Candesartan and Amlodipine

Interactions

Candesartan and Amlodipine interacts in the following cases:

Moderate renal impairment

Monitoring of potassium levels and creatinine is advised in moderate renal impairment.

Severe renal impairment

Caution is advised because of limited experience available in patients with severe or end-stage renal impairment (Clcr<15 mL/min) or on haemodialysis.

Amlodipine and candesartan are not dialysable.

Mild hepatic impairment, moderate hepatic impairment

In patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment candesartan/amlodipine should be administered with caution.

Pregnancy

Candesartan/amlodipine combination is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy as no data are available and safety profile has not been established for both amlodipine and candesartan. Use in early pregnancy is only recommended when there is no safer alternative and when the disease itself carries greater risk for the mother and foetus.

Candesartan/amlodipine combination is contraindicated during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy due to candesartan content.

Nursing mothers

Because no information is available regarding the use of candesartan and amlodipine during breast-feeding, it is not recommended and alternative treatments with better established safety profiles during breast-feeding are preferable, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and fertility

No information is available regarding potential effect of candesartan and amlodipine on fertility.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects of candesartan on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, it should be taken into account that occasionally dizziness or weariness may occur during treatment with candesartan.

Amlodipine can have minor or moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. If patients taking amlodipine suffer from dizziness, headache, fatigue or nausea the ability to react may be impaired. Caution is recommended especially at the start of treatment.

Adverse reactions


Summary of the safety profile

Fixed dose combination

No clinical studies have been performed. Undesirable effects observed for particular active ingredients are described below.

Adverse reactions previously reported with one of the individual components (candesartan or amlodipine) may be potential adverse reactions with candesartan/amlodipine as well, even if not observed in clinical trials or during the post-marketing period.

Candesartan

Treatment of hypertension

In controlled clinical studies with candesartan for treatment of hypertension adverse reactions were mild and transient. The overall incidence of adverse events showed no association with dose or age. Withdrawals from treatment due to adverse events were similar with candesartan cilexetil (3.1%) and placebo (3.2%).

In a pooled analysis of clinical trial data of hypertensive patients, adverse reactions with candesartan cilexetil were defined based on an incidence of adverse events with candesartan cilexetil at least 1% higher than the incidence seen with placebo. By this definition, the most commonly reported adverse reactions were dizziness/vertigo, headache and respiratory infection.

Amlodipine

The most commonly reported adverse reactions during treatment were oedema (very common) somnolence, dizziness, headache, palpitations, flushing, abdominal pain, nausea, ankle swelling, and fatigue (common).

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The frequencies used in the tables are: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000) very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Candesartan

The Table 1 below presents adverse reactions from clinical trials and post-marketing experience.

Table 1:

MedDRA System Organ ClassFrequencyUndesirable Effect
Infections and infestationsCommonRespiratory infection
Blood and lymphatic system
disorders
Very rareLeukopenia, neutropenia,
agranulocytosis
Metabolism and nutrition
disorders
Very rareHyperkalaemia,
hyponatraemia
Nervous system disordersCommonDizziness/vertigo, headache
Respiratory, thoracic and
mediastinal disorders
Very rareCough
Gastrointestinal disordersVery rareNausea
Not knownDiarrhoea
Hepatobiliary disordersVery rareIncreased liver enzymes,
abnormal hepatic
function, hepatitis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue
disorders
Very rareAngioedema, rash, urticaria,
pruritus
Musculoskeletal and
connective tissue
disorders
Very rareBack pain, arthralgia,
myalgia
Renal and urinary disordersVery rareRenal impairment, including
renal failure in susceptible
patients

Laboratory findings

As for other inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, small decreases in haemoglobin have been seen. No routine monitoring of laboratory variables is usually necessary for patients receiving candesartan. However, in patients with renal impairment, periodic monitoring of serum potassium and creatinine levels is recommended.

Amlodipine

Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions in Table 2 are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

Table 2:

MedDRA System organ classFrequencyAdverse reactions
Blood and lymphatic system
disorders
Very rareLeukocytopenia,
thrombocytopenia
Immune system disordersVery rareAllergic reactions
Metabolism and nutrition
disorders
Very rareHyperglycaemia
Psychiatric disordersUncommonInsomnia, mood changes
(including anxiety),
depression
RareConfusion
Nervous system disordersCommonSomnolence, dizziness,
headache (especially at
the beginning of the
treatment)
UncommonTremor, dysgeusia, syncope,
hypoesthesia,
paresthesia
Very rareHypertonia,
peripheral neuropathy
Not knownExtrapyramidal disorder
Eye disordersCommonVisual disturbance (including
diplopia)
Ear and labyrinth disordersUncommonTinnitus
Cardiac disordersCommonPalpitations
UncommonArrhythmia (including
bradycardia, ventricular
tachycardia and atrial
fibrillation)
Very rareMyocardial infarction
Vascular disordersCommonFlushing
UncommonHypotension
Very rareVasculitis
Respiratory, thoracic and
mediastinal disorders
CommonDyspnoea
UncommonCough, rhinitis
Gastrointestinal disordersCommonAbdominal pain, nausea,
dyspepsia, altered bowel
habits (including diarrhoea
and constipation)
UncommonVomiting, dry mouth
Very rarePancreatitis, gastritis,
gingival hyperplasia
Hepatobiliary disordersVery rareHepatitis, jaundice, hepatic
enzymes increased*
Skin and subcutaneous tissue
disorders
UncommonAlopecia, purpura, skin
discolouration,
hyperhidrosis, pruritus, rash,
exanthema, urticaria
Very rareAngioedema, erythema
multiforme, urticaria,
exfoliative dermatitis,
Stevens-Johnson syndrome,
Quincke oedema,
photosensitivity
Not knownToxic epidermal necrolysis
Musculoskeletal and
connective tissue disorders
CommonAnkle swelling
UncommonArthralgia, myalgia, muscle
cramps, back pain
Renal and urinary disordersUncommonMicturition disorder,
nocturia, increased urinary
frequency
Reproductive system and
breast disorders
UncommonImpotence, gynaecomastia
General disorders and
administration site
conditions
Very commonOedema
CommonFatigue, asthenia
UncommonChest pain, pain, malaise
InvestigationsUncommonWeight increase, weight
decrease

* mostly consistent with cholestasis

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