How long does it take for amlodipine to work?

Amlodipine decreases blood pressure over 4 to 8 hours after a single dose. Because the decrease in blood pressure is gradual, a patient's heart rate is not affected because their physiological reflexes (such as an increase in heart rate) are not activated.

Amlodipine has high bioavailability (which means it is well absorbed) and is slowly excreted (elimination half-life of 40 to 60 hours) and takes 7 to 10 days of once daily dosing for blood levels to become stable in the body.

On discontinuation of amlodipine, blood pressure levels slowly return to baseline after 7 to 10 days with no evidence of a "rebound" effect (an unwanted sudden increase in blood pressure).

Current guidelines do not recommend amlodipine for an acute hypertensive emergency when blood pressure needs to be lowered quickly. Refer to the most current hypertensive emergency guidelines for preferred choices which may include intravenous labetalol, esmolol, nicardipine, nitroglycerin, or magnesium sulfate (during pregnancy).