Exforge Tablet 5mg/160mg

TABLET, FILM COATED

**DOSAGE REGIMEN AND ADMINISTRATION** **Dosage regimen** **General target population** The recommended dose of Exforge is one tablet per day. A patient whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on monotherapy may be switched to combination therapy with Exforge. When clinically appropriate, direct change from monotherapy to the fixed-dose combination may be considered. Individual dose titration with the components (i.e. amlodipine and valsartan) is recommended before changing to the fixed dose combination. Exforge may be used as initial therapy in patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve blood pressure goals. The choice of Exforge as initial therapy for hypertension should be based on an assessment of potential benefits and risks. For initial therapy, the usual starting dose is Exforge 5/80 mg once daily. The dosage can be increased after 1 to 2 weeks of therapy to a maximum of one 10/320 mg tablet once daily as needed to control blood pressure. Exforge is not recommended as initial therapy in patients with intravascular volume depletion (see Special Warnings and Precautions – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). The maximum dose is 10/320 mg. Exforge can be used with or without food. It is recommended to take Exforge with some water. For convenience, patients receiving valsartan and amlodipine from separate tablets/capsules may be switched to Exforge containing the same component doses. **Special populations** **Renal impairment** No dosage adjustment is required for patients with mild to moderate renal impairment. Monitoring of potassium levels and creatinine is advised in moderate renal impairment. **Hepatic impairment** Due to amlodipine and valsartan, caution should be exercised when administering Exforge to patients with hepatic impairment or biliary obstructive disorders. Starting with the lowest available dose of amlodipine should be considered. The lowest strength of Exforge contains 5 mg of amlodipine. (See Warnings and Precautions and Clinical Pharmacology – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). In patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment without cholestasis, the maximum recommended dose is 80 mg valsartan. **Geriatric patients (aged 65 years or above)** In elderly patients, no dose adjustment of the starting dose is required. Starting with the lowest available dose of amlodipine should be considered. The lowest strength of Exforge contains 5 mg of amlodipine. However, caution is required when increasing the dosage. (See section CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). **Pediatric patients (below 18 years)** Exforge is not recommended for use in patients aged below 18 years due to a lack of data on safety and efficacy.