Does amlodipine lower your heart rate?

Key takeaways

• Amlodipine is a type of calcium channel blocker (CCB). Some CCBs can lower your heart rate, but amlodipine is a type that affects mainly your blood vessels, so it doesn’t affect your heart rate.
• There are different types of heart rate disorders, known as tachycardia. Each has its own causes and treatments.
• In some cases, doctors will aim to treat underlying conditions causing a fast heart rate. In other cases, medications or procedures may be needed.

Overview

Tachycardia is the medical name for a fast heart rate. It’s a type of heart rhythm problem, and it comes in different forms with different underlying causes.

Amlodipine is a medication called a calcium channel blocker (CCB). While many CCBs can reduce heart rate, amlodipine typically doesn’t. However, it can be used to treat some conditions that may contribute to tachycardia, so it may still indirectly be able to help with heart rate conditions.

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How does amlodipine work?

Amlodipine is a type of medication called a calcium channel blocker (CCB). It’s the generic version of the brand-name drug Norvasc. It’s approved to treat the following conditions:

• hypertension (high blood pressure)
• coronary artery disease (CAD)

CCBs typically work by blocking the amount of calcium that enters the heart and blood vessels. Calcium can stimulate your heart and blood vessels to contract, so reducing calcium levels can relax your blood vessels, leading to reduced blood pressure.

Can amlodipine affect your heart rate?

While other CCBs may be able to treat heart rhythm disorders, amlodipine specifically does not typically reduce your heart rate. This is because CCBs are split into two categories: dihydropyridines and nondihydropyridines.

Dihydropyridines specifically work on your blood vessels throughout your body, whereas nondihydropyridines specifically work on your heart cells. Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine, so it doesn’t work directly in your heart, meaning it doesn’t have a direct impact on your heart rate.

However, amlodipine may have an indirect effect on your heart rate. A type of heart rate condition called supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) can sometimes be caused by hypertension and coronary artery disease. Treating these conditions with amlodipine may reduce the likelihood of SVT, ultimately lowering your heart rate overall.

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What causes a fast heart rate?

Anyone can have a fast heart rate from time to time, particularly due to exercise, stress, or anxiety. However, in some cases, it signals a health condition called tachycardia, defined as a resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute. There are 3 main types of tachycardia.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

SVT happens when the electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart happen abnormally and speed up your heart rate, preventing the heart’s chambers from filling up completely between beats.

SVT is more common with age, in children, or in people experiencing anxiety, but it may also be caused by several underlying conditions, including several affecting the heart and blood vessels, such as:

• heart disease
• coronary artery disease
• lung disease
• high blood pressure

Sinus tachycardia

Sinus tachycardia occurs when your heart’s pacemaker, called the sinus node, sends out signals faster than usual, but the heart still beats correctly. It commonly happens during exercise, but it’s a cause for concern when it happens during restful periods.

Sinus tachycardia is most commonly caused by anxiety or fear, emotional distress, or as a response to exercise. It might also be caused by fever, pain, or the use of illegal drugs. Some less common causes include:

• anemia (low iron)
• heart muscle damage caused by a heart attack or heart failure
• very low blood pressure
• infections

Ventricular tachycardia

In ventricular tachycardia, the electrical signals in your heart’s lower chambers fire too quickly, interfering with the signals from the sinus node. This prevents the heart’s chambers from filling completely between beats, which reduces blood flow to the rest of the body.

Ventricular tachycardia is mostly linked with conditions that affect how your heart conducts electricity, including:

• cardiomyopathy
• disrupted blood flow in the coronary artery
• heart tissue scarring caused by a previous heart attack
• congenital heart conditions

How is a fast heart rate treated?

The best treatment for tachycardia will typically depend on the type of tachycardia affecting you. If your tachycardia is caused by an underlying condition, doctors may aim to treat this condition rather than manage the fast heart rate specifically.

Tachycardia can be treated in different ways:

• Vagal maneuvers: Episodes of SVT, known as paroxysmal SVT, can be managed with methods that stimulate the vagus nerve, like massaging the carotid artery in the neck, coughing, or plunging your face in ice-cold water. These should only be done with a healthcare professional’s supervision.
• Medications: In some cases, medications may be necessary. The primary drug for SVT is adenosine (Adenocard). Other medications include beta-blockers like metoprolol (Lopressor), other CCBs like diltiazem (Cardiazem), and antiarrhythmics like amiodarone (Pacerone).
• Medical procedures: Some medical procedures can help with heart rate disorders.
  • Cardioversion: For SVT, cardioversion involves delivering an electric shock to the heart to create a natural rhythm.
  • Catheter ablation: Thin tubes called catheters are inserted through the veins or arteries. Sensors on the end of the catheter use heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart to block irregular electrical signals. This is most common for SVT.
  • Radiofrequency ablation: For ventricular tachycardia, doctors may perform a procedure that destroys irregular cells causing the tachycardia.
  • Implanted defibrillators: Doctors may perform surgery to implant a cardioverter defibrillator, which can shock the heart to reset a dangerously irregular heartbeat when it happens.

Summary

Tachycardia is the medical term for a fast heart rate, and there are different types of this condition, each with its own causes and treatments.

While some CCBs may be used to manage tachycardia, amlodipine is not one of these. This is because it’s a specific type of CCB that only affects your blood vessels. However, it may treat some underlying conditions that can lead to a fast heart rate.

If you have a fast heart rate, consider reaching out to a healthcare professional. They will be able to diagnose and best treat your condition.

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Disclaimer: While Optum Perks strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses.