Exforge

What is Exforge?

Exforge is a tablet you take for hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. It contains two different active ingredients to bring your blood pressure down, amlodipine and valsartan. It’s a strong treatment and you only have to take it once a day for it to be effective. If amlodipine or valsartan alone aren’t effective enough to combat your hypertension, the combination tablet might be right for you. It’s stronger than either of its ingredients used alone.

How does Exforge work?

Exforge has two active ingredients, amlodipine and valsartan. They both target hypertension, but they do it in different ways. Amlodipine is a type of medication known as a calcium channel blocker. It blocks calcium from entering the cells of the heart and arteries. Since too much calcium in the myocardium (the muscle layer of the heart) and arteries leads them to constrict and raises blood pressure, Amlodipine is effective for hypertension. ^[1] Valsartan is the other active ingredient in Exforge. It’s a type of medication called an angiotensin-II receptor antagonist. This means it blocks a molecule called angiotensin II, which makes your blood vessels tighter. So Valsartan helps to open up your blood vessels, decreasing the pressure on your heart. Together, these two drugs make Exforge a potent treatment for hypertension.

What doses of Exforge are there?

Exforge tablets come in three different dosages. The tablet with the lowest dosage contains 5 mg of valsartan and 80 mg of amlodipine. There’s another one with 5mg of valsartan and 160mg of amlodipine. There’s also a larger dose with 10mg of valsartan and 160mg of amlodipine. You should only take the dose that’s prescribed by our clinician.

How to take Exforge

Always take your medication as directed by our clinician. If you’re unsure about anything, read the patient information leaflet and ask our prescriber. You just need to log into your account and send us a message.

• Take your prescribed dose everyday.
• Try to take Exforge at around the same time each day. If you want to make sure you remember, try setting an alarm or using a medication reminder app on your phone.
• Swallow the tablets whole, don’t crush or chew them.
• Take Exforge with water. You can take it with or without food.
• Don’t drink grapefruit juice while taking Exforge. Grapefruit juice can make the levels of Exforge in your blood too high, creating uncomfortable side effects. ^[1]

How long does it take Exforge to work?

Exforge starts working in your system immediately, but it’ll take some time to show its full effects. It starts reducing hypertension within a couple of hours. After a month, Exforge will have reached its maximum impact in reducing your blood pressure. Exforge is a long-term medication, so you shouldn’t stop taking it suddenly. If you feel your dose of Exforge isn’t working for you, talk to our clinician.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Exforge?

Don’t take more Exforge than you’re prescribed. If you accidentally take too many, you should seek medical attention immediately. If you forget to take Exforge, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, just skip it and take your medication normally from then on. Don’t take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. ^[1]