Can amlodipine cause a cough
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Can Amlodipine Cause a Cough?
Introduction to Amlodipine and Cough
Amlodipine is a widely used calcium channel blocker prescribed for the treatment of hypertension and angina. While it is generally well-tolerated, there have been inquiries about whether it can cause a cough, a common side effect associated with some antihypertensive medications.
Amlodipine and ACE Inhibitor-Induced Cough
Research has shown that amlodipine can actually reduce the incidence of cough induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. In a study comparing the effects of amlodipine, nifedipine, and indomethacin on ACE inhibitor-induced cough, it was found that amlodipine reduced the cough to a lesser degree than indomethacin but still provided some relief . This suggests that amlodipine may have a mitigating effect on cough rather than causing it.
Comparative Studies on Cough Incidence
In a randomized trial comparing imidapril (an ACE inhibitor) and amlodipine, it was observed that cough and related symptoms recurred in 98.3% of patients during imidapril therapy, whereas only two patients reported cough during treatment with amlodipine . This significant difference indicates that amlodipine is much less likely to cause a cough compared to ACE inhibitors.
Case Reports and Clinical Observations
A case report of a 70-year-old woman with a chronic cough highlighted that her symptoms were not attributed to amlodipine, which she was taking for hypertension. Instead, her cough was investigated for other potential causes, suggesting that amlodipine was not the culprit .
Safety Evaluations and Meta-Analyses
A comprehensive safety evaluation of a combination of perindopril arginine and amlodipine besylate identified cough as one of the common adverse effects, but this was more likely due to the ACE inhibitor component rather than amlodipine itself . Additionally, a meta-analysis of 16 studies involving 12,831 patients reported that cough was an ill-defined and rare adverse event in those taking amlodipine, further supporting its low association with cough .
Conclusion
Based on the available research, amlodipine is not commonly associated with causing a cough. In fact, it may help reduce cough in patients who are experiencing this side effect from ACE inhibitors. While cough can occur as an adverse event, it is rare and not well-defined in the context of amlodipine use. Therefore, patients concerned about cough as a side effect of their antihypertensive medication can consider amlodipine as a relatively safe option.
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