INTRODUCTION

ASOMEX contains S-Amlodipine which belongs to the group of medicines called Antihypertensives. It is used to treat essential hypertension (abnormal high blood pressure which occurs mostly due to obesity, family history or unhealthy diet) and angina pectoris (type of chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart).  

ASOMEX is not recommended for use in patients with certain heart problems. ASOMEX should be used with caution in patients having liver and kidney impairment. ASOMEX should be used with caution in pregnant and breastfeeding women only if clearly advised by the doctor.  

ASOMEX should be used with caution in elderly patients so, consult your doctor before taking it. The most common side effects of taking ASOMEX are headache, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, indigestion and visual disturbances, etc. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects worsen.

USES OF ASOMEX

Treats:

• essential hypertension
• angina pectoris

HOW ASOMEX WORKS

ASOMEX reduces blood pressure by a direct relaxant effect on smooth muscle of blood vessels. In angina, it works by reducing the pressure against which the heart works, stabilizing the heart rate and thus reducing energy consumption and oxygen requirements by the heart muscle. It also probably dilatates the main coronary arteries and increases oxygen delivery by heart muscle in patients with coronary artery spasm.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take ASOMEX as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Correct dosage and duration of ASOMEX will be prescribed to you by your doctor depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.  

SIDE EFFECTS OF ASOMEX

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Nausea and vomiting:

Take ASOMEX with or just after meals. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily, fried or spicy foods. Do not lie down or sleep immediately after eating. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Diarrhoea:

Drink lot of fluids such as water to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid eating high-fat or spicy foods. Do not take any medicine on your own to treat diarrhea without consulting your doctor.

Stomach pain:

Try to rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to eat smaller meals more frequently. Keep a heat pad on your stomach. If you stomach still aches, consult your doctor.

Indigestion/Dyspepsia:

Raise your head and shoulders up while sleeping as this can prevent stomach acid from coming up. Do not eat 3 to 4 hours before going to bed and avoid tea, coffee, cola, or alcohol. If indigestion does not improve, consult your doctor.

Constipation:

Eat plenty of fibre rich foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and cereals and drink plenty of water. Exercise more regularly. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Headache:

Apply hot or cold-water bag on your head. Try to take rest in a quiet and dark room. Drink tea or coffee. Massage the scalp or head with mild pressure. Consult your doctor if the symptom gets worse.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking ASOMEX inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• medicines used to treat certain viral infections (Ex. indinavir, ritonavir)
• medicines used to treat fungal infections (Ex. ketoconazole, miconazole)
• certain medicines used to treat bacterial infections (Ex. erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin)
• certain medicines used to lower blood pressure (Ex. verapamil, diltiazem)
• dantrolene infusion (used to treat muscle stiffness)
• medicines used to prevent graft rejection (Ex. tacrolimus, cyclosporine)
• simvastatin (used to reduce blood cholesterol)
• st. john's wort (used to treat depression)

B. Drug - Food interaction:

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking ASOMEX as it may drop your blood pressure further.

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of ASOMEX, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. The common symptoms of overdose are low blood pressure and fast heartbeat.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep ASOMEX out of reach of children
• Store at room temperature

FAQs ABOUT ASOMEX

What is ASOMEX and why is it given?

ASOMEX contains S-Amlodipine which is used in the treatment of essential hypertension (high blood pressure that is not caused by any other condition is called essential hypertension) and angina pectoris (chest pain).

Is ASOMEX safe in pregnant women?

ASOMEX is only recommended for use in pregnant women when there is no safer alternative and when the disease itself carries greater risk for the mother and the baby. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or planning to get pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine. Inform your doctor immediately if you become pregnant during treatment with ASOMEX.

Can ASOMEX be taken by patients with heart disease?

ASOMEX is not recommended for use in patients with severe hypotension (low blood pressure), shock including cardiogenic shock (life threatening condition caused by the sudden drop in blood flow through the body), blood flow obstruction to left ventricle (Ex. high grade aortic stenosis), haemodynamically unstable heart failure after heart attack and it should be used with caution in patients with congestive heart failure. Consult your doctor for advice before taking ASOMEX.

Does ASOMEX cause skin rash?

Yes, ASOMEX may cause skin rash in some people. Try to avoid hot showers because it may cause skin irritation. Avoid frequent contact and rubbing over the affected area. Use sunscreen and protective clothing when going outdoors. If this symptom does not get better, consult your doctor for advice.

What are the common side effects of ASOMEX?

The common side effects of taking ASOMEX are somnolence (over sleepiness), dizziness, headache, visual disturbance including double vision, palpitation, flushing, shortness of breath, stomach pain, nausea, indigestion, altered bowel habits (diarrhoea and constipation), muscle cramps, weakness, reduced muscle strength, fluid retention and ankle swelling.

Can I take other medicines with ASOMEX?

Before taking ASOMEX inform your doctor if you are taking, have taken, or might take any other medicine, including prescription, over the counter or any herbal medicine, as these might cause serious unusual effect by interacting with each other.

REFERENCES

1. KD. Tripathi. Antianginal and Other Anti-Ischaemic Drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Eighth edition. 2019. Page –595.

2. Thacker, Hemant P. S-amlodipine--the 2007 clinical review. Europe PMC. April 2007. [Accessed on 29th July 2022] https://europepmc.org/article/med/17822186

3. Selcuk Sen, Meral Demir, Zerrin Yigit, and Ali Yagiz Uresin. Efficacy and Safety of S-Amlodipine 2.5 and 5 mg/d in Hypertensive Patients Who Were Treatment-Naive or Previously Received Antihypertensive Monotherapy. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. PubMed Central. July 2018. [Accessed on 29th July 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5974697/

4. Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Esam (S-Amlodipine Besylate Tablets). [Revised in January 2017]. [Accessed on 29th June 2022] https://www.torrentian.com/pisheet/Upload/PI_Sheet/1626.pdf

5. Zuventus healthcare. Eslo Tablet (S (-) Amlodipine). [Accessed on 29th July 2022] http://www.zuventus.co.in/patient_wise_products_selected.aspx?Medi_Id=25                

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)