Abstract

Hypertension is one of the most common clinical conditions encountered by the physicians. There are wide ranges of medications available for treatment of hypertension, in which Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) are one of the most commonly prescribing drugs. CCBs are potential antihypertensive agents but the main drawback of this group of drugs is it produces pedal edema which decreases the compliance. The main cause for CCB-induced edema is increased capillary hydrostatic pressure by arteriolar dilation. Amlodipine is a third generation calcium channel blocker used in adults and children above 6 years old for the treatment of hypertension, angina and other coronary artery diseaseThe drug exhibits constant pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and well tolerated but has more incidence of pedal edema than the other calcium channel blockers often leading to noncompliance and discontinuation of drug. This review article is aiming to explain the calcium channel blocker in particular amlodipine - associated edema and resolution of edema through the use of other hypertensive agents. Here we present 5 cases of different age group patients diagnosed with hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, hemorrhagic stroke, CVA and gastritis who gradually developed pitting type pedal edema after the initiation of oral Amlodipine of dose 5 mg. The symptoms improved on cessation of amlodipine and the patient was managed with an alternative antihypertensive agents. Here, we set up the relationship between the suspected drug and the adverse reaction observed by performing causality assessment. The early detection, discontinuation of offending drug and prescription of alternative hypertensive agent improves patient’s condition and restores normal quality of life.

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