title: A single-pill combination of amlodipine besylate and atorvastatin calcium (update).
abstract: This review describes the clinical profile and rationale for the development of a single-pill formulation of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate, a blood-pressure--lowering agent, and atorvastatin calcium, a statin with lipid-lowering antiatherosclerotic properties. Amlodipine and atorvastatin have been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials to be highly effective in lowering blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, both amlodipine and atorvastatin have been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular events in a broad range of patients' in hypertensive patients with three concomitant cardiovascular risk factors but normal to mildly elevated cholesterol levels, amlodipine combined with atorvastatin demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular events. The amlodipine/atorvastatin single pill has been shown to improve patients; achievement of national-guideline-recommended blood pressure and lipid target levels and exhibits a safety profile consistent with its parent compounds. The combination pill is now available in parts of Europe in formulations containing either 5 or 10 mg amlodipine and 10 mg atorvastatin. Amlodipine combined with atorvastatin has been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk, and the single-pill formulation has the potential to improve adherence and decrease prescription costs. These potential benefits are associated with important implications because hypertensive patients with additional risk factors represent a large proportion of those at risk for cardiovascular events.
authors: Southern Piedmont Primary Care, Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Roy
authors: R
authors: Blank
authors: F D Richard
authors: FD
authors: Hobbs
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Zamorano
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Girerd
mesh_terms: D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; C487936:amlodipine, atorvastatin drug combination; D017311:Amlodipine