia, loss of hair, pruritis, angioedema, dyspnoea, back pain, dyspepsia, muscle cramps, asthenia, somnolence, altered bowel habit, muscle pain, joint pain, mood changes, dry mouth, increased micturition, high blood sugar levels, impotence, syncope, sweating, low platelet count in blood, visual disturbances and vasculitis. The side effects of carvedilol include: exacerbation of heart failure especially at beginning of treatment or when increasing doses, postural hypotension, oedema, bradycardia, dizziness, headache, GI upset, fatigue, visual disturbances, dry eyes, angina, heart (A-V) block, liver injury, reduced blood circulation, diarrhoea, high blood sugar levels, severe serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, urinary incontinence (in women), interstitial lung inflammation, weight gain, asthenia, asthma, dyspnoea and high cholesterol levels. Recent data suggests that betablockers such as carvedilol can precipitate diabetes and hence should be used only as a last resort.