If you have been prescribed Vasloc, you may be using it to help manage high blood pressure or angina pectoris. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that happens when the heart does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, often does not cause symptoms, but it can put strain on your heart and blood vessels over time.
Vasloc contains the active ingredient amlodipine, in the form of amlodipine besilate. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers. These medicines help relax blood vessels so blood can flow more easily, which can reduce blood pressure and ease the workload on the heart.
SCHEDULING STATUS : S3
What it is and what it is used for
What Vasloc contains
If you are taking Vasloc, your tablet contains amlodipine as amlodipine besilate.
There are two strengths:
- Vasloc 5 mg tablets: each tablet contains 5 mg amlodipine
- Vasloc 10 mg tablets: each tablet contains 10 mg amlodipine
Vasloc is described as a selective calcium channel blocker with mainly vascular effects. This means it mainly works on your blood vessels.
Why you may have been prescribed Vasloc
Your doctor may prescribe Vasloc for:
- Angina pectoris
- Mild to moderate hypertension, either:
- on its own, or
- together with other blood pressure medicines
If you are taking it for high blood pressure, you may not feel any different at first. That does not mean the medicine is not working. High blood pressure often needs regular treatment even when you feel well.
If you are taking it for angina, the aim is to reduce the strain on your heart and help with symptoms linked to reduced oxygen supply to the heart.
How it works
Vasloc helps by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessel walls. When these blood vessels relax, they become wider. This makes it easier for blood to move through them.
For high blood pressure, this relaxing effect can help lower the pressure inside your blood vessels.
For angina, Vasloc helps reduce the amount of work your heart has to do. When your heart works against less resistance, it may need less oxygen. This can help reduce the burden on the heart in people with angina.
Vasloc does this by reducing the movement of calcium into certain muscle cells in the heart and blood vessels. Calcium helps muscles tighten. By slowing calcium movement into these cells, Vasloc helps the blood vessels relax.
The source information states that Vasloc has minimal action on the heart’s electrical conduction, heart contraction, and heart rate.
Who should NOT use this medicine
Do not use Vasloc if you:
- Are allergic to amlodipine
- Are allergic to dihydropyridines
- Are allergic to any other ingredient in Vasloc
- Have severe hypotension, meaning very low blood pressure
- Are in shock, including cardiogenic shock
- Have obstruction of blood flow out of the left side of the heart, such as high-grade aortic stenosis
- Have haemodynamically unstable heart failure after an acute myocardial infarction during the first 28 days
- Have unstable angina pectoris
- Need urgent lowering of blood pressure
- Are pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Are a child, because safety in children has not been established
Warning: Vasloc should not be used to quickly reduce blood pressure in an emergency. Its safety and effectiveness in hypertensive crisis have not been established.
Warnings and precautions
If you have heart failure
If you have heart failure, your doctor should use Vasloc with caution.
Studies in patients with severe heart failure reported a higher rate of pulmonary oedema in people treated with amlodipine compared with placebo. Pulmonary oedema means fluid build-up in the lungs.
Calcium channel blockers, including Vasloc, should be used carefully in people with congestive heart failure. The source states that they may increase the risk of future cardiovascular events and death.
If you have severe aortic stenosis
If you have severe aortic stenosis, Vasloc may increase your risk of developing heart failure.
Aortic stenosis means narrowing of the valve or area where blood leaves the heart. This can make it harder for the heart to pump blood properly.
If you have liver problems
If your liver is not working well, Vasloc may stay in your body for longer. Your doctor may start you on the lower end of the dose range and increase the dose slowly.
If you have severe liver impairment, careful monitoring may be needed, especially when starting treatment or increasing your dose.
If you have kidney problems
If you have kidney impairment, the normal dose is recommended in the source information.
Vasloc is not dialysable. This means dialysis is not expected to remove it from your body effectively.
If you are elderly
If you are elderly, your body may clear Vasloc more slowly. This can make the medicine stay in your body longer and increase exposure to it.
Your doctor may start you on a lower dose and increase it carefully.
If you already have low blood pressure
If your blood pressure is already low, Vasloc should be used with caution. It can lower blood pressure further, especially if you take other medicines that also lower blood pressure.
If you have diabetes
Vasloc may affect insulin and glucose responses. If you are using antidiabetic treatment, your doctor may need to adjust it.
If you have porphyria
Safety in porphyria has not been established.
If you are a child or caring for a child
Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established. Vasloc should not be used in children according to the source information.
If you need laboratory tests
Calcium channel blockers such as Vasloc may interfere with plasma aldosterone and renin ratios in laboratory tests.
If you are having blood tests or hormone-related investigations, tell your healthcare provider that you are taking Vasloc.
If you need to stop Vasloc
Do not suddenly stop taking Vasloc unless your doctor tells you to.
Sudden withdrawal may be linked with worsening angina. If your treatment needs to stop, your doctor may reduce the dose gradually under supervision.
If you develop chest pain after taking it
The source states that Vasloc should be stopped in patients who have ischaemic pain after use. Ischaemic pain means pain caused by reduced blood flow, often involving the heart.
If you notice new, worsening, or concerning chest pain, seek medical advice urgently.
Driving and using machines
Vasloc can have a minor or moderate effect on your ability to drive or operate machinery.
You may experience:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea
These can affect your reaction time.
Note: Be careful when you first start Vasloc. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do risky tasks until you know how it affects you.
Alcohol
Not specified in the source.
Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant
Do not use Vasloc during pregnancy. The source states that Vasloc is contraindicated during pregnancy.
The safety of Vasloc in pregnancy has not been established. Animal studies reported reproductive toxicity at high doses.
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
If you are planning pregnancy
Not specified in the source. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before use if you are planning pregnancy.
If you are breastfeeding
Do not use Vasloc while breastfeeding. The source states that Vasloc is contraindicated during breastfeeding.
Amlodipine passes into human milk. The amount received by the baby has been estimated with an interquartile range of 3–7 %, with a maximum of 15 %. The effect of amlodipine on infants is unknown.
Fertility
There have been reports of reversible biochemical changes in the heads of sperm cells in people receiving calcium channel blockers such as Vasloc.
The source states that there is not enough clinical data about the possible effect of Vasloc on human fertility.
Interactions
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines and health products you use. This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and herbal products.
Medicines that may increase Vasloc levels
Some medicines can increase the amount of Vasloc in your body. This may increase your risk of low blood pressure.
This may be more noticeable if you are elderly.
Your doctor may need to monitor you or adjust treatment if you use Vasloc with medicines called strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, including:
- Protease inhibitors such as ritonavir
- Azole antifungals
- Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin or clarithromycin
- Verapamil
- Diltiazem
Medicines that may reduce or change Vasloc levels
Some medicines may change the amount of Vasloc in your blood. Your doctor may monitor your blood pressure and adjust your dose during and after combined use.
Examples include:
- Rifampicin
- St John’s wort
The effect of Vasloc may be reduced when taken with enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic medicines such as:
- Carbamazepine
- Phenobarbitone
- Phenytoin
Sodium valproate has been reported to increase plasma concentrations.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice
Do not take Vasloc with grapefruit or grapefruit juice unless your doctor has specifically advised you.
Grapefruit may increase the amount of Vasloc available in your body in some people. This can make the blood-pressure-lowering effect stronger.
Dantrolene infusion
Using Vasloc with dantrolene infusion may cause hyperkalaemia, which means high potassium levels in the blood.
This combination should be avoided in people susceptible to malignant hyperthermia and during treatment of malignant hyperthermia.
Other blood pressure medicines
Vasloc can add to the blood-pressure-lowering effect of other medicines.
The source states that no dose reduction is required when Vasloc is added to:
- Thiazide diuretics
- Beta blockers
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
However, Vasloc will not protect you from the effects of suddenly stopping a beta blocker. If a beta blocker needs to be stopped, the dose should be reduced gradually.
Lithium
Using lithium with Vasloc may cause lithium-induced neurotoxicity.
Symptoms may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Problems with coordination, called ataxia
- Tremors
- Ringing in the ears, called tinnitus
Caution is recommended.
Tacrolimus
If you take tacrolimus with Vasloc, tacrolimus blood levels may increase.
Your doctor may need to monitor tacrolimus levels and adjust the tacrolimus dose to avoid toxicity.
mTOR inhibitors
Caution is advised if you take Vasloc with mTOR inhibitors such as:
- Temsirolimus
- Everolimus
- Sirolimus
Vasloc may increase exposure to these medicines.
Ciclosporin
In kidney transplant patients, using ciclosporin with amlodipine may increase ciclosporin levels.
If you are a renal transplant patient using ciclosporin, monitoring and dose adjustment may be needed.
Simvastatin
If you take simvastatin with Vasloc, the simvastatin dose should be limited to 20 mg per day.
The source states that taking 80 mg simvastatin with 10 mg Vasloc increased simvastatin exposure by 77 %.
Atorvastatin, digoxin, and warfarin
Clinical interaction studies showed that Vasloc does not affect the pharmacokinetics of:
- Atorvastatin
- Digoxin
- Warfarin
Pharmacokinetics means how your body absorbs, processes, and removes a medicine.
Quinidine and procainamide
Vasloc is extensively processed in the liver by the CYP3A4 pathway. Interactions may occur with other medicines using the same pathway, such as:
- Quinidine
- Procainamide
The source notes that both medicine groups have negative inotropic properties, meaning they may reduce the force of heart muscle contraction.
Medicines for angina
If you use Vasloc with sublingual nitro-glycerine, long-acting nitrates, or other antianginal medicines, the effects on blood pressure and angina may add together.
The source states that sublingual nitro-glycerine may be used as needed to stop acute angina attacks during Vasloc therapy. Nitrate medicines may also be used during Vasloc therapy to help prevent angina.
How to take Vasloc
Taking your dose
Take Vasloc exactly as your doctor tells you.
You should take it:
- By mouth
- Once daily
- With or without food
Try to take your dose as part of the same daily routine. For example, you may link it with another regular daily activity, such as brushing your teeth. Only use this as a routine reminder; do not change the dose or timing your doctor gave you.
Adult dose for high blood pressure or angina
The recommended starting dose for adults is:
- 5 mg once daily
If there is no improvement after 10–14 days, your doctor may increase the dose to:
- 10 mg once daily
Do not increase the dose yourself.
If you are elderly
A lower starting dose may be used. Any increase should be done carefully.
If you have kidney impairment
The normal dose is recommended. Vasloc is not dialysable.
If you have severe liver impairment
Treatment should start at the lowest dose and be increased slowly. Your doctor may monitor you carefully.
If you are caring for a child
Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.
If you miss a dose
Not specified in the source. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose.
If you take too much
If you take too much Vasloc, the side effects may become stronger or more serious.
A large overdose may cause:
- Excessive widening of blood vessels
- Possible reflex tachycardia, meaning a fast heartbeat in response to low blood pressure
- Marked and possibly prolonged low blood pressure
- Shock
- Fatal outcome in severe cases
Warning: If you think you or someone else has taken too much Vasloc, seek urgent medical help immediately.
Healthcare professionals may manage overdose with active heart and circulation support. This may include frequent monitoring of heart and breathing function, raising the limbs, managing fluid volume and urine output, and other treatment as needed.
Activated charcoal may reduce absorption if given up to 2 hours after taking 10 mg Vasloc in healthy volunteers.
Dialysis is unlikely to help because Vasloc is highly protein-bound.
Dosing table
| Person or situation | Dose | Frequency | Maximum daily dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults with hypertension or angina | Start with 5 mg; may increase to 10 mg after 10–14 days if there is no improvement | Once daily | 10 mg once daily |
| Elderly patients | Lower initial dose may be used | Once daily | Not specified in the source |
| Kidney impairment | Normal adult dosage recommended | Once daily | Not specified beyond adult dosing |
| Severe liver impairment | Start at the lowest dose and increase slowly | Once daily | Not specified in the source |
| Children | Safety and efficacy not established | Not specified in the source | Not specified in the source |
Possible side effects
You may not get side effects, but it is important to know what to watch for. Some side effects can happen when you start treatment, while others may need medical attention.
The most frequently reported side effects during treatment are:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Palpitations
- Flushing
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Ankle swelling
- Oedema
- Fatigue
Common side effects
These side effects were listed as frequent:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Headache, especially when starting treatment
- Palpitations
- Flushing
- Shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Changes in bowel habits, including diarrhoea and constipation
- Ankle swelling
- Muscle cramps
- Oedema or peripheral oedema, meaning swelling caused by fluid build-up
- Fatigue
- Weakness or lack of energy
Less common side effects
Less frequent side effects include:
- Low white blood cell count
- Low platelet count
- Purpura, which may look like purple spots or bruising under the skin
- Haemorrhage
- Blood disorders
- Allergic reactions such as itching, rash, angioedema, or erythema multiforme
- High blood sugar
- Depression
- Mood changes, including anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Confusion
- Tremor
- Taste changes
- Fainting
- Reduced sense of touch
- Pins and needles
- Increased muscle tone
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Visual disturbance, including double vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Heart rhythm problems, including slow heartbeat, ventricular tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation
- Myocardial infarction
- Low blood pressure, including low blood pressure when standing
- Vasculitis
- Cough
- Rhinitis
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Pancreatitis
- Gastritis
- Gum overgrowth
- Hepatitis
- Jaundice
- Raised liver enzymes, mostly linked with cholestasis
- Hair loss
- Skin colour changes
- Excess sweating
- Itching
- Rash
- Hives
- Angioedema
- Erythema multiforme
- Exfoliative dermatitis
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Quincke oedema
- Sensitivity to sunlight
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Back pain
- Urination problems
- Night-time urination
- Increased urination frequency
- Impotence
- Breast enlargement in men
- Chest pain
- Pain
- Feeling unwell
- Taste disturbance
- Weight increase
- Weight decrease
Serious side effects — seek urgent help
Seek urgent medical help if you notice symptoms that may suggest a serious reaction, such as:
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe rash
- Blistering, peeling, or painful skin
- Fainting
- Severe dizziness
- Symptoms of very low blood pressure
- New or worsening chest pain
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Serious heart rhythm symptoms
- Severe allergic reaction
Toxic epidermal necrolysis has been reported with unknown frequency. This is a serious skin reaction and needs emergency care.
Exceptional cases of extrapyramidal syndrome have also been reported. This may involve movement-related symptoms.
Reporting side effects in South Africa
In South Africa, suspected side effects can be reported to SAHPRA. Healthcare providers are asked to report suspected adverse reactions using the 6.04 Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting Form available through SAHPRA publications.
Storage and disposal
How to store Vasloc
Store Vasloc:
- At or below 30 °C
- In the original package
- In a safe place out of reach of children
- In the carton until you need to use it
Do not remove the blisters from the carton until needed.
Expiry
The shelf life is 3 years.
Do not use expired medicine. If you are unsure whether your tablets are still suitable, ask your pharmacist.
Disposal
No special disposal requirements are stated in the source.
For safety, do not leave unused tablets where children can reach them. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of unused or expired medicine.
What the medicine contains
Active ingredient
| Product | Active ingredient |
|---|---|
| Vasloc 5 mg tablets | 5 mg amlodipine as amlodipine besilate |
| Vasloc 10 mg tablets | 10 mg amlodipine as amlodipine besilate |
Other ingredients
Vasloc also contains:
- Mannitol
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Magnesium stearate
- Colloidal silica anhydrous
- Sodium starch glycolate
Vasloc is sugar free.
Pack information and appearance
Vasloc 5 mg tablets
If you are taking Vasloc 5 mg, the tablet is:
- White to off-white
- Octagonal shaped
- Uncoated
- Marked with “AM 5” on one side
- Plain on the other side
Vasloc 10 mg tablets
If you are taking Vasloc 10 mg, the tablet is:
- White to off-white
- Octagonal shaped
- Uncoated
- Marked with “AM 10” on one side
- Plain on the other side
Packaging
Vasloc tablets are packed in PVC/PVDC/aluminium foil blister strips.
Cartons may contain:
- 28 tablets
- 30 tablets
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Practical FAQs
Can I take Vasloc with food?
Yes. You may take Vasloc with or without food.
How often should I take Vasloc?
For adults with high blood pressure or angina, Vasloc is taken once daily.
What dose will I usually start with?
The usual starting dose for adults is 5 mg once daily. If there is no improvement after 10–14 days, your doctor may increase it to 10 mg once daily.
Can I increase my dose myself if my blood pressure is still high?
No. The source states that the dose may be increased after 10–14 days if there is no improvement, but this should be done by your doctor.
Can I take Vasloc if I have kidney problems?
The source states that normal dosing is recommended in renal impairment. Vasloc is not dialysable.
Can I take Vasloc if I have liver problems?
If you have severe liver impairment, Vasloc should be started at the lowest dose and increased slowly. Careful monitoring may be needed.
Can I drink grapefruit juice while taking Vasloc?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are not recommended. They may increase Vasloc’s effect in some people and cause stronger blood-pressure lowering.
Can I stop Vasloc suddenly?
No. Sudden withdrawal may worsen angina. If Vasloc needs to be stopped, your doctor may reduce the dose gradually under medical supervision.
Can I drive while taking Vasloc?
Be careful, especially when starting treatment. Vasloc may cause dizziness, headache, tiredness, or nausea, which can affect your ability to react.
Can I use Vasloc during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
No. Vasloc is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Sources :
Written by: RxZest Editorial Team
Editorial review: Checked for readability, structure, and source alignment
Based on SAHPRA-approved information : Vasloc
Last updated: [01/05/2026]
