Drug Name

Caduet (Amlodipine and Atorvastatin)

Drug Uses

Caduet contains a combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin. Atorvastatin is a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, or statin. It reduces levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of good cholesterol (HDL).

Caduet is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) or chest pain (angina), and to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors.

Caduet is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.

Caduet may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

How to use

Take Caduet exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Caduet is usually taken once a day, with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time each day. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Do not break a Caduet tablet. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the pill.

You may need to stop using Caduet for a short time if you have:

• uncontrolled seizures;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low potassium levels in your blood);
• severely low blood pressure;
• a severe infection or illness; or
• surgery or a medical emergency.

To be sure Caduet is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

Caduet is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

You may need to take Caduet on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. Amlodipine relaxes the blood vessels, improving blood flow and making it easier for the heart to pump.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 12 hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings/Precautions

You should not use Caduet if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or atorvastatin (Lipitor), if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.

If you have any of these other conditions, your doctor may need to adjust your Caduet dose or order special tests:

• history of liver disease;
• history of kidney disease;
• heart disease;
• diabetes;
• a thyroid disorder; or
• if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.

In rare cases, Caduet can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. This condition may be more likely to occur in older adults and in people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use. Certain other drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems, and it is very important that your doctor knows if you are using any of them:

• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
• gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibric acid (Fibricor, Trilipix), or fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Lipofen, Lofibra, Tricor, Triglide);
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) or erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin);
• antifungal medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal);
• HIV medications such as ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), and others; or
• medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others).

Caduet can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not take Caduet if you are pregnant. Stop taking this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy while you are taking Caduet. Amlodipine and atorvastatin may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Caduet.

Possible Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Caduet: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;
• fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine;
• swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all;
• severe drowsiness, feeling like you might pass out;
• fast or pounding heartbeats;
• worsening chest pain;
• chest pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; or
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Caduet side effects may include:

• headache;
• mild muscle pain;
• diarrhea;
• mild nausea;
• stomach pain or indigestion;
• dizziness;
• joint pain; o
• flushing (warmth or redness in your face).

More Information

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Caduet.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.