Description

Exforge 10/160 12.5 mg 14’ct is a combination medication used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It contains two active ingredients: amlodipine (10 mg) and valsartan (160 mg). This medication is available in a pack of 14 tablets.

Composition

• Exforge 10/160 12.5 mg contains a combination of:
  • Amlodipine 10 mg
  • Valsartan 160 mg
  • Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg

Mechanism of Action

• Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that relaxes and widens blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
• Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist that blocks the effects of angiotensin II, further reducing blood pressure.
• Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that helps the kidneys remove excess salt and water from the body, also contributing to lower blood pressure.

Indications

• Exforge 10/160 12.5 mg is indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults.
• It is particularly useful for patients who require multiple blood pressure medications to achieve their target blood pressure goals.

Dosage

• The recommended starting dose is one tablet once daily.
• The maximum recommended dose is two tablets once daily.

Unique Features

• Exforge 10/160 12.5 mg combines three antihypertensive agents in a single tablet, providing a convenient and effective treatment option.
• The combination of amlodipine, valsartan, and hydrochlorothiazide targets multiple mechanisms involved in blood pressure regulation, leading to better control of hypertension.
• The fixed-dose combination helps improve medication adherence, as patients only need to take one tablet instead of multiple medications.
  

  Key Benefits

  • Effectively lowers blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension
  • Combination of three antihypertensive agents (amlodipine, valsartan, hydrochlorothiazide) provides additive blood pressure lowering effects
  • Convenient once-daily dosing improves medication adherence
  • Maintains blood pressure control for over one year in long-term studies

  Key Ingredients

  • Amlodipine 10 mg: a calcium channel blocker that relaxes and widens blood vessels
  • Valsartan 160 mg: an angiotensin II receptor antagonist that blocks the effects of angiotensin II, further reducing blood pressure
  • Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg: a diuretic that helps the kidneys remove excess salt and water from the body, also contributing to lower blood pressure

  The key ingredients in Exforge 10/160 12.5 mg and their mechanisms of action are:

  Amlodipine

  Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. Its mechanism of action involves:

  • Binding to and blocking L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane of vascular smooth muscle cells.
  • Preventing the influx of calcium ions into these cells, which normally triggers vasoconstriction.
  • This results in relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels, leading to a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure.

  The dihydropyridine ring structure of amlodipine is crucial for its calcium channel blocking activity and antihypertensive effects.

  Valsartan

  Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Its mechanism of action involves:

  • Selectively blocking the binding of angiotensin II to the AT1 receptor subtype.
  • Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor hormone produced by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
  • By blocking the AT1 receptor, valsartan prevents the vasoconstrictive and aldosterone-secreting effects of angiotensin II, leading to vasodilation and reduced blood pressure.

  The tetrazole-containing biphenyl structure of valsartan is important for its angiotensin II receptor antagonist activity.The combination of amlodipine’s calcium channel blocking and valsartan’s angiotensin II receptor blocking mechanisms provides complementary and additive blood pressure lowering effects in patients with hypertension.

  

  Amlodipine

  Calcium channel blocker medication

  More

  Used to treat

  High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and variant angina

  Brand names

  Norvasc, Istin, Norliqva, among others

  Common side effects

  Swelling, feeling tired, abdominal pain, nausea

  The ring structures of the active ingredients in Exforge contribute to their efficacy in lowering blood pressure:

  Amlodipine

  • Amlodipine contains a dihydropyridine ring structure.
  • This ring structure is crucial for amlodipine’s ability to bind to and block L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells.
  • By preventing calcium influx, amlodipine causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels, reducing peripheral vascular resistance and lowering blood pressure.

  Valsartan

  • Valsartan contains a tetrazole-containing biphenyl ring structure.
  • This ring structure allows valsartan to selectively bind to and block the angiotensin II AT1 receptor subtype.
  • Blocking the AT1 receptor prevents the vasoconstrictive and aldosterone-secreting effects of angiotensin II, leading to vasodilation and reduced blood pressure.

  Dosage

  • The recommended dose of Exforge 10/160 12.5 mg is one tablet once daily.
  • The maximum recommended dose is two tablets once daily.
  • Exforge can be taken with or without food.

  Storage

  • Store at room temperature between 15°C to 30°C.
  • Keep out of reach of children.

  Reviews

  • Exforge 10/160 12.5 mg is an effective combination medication for lowering blood pressure in patients whose hypertension is not adequately controlled by amlodipine or valsartan monotherapy.
  • The combination of amlodipine’s calcium channel blocking and valsartan’s angiotensin II receptor blocking mechanisms provides complementary and additive blood pressure lowering effects.
  • Exforge is generally well-tolerated, with the most common adverse events being peripheral edema, nasopharyngitis, and headache.