Norvasc vs. Benicar

• Are Norvasc and Benicar the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Norvasc?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Benicar?
• What Is Norvasc?
• What Is Benicar?
• What Drugs Interact with Norvasc?
• What Drugs Interact with Benicar?
• How Should Norvasc Be Taken?
• How Should Benicar Be Taken?

Norvasc (amlodipine) and Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Norvasc is also prescribed for the prevention and treatment of heart pain or chest pain from angina.

Norvasc and Benicar belong to different drug classes. Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker (CCB) and Benicar is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist/blocker (ARB).

Common side effects of Norvasc include:

• headache,
• swelling (edema) of the ankles or feet,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• nausea,
• abdominal or stomach pain, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Common side effects of Benicar include:

• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• bronchitis,
• back pain,
• joint or muscle pain,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• itching or skin rash,
• weakness,
• headache,
• flu-like symptoms,
• blood in the urine, and
• sinus infections.

Potentially serious side effects of Benicar include:

• difficulty with breathing or swallowing,
• chest pain,
• cough,
• vertigo,
• abdominal pain,
• hyperkalemia,
• renal failure, and
• muscle tissue breakdown (rhabdomyolysis).

Norvasc (amlodipine) is a calcium channel blocker (CCB) prescribed for the prevention and treatment of heart pain or chest pain from angina, and for the treatment of high blood pressure.

Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to reduce and control hypertension (high blood pressure).

Norvasc may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Norvasc may also interact with simvastatin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, diltiazem, and cyclosporine, or other heart medications.

Benicar may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Benicar may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The usual initial antihypertensive oral dose of Norvasc is 5 mg once daily, and the maximum dose is 10 mg once daily. Norvasc dosages may need to be lowered in patients with liver dysfunction.

Benicar is available in strengths of 5, 20, or 40 mg of olmesartan medoxomil tablets. The usual recommended starting dose is 20 mg per day but dosage in pediatric patients needs to be calculated for each individual. Benicar should not be used in pregnancy due to possible fetal damage or death; breastfeeding women and their doctors need to weigh the advantages vs the possible harm if the drug is used. There is only one study in pediatric patients (ages 1-16 years) that suggests that Benicar is well tolerated with similar side effects seen in adults.