Cadivast (Amlodipine Besilate And Atorvastatin Calcium Trihydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Cadivast Used For?
Cadivast is a combination medication that contains two active ingredients: amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker) and atorvastatin (a statin). It’s designed to treat multiple cardiovascular conditions in one convenient tablet.
Primary Uses
Cadivast is used to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol (fat in the blood), angina (a certain type of chest pain), and to help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people who have high blood pressure and coronary heart disease or who are at risk of coronary heart disease (for example, if they have diabetes, a history of stroke, or small blood vessel disease).
How It Works
Amlodipine works by relaxing your blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to pump blood around the body and helping increase the supply of blood and oxygen to your heart. Atorvastatin works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver, reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol and raising ‘good’ cholesterol, while also helping to protect you from heart attack or stroke.
Good to know: This medicine is not addictive.
How to Take Cadivast
Cadivast is taken once daily at about the same time each day. Your doctor will decide which strength is suitable for you based on your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Dosage Instructions
Take Cadivast once a day at the same time each day for best effect. Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water – do not crush or chew them. The medication can be taken with or without food. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose after checking your blood pressure and fat levels in your blood.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss your dose at the usual time and it is less than 12 hours before your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. This may increase the chance of getting unwanted side effects.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Flushing
- Dizziness
- Tiredness or weakness
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Stomach pain or nausea
- Constipation, diarrhoea, wind
- Heartburn, indigestion
- Urine infection
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Nose bleeds
- Rash
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Symptoms of allergy (skin rash, itching, swelling of face/lips/mouth/throat/neck causing difficulty swallowing/breathing)
- Shortness of breath
- Unexpected muscle pain, tenderness or weakness not caused by exercise (particularly with feeling unwell or fever)
- Changes in heart beat (fast, slow or irregular)
- Chest pain
- Sudden severe headache with nausea, vomiting, loss of sensation, tingling, or ringing in ears
- Severe blisters and bleeding of lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
- Severe upper stomach pain often with nausea and vomiting
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Cadivast should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Cadivast
Do not take Cadivast if you are allergic to amlodipine, atorvastatin, or any ingredients in the medication; have active liver disease; are pregnant or intend to become pregnant; are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed; are taking fusidic acid hemihydrate antibiotic; or are taking glecaprevir/pibrentasvir antivirals for hepatitis C treatment.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have heart disease such as heart failure, liver problems, kidney problems, muscle pain/tenderness/weakness from other cholesterol medicines, vision problems, eye muscle weakness and drooping eyelid, breathing problems, or have had a haemorrhagic stroke or lacunar stroke. Also inform your doctor if you consume alcohol regularly.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, as it may affect your developing baby. Do not take if breastfeeding or intending to breastfeed, as the medicine may pass into breast milk. Women of child-bearing age should use proven birth control methods while taking this medicine.
Elderly Patients: If you are 65 years or older, be especially careful while taking Cadivast and report any side effects promptly to your doctor. Some people in this age group may be more likely to experience swelling of feet and ankles, muscle cramps and dizziness.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interfere with Cadivast and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking.
Grapefruit interaction: Avoid eating large quantities of grapefruit or drinking large quantities of grapefruit juice. Drinking very large quantities (over 1.2 litres) of grapefruit juice each day while taking Cadivast increases your chance of getting side effects.
- Other calcium channel blockers (felodipine, nifedipine)
- Other statins (fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin)
- Digoxin (heart medicine)
- Antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin, fusidic acid)
- Phenytoin (epilepsy medicine)
- Oral contraceptives
- Other cholesterol or blood pressure medicines
- Immune system suppressants (ciclosporin, tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus)
- Antifungal medicines (ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- HIV/Hepatitis C protease inhibitors
- Diltiazem (angina medicine)
- Antacids
- Spironolactone
- Vitamin B3
- Colchicine
- Ticagrelor
Alcohol & Driving
Cadivast can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol, so special precautions are needed.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking large quantities of alcohol. Drinking large quantities while taking Cadivast may increase your chance of getting liver problems. Excessive alcohol can raise cholesterol levels or affect liver function, increasing the chance of unwanted side effects.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Cadivast affects you. The medication may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people and affect alertness. If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them. Store in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Keep away from moisture, heat or sunlight – do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach it – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is recommended.
Overdose Information
If you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Cadivast, urgent medical attention is needed. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia telephone 13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Symptoms of overdose may include feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint and having an irregular heartbeat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cadivast helps to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure and control angina symptoms, but it does not cure your condition. It’s important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well, as stopping may cause your blood pressure and cholesterol levels to rise again.
Yes, Cadivast can be taken with or without food. Take it at about the same time each day for the best effect.
No, this medicine is not addictive.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor. If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted side effects. Your blood pressure and cholesterol levels may rise again.
Avoid drinking large quantities of alcohol. Drinking large quantities while taking Cadivast may increase your chance of getting liver problems and can raise cholesterol levels or affect liver function.
If you are 65 years or older, you should be especially careful while taking Cadivast and report any side effects promptly to your doctor. Some people in this age group may be more likely to experience side effects such as swelling of feet and ankles, muscle cramps and dizziness.
If you miss your dose and it’s less than 12 hours before your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.