Amlodipine and atorvastatin

Mechanism of action

Calcium channel blocker + HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (fixed-dose combination)

In plain language

Combines a blood pressure medicine and a cholesterol medicine in one tablet: amlodipine, which relaxes blood vessels by blocking calcium from entering their muscle cells, and atorvastatin, which blocks a liver enzyme the body needs to make cholesterol.

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ClinicalPlain language

How it works

CADUET combines amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, and atorvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) -- two drugs that treat different, often coexisting cardiovascular risk factors rather than the same one. Per the FDA label, amlodipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle, with a greater effect on vascular smooth muscle than cardiac muscle, producing peripheral arterial vasodilation and lower blood pressure. Atorvastatin is a selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol; blocking it lowers LDL cholesterol production in the liver. The two mechanisms don't interact -- CADUET is intended for patients for whom treatment with both drugs is independently appropriate.

Therapeutic applications

CADUET is FDA-indicated for patients for whom treatment with both amlodipine and atorvastatin is appropriate. Amlodipine is indicated for the treatment of hypertension and coronary artery disease. Atorvastatin is indicated to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina, and to lower LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B in patients with elevated cholesterol or at increased cardiovascular risk.

Class

Fixed-dose combination

Therapeutic area

Cardiovascular / Lipid

Source

FDA label (DailyMed) ↗