Exforge tablets are an advanced combination medication that combines two active ingredients that work synergistically to effectively and sustainably lower and control high blood pressure. Each coated tablet contains specific doses of 10 mg amlodipine and 160 mg valsartan. Amlodipine belongs to a class of medications known as dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs), which primarily work by dilating peripheral blood vessels. Valsartan belongs to a group of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), which block the effects of the hormone endothelium, which constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure. This powerful combination medication is used to treat high blood pressure in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with either of these medications alone, providing a more effective treatment solution with fewer tablets taken daily.
The active ingredient in Exforge tablets
The therapeutic efficacy of Exforge tablets depends on the presence of the following two active ingredients in precise and specific quantities:
Amlodipine: Available in a concentration of 10 mg per tablet, usually as amlodipine besylate, a stable salt of the drug that ensures effective absorption. Amlodipine primarily acts on blood vessels by preventing calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells in the walls of blood vessels, causing them to relax and dilate, thereby reducing resistance to blood flow and lowering blood pressure.
Valsartan: Available in a concentration of 160 mg per tablet. Valsartan works by blocking the binding of the hormone endothelium to its receptors in the blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and adrenal glands. Blocking the effect of endothelium leads to relaxation of blood vessels and reduced secretion of aldosterone (which increases sodium and water retention), thereby lowering blood pressure and reducing the workload on the heart. This dual, complementary effect of amlodipine and valsartan provides more comprehensive and effective blood pressure control than using either drug alone.
Mechanism of Action of Exforge Tablets
Exforge Tablets works by combining two distinct but complementary mechanisms to lower high blood pressure:
Mechanism of Action of Amlodipine (Calcium Channel Blocker): Amlodipine blocks the entry of calcium ions through the slow, voltage-gated, membrane-gated calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac muscle cells. In the blood vessels, this blockade leads to smooth muscle relaxation and dilation of arterial blood vessels, reducing peripheral vascular resistance and lowering blood pressure. In the heart muscle, its effect on contractility is less pronounced but helps reduce the subsequent workload on the heart.
Mechanism of Action of Valsartan (Anti-Inducible In ... Indotensin II is a powerful hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict and increases the secretion of aldosterone, leading to sodium and water retention and increased blood pressure. By blocking the effect of indotensin II, valsartan helps relax blood vessels and reduce blood volume, thus lowering blood pressure and reducing stress on the heart and kidneys.
This combined effect of amlodipine and valsartan provides more effective blood pressure control by targeting two major pathways that regulate blood pressure in the body.
Indications for Exforge Tablets
Exforge tablets are used to treat essential hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults in the following cases:
Patients whose blood pressure has not been adequately controlled with amlodipine or valsartan alone when taken at appropriate doses.
Patients who are already taking amlodipine and valsartan as separate tablets and wish to simplify their treatment regimen by taking a single tablet containing both drugs at the same doses. In some cases, it is used as a first-line treatment for moderate to severe high blood pressure when the physician determines that combination therapy may be more appropriate to achieve rapid and effective blood pressure control and reduce the risk of complications.
Exforge tablets should only be used with a prescription and under the supervision of a qualified physician.