amlodipine vs sildenafil
Side-by-side comparison of amlodipine and sildenafil. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Sildenafil Monitor for hypotension when sildenafil is co-administered with amlodipine [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ( 12.2 )] .
Recommendation: You should monitor your blood pressure closely and watch for signs of dizziness or lightheadedness.
Norvasc
Viagra, Revatio
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
Sildenafil is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It helps increase blood flow to the penis to get and keep an erection.
This medicine treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Amlodipine also treats chest pain (angina) caused by coronary artery disease, including chronic stable angina and vasospastic angina.
Sildenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, in men. ED is when you cannot get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. Sildenafil helps by increasing blood flow to the penis when you are sexually stimulated.
Amlodipine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells. This relaxes and widens blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow. As a result, the heart does not have to work as hard, which lowers blood pressure and reduces chest pain.
Sildenafil belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors. It works by relaxing the muscles and increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. This helps you get and keep an erection.
- • Swelling in your ankles or feet
- • Dizziness
- • Flushing (redness of the face)
- • Palpitations (feeling your heart beat rapidly or irregularly)
- • Fatigue (feeling tired)
- • Headache
- • Flushing (redness of the skin)
- • Upset stomach
- • Abnormal vision (blurred vision, changes in color vision)
- • Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
- Feeling tired 15,696
- Diarrhea 14,038
- Feeling sick to your stomach 13,425
- Shortness of breath 13,222
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 10,671
- Shortness of breath 7,729
- Headache 5,655
- Diarrhea 4,447
- Nausea 3,984
- Death 3,872
Amlodipine may cause low blood pressure, especially if you have severe aortic stenosis. Some people with severe heart disease may experience worsening chest pain or a heart attack when starting or increasing the dose of amlodipine. If you have severe liver problems, your doctor will increase your dose slowly.
You should not take sildenafil if you are taking nitrates for chest pain, as this can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. If you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Stop taking sildenafil and seek medical attention if you have a sudden loss of vision or hearing.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. High blood pressure during pregnancy can harm both the mother and the baby. Amlodipine passes into breast milk, but no harmful effects on the breastfed infant have been seen.
Sildenafil is not for use in women. It is not known if sildenafil can harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
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How to Read This amlodipine vs sildenafil Comparison
amlodipine is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while sildenafil sits within the PDE5 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amlodipine has 67,052 submissions while sildenafil has 25,687. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs can lower your blood pressure, and taking them together might cause your blood pressure to drop too low.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amlodipine and sildenafil - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.