Twynsta

Generic name: Amlodipine And Telmisartan
Drug class: Angiotensin II inhibitors with calcium channel blockers

Usage of Twynsta

Twynsta contains a combination of amlodipine and telmisartan. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. Amlodipine relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Telmisartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Telmisartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

Twynsta is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Twynsta side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Twynsta: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, Twynsta can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, or dark colored urine.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;

new or worsened chest pain;

pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

tremors, muscle stiffness or twitching; or

high potassium - nausea, slow or unusual heart rate, weakness, loss of movement.

Common Twynsta side effects may include:

swelling in your hands or feet;

fast or pounding heartbeats;

dizziness, drowsiness;

flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

back pain; or

nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Twynsta

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or telmisartan (Micardis).

If you have diabetes, do not use Twynsta together with any medication that contains aliskiren (such as Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo).

You may also need to avoid taking Twynsta with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

To make sure Twynsta is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

liver disease;

heart disease;

an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood); or

if you are on a low-salt diet.

Do not use Twynsta if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Twynsta can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control.

You should not breast-feed while you are using Twynsta before speaking with your doctor.

This medicine is not FDA-approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Twynsta

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 40/5 to 80/5 mg orally once daily. Dosage should be individualized and may be increased after at least 2 weeks. Maximum dose: 80/10 mg orally once daily

Warnings

Do not use Twynsta if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control. Stop using Twynsta and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

You should not use Twynsta if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or telmisartan (Micardis), or if you have diabetes and are taking aliskiren.

Before you use Twynsta, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and allergies. Also make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. In some cases, you may not be able to use Twynsta, or you may need a dose adjustment or special precautions.

Certain other drugs may interact with amlodipine and telmisartan or should not be used at the same time. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication, which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.

What other drugs will affect Twynsta

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

digoxin;

a diuretic or "water pill";

lithium;

potassium supplements;

simvastatin (Zocor, Vytorin);

medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection - cyclosporine, tacrolimus;

an ACE inhibitor - Benazepril, Captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril; or

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with amlodipine or telmisartan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Disclaimer

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