Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles of your heart and blood vessels.

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

The combination of amlodipine and olmesartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Amlodipine and olmesartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not use amlodipine and olmesartan if you are pregnant. Amlodipine and olmesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking amlodipine and olmesartan, unless your doctor has told you to.

Call your doctor at once if you have swelling in your hands or feet, rapid weight gain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest, urinating less than usual, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling, or if you feel like you might pass out.

In rare cases, amlodipine and olmesartan 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 muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, nausea or vomiting, and dark colored urine.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or olmesartan (Benicar).

To make sure you can safely take amlodipine and olmesartan, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

• liver disease;

• angina (chest pain);

• coronary artery disease;

• congestive heart failure;

• if you are 75 years or older; or

• if you have recently had a heart attack.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use amlodipine and olmesartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Amlodipine and olmesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking amlodipine and olmesartan.

If you are also taking a beta-blocker (such as Betapace, Coreg, Corgard, Dutoprol, Inderal, InnoPran, Lopressor, Normodyne, Tenormin, Tenoretic, Toprol, Trandate, and others), do not suddenly stop using the beta blocker without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Stopping a beta blocker too quickly can cause serious heart problems that will not be prevented by amlodipine and olmesartan.

It is not known whether amlodipine and olmesartan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using amlodipine and olmesartan.