Generic drug: amlodipine and celecoxib
Brand name: Consensi
What is Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib), and how does it work?
Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib) is a prescription medicine used in adults who need treatment:
- with amlodipine for high blood pressure (hypertension), to lower blood pressure, and
- with celecoxib for the management of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.
It is not known if Consensi is safe and effective in children.
What are the side effects of Consensi?
WARNING
RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR and GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS
Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in the treatment and may increase with duration of use.
- Consensi is contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation
- NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients and patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.
Consensi can cause serious side effects, including:
- liver problems, including liver failure
- worsening chest pain (angina) or heart attack, particularly in people with severe obstructive coronary artery disease
- heart failure
- swelling of your arms, legs, hands and feet (peripheral edema) is common with Consensi but can sometimes be serious.
- kidney problems, including kidney failure
- increased potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
- life-threatening allergic reactions
- life-threatening skin reactions
- low red blood cells (anemia)
Your healthcare provider will monitor your blood pressure and do blood tests to check you for side effects during treatment with Consensi.
Consensi may cause fertility problems in females that is reversible when treatment with Consensi is stopped. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.
The most common side effects of Consensi include:
- swelling of the arms, legs, hands, and feet
- joint swelling
- dizziness
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
- heartburn
- headache
- frequent urination
- hot or warm feeling in your face (flushing)
- gas
- tiredness
- extreme sleepiness
Get emergency help right away if you get any of the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- chest pain
- weakness in one part or side of your body
- slurred speech
- swelling of the face or throat
Stop taking Consensi and call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms:
- nausea
- more tired or weaker than usual
- diarrhea
- itching
- indigestion or stomach pain
- flu-like symptoms
- vomit blood
- there is blood in your bowel movement or it is black and sticky like tar
- unusual weight gain
- your skin or eyes look yellow
- skin rash or blisters with fever
- swelling of the arms, legs, hands and feet
These are not all the possible side effects of Consensi.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the dosage for Consensi?
Recommended Dosage
- Use the lowest effective dosage of celecoxib for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals. Only 200 mg of celecoxib once daily is available with Consensi.
- Start Consensi in adults at (amlodipine/celecoxib) 5 mg/200 mg orally once daily or 2.5 mg/200 mg in small, fragile, or elderly patients, or patients with mild hepatic insufficiency. Use 2.5 mg/200 mg when adding Consensi to other antihypertensive therapy.
- Adjust amlodipine component dosage according to blood pressure goals. In general, wait 7 to 14 days between titration steps. If more rapid titration is clinically warranted, monitor closely. The maximum dose is 10 mg/200 mg once daily.
Discontinuation
- If analgesic therapy is no longer indicated, discontinue Consensi and initiate patient on alternative antihypertensive therapy, such as amlodipine monotherapy. If Consensi is stopped and replaced with an equal dose of amlodipine, monitor blood pressure carefully.
Replacement Therapy
- For patients receiving celecoxib and amlodipine from separate capsules and tablets, respectively, substitute Consensi containing the same component doses. Monitor blood pressure carefully.

SLIDESHOW
How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips See SlideshowWhat drugs interact with Consensi?
Celecoxib
Clinically significant drug interactions with celecoxib are shown in the following table:
Drugs That Interfere with Hemostasis | |
Clinical Impact: |
|
Intervention: | Monitor patients with concomitant use of celecoxib with anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin), antiplatelet drugs (e.g., aspirin), SSRIs, and SNRIs for signs of bleeding. |
Aspirin | |
Clinical Impact: | Controlled clinical studies showed that the concomitant use of NSAIDs and analgesic doses of aspirin does not produce any greater therapeutic effect than the use of NSAIDs alone. In a clinical study, the concomitant use of an NSAID and aspirin was associated with a significantly increased incidence of GI adverse reactions as compared to use of the NSAID alone. In two studies in healthy volunteers, and in patients with osteoarthritis and established heart disease respectively, celecoxib (200-400 mg daily) has demonstrated a lack of interference with the cardioprotective antiplatelet effect of aspirin (100-325 mg). |
Intervention: | Concomitant use of celecoxib and analgesic doses of aspirin is not generally recommended because of the increased risk of bleeding. Celecoxib is not a substitute for low dose aspirin for CV protection. |
ACE Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, and Beta-Blockers | |
Clinical Impact: |
|
Intervention: |
|
Diuretics | |
Clinical Impact: | Clinical studies, as well as post-marketing observations, showed that NSAIDs reduced the natriuretic effect of loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide) and thiazide diuretics in some patients. This effect has been attributed to the NSAID inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. |
Intervention: | During concomitant use of celecoxib with diuretics, observe patients for signs of worsening renal function, in addition to assuring diuretic efficacy including antihypertensive effects. |
Digoxin | |
Clinical Impact: | The concomitant use of celecoxib with digoxin has been reported to increase the serum concentration and prolong the half-life of digoxin. |
Intervention: | During concomitant use of celecoxib and digoxin, monitor serum digoxin levels. |
Lithium | |
Clinical Impact: | NSAIDs have produced elevations in plasma lithium levels and reductions in renal lithium clearance. The mean minimum lithium concentration increased 15%, and the renal clearance decreased by approximately 20%. This effect has been attributed to NSAID inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. |
Intervention: | During concomitant use of celecoxib and lithium, monitor patients for signs of lithium toxicity. |
Methotrexate | |
Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of NSAIDs and methotrexate may increase the risk for methotrexate toxicity (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction). Celecoxib has no effect on methotrexate pharmacokinetics. |
Intervention: | During concomitant use of celecoxib and methotrexate, monitor patients for methotrexate toxicity. |
Cyclosporine | |
Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of celecoxib and cyclosporine may increase cyclosporine's nephrotoxicity. |
Intervention: | During concomitant use of celecoxib and cyclosporine, monitor patients for signs of worsening renal function. |
NSAIDs and Salicylates | |
Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of celecoxib with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy. |
Intervention: | The concomitant use of celecoxib with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended. |
Pemetrexed | |
Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of celecoxib and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity (see the pemetrexed prescribing information). |
Intervention: | During concomitant use of celecoxib and pemetrexed, in patients with renal impairment whose creatinine clearance ranges from 45 to 79 mL/min, monitor for myelosuppression, renal and GI toxicity. NSAIDs with short elimination half-lives (e.g., diclofenac, indomethacin) should be avoided for a period of two days before, the day of, and two days following administration of pemetrexed. In the absence of data regarding potential interaction between pemetrexed and NSAIDs with longer half-lives (e.g., meloxicam, nabumetone), patients taking these NSAIDs should interrupt dosing for at least five days before, the day of, and two days following pemetrexed administration. |
CYP2C9 Inhibitors or Inducers | |
Clinical Impact: | Celecoxib metabolism is predominantly mediated via CYP2C9 in the liver. Coadministration of celecoxib with drugs that are known to inhibit CYP2C9 (e.g. fluconazole) may enhance the exposure and toxicity of celecoxib whereas co-administration with CYP2C9 inducers (e.g. rifampin) may lead to compromised efficacy of celecoxib. |
Intervention: | Evaluate each patient's medical history when consideration is given to prescribing celecoxib. A dosage adjustment may be warranted when celecoxib is administered with CYP2C9 inhibitors or inducers. |
CYP2D6 Substrates | |
Clinical Impact: | In vitro studies indicate that celecoxib, although not a substrate, is an inhibitor of CYP2D6. Therefore, there is a potential for an in vivo drug interaction with drugs that are metabolized by CYP2D6 (e.g. atomoxetine), and celecoxib may enhance the exposure and toxicity of these drugs. |
Intervention: | Evaluate each patient's medical history when consideration is given to prescribing celecoxib. A dosage adjustment may be warranted when celecoxib is administered with CYP2D6 substrates. |
Corticosteroids | |
Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of corticosteroids with celecoxib may increase the risk of GI ulceration or bleeding. |
Intervention: | Monitor patients with concomitant use of celecoxib with corticosteroids for signs of bleeding. |
Amlodipine
Impact Of Other Drugs On Amlodipine
CYP3A Inhibitors
- Co-administration with CYP3A inhibitors (moderate and strong) results in increased systemic exposure to amlodipine and may require dose reduction. Monitor for symptoms of hypotension and edema when amlodipine is co-administered with CYP3A inhibitors to determine the need for dose adjustment.
CYP3A Inducers
- No information is available on the quantitative effects of CYP3A inducers on amlodipine. Blood pressure should be closely monitored when amlodipine is co-administered with CYP3A inducers.
Impact Of Amlodipine On Other Drugs
- Co-administration of simvastatin with amlodipine increases the systemic exposure of simvastatin. Limit the dose of simvastatin in patients on amlodipine to 20 mg daily.
Immunosuppressants
- Amlodipine may increase the systemic exposure of cyclosporine or tacrolimus when co-administered. Frequent monitoring of trough blood levels of cyclosporine and tacrolimus is recommended and adjust the dose when appropriate.
Latest High Blood Pressure News
Daily Health News
Is Consensi safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Use of NSAIDs, including Consensi, can cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus and fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal impairment.
- Because of these risks, limit dose and duration of Consensi use between about 20 and 30 weeks of gestation and avoid Consensi use at about 30 weeks of gestation and later in pregnancy.
- The available published literature report the individual components of Consensi (celecoxib, amlodipine) are present in human breast milk at low levels.
- No adverse effects of amlodipine were observed in the breastfed infants.
- There is no available information on the effects of celecoxib or amlodipine on milk production.

QUESTION
Salt and sodium are the same. See AnswerSummary
Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib) is a prescription medicine used in adults who need treatment with amlodipine for high blood pressure (hypertension), to lower blood pressure, and with celecoxib for the management of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. Serious side effects of Consensi include increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events (potentially fatal heart attack and stroke) and serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (potentially fatal bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines).
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Medications & Supplements
- High Blood Pressure Drugs (Hypertension)
- amlodipine/benazepril - oral, Lotrel
- amlodipine - oral, Norvasc
- celecoxib - oral, Celebrex
- Aleve (naproxen) vs. Celebrex (celecoxib)
- celecoxib (Celebrex)
- amlodipine (Norvasc)
- Side Effects of Celebrex (celecoxib)
- Side Effects of Norvasc (amlodipine besylate)
- Lotrel (amlodipine and benazepril)
- Side Effects of Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan)
- Side Effects of Lotrel (amlodipine and benazepril)
- Types of High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Medications
- amlodipine and valsartan (Exforge)
- amlodipine/atorvastatin - oral, Caduet
- Azor (amlodipine and olmesartan medoxomil)
- Tribenzor (olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide)
- Prestalia (perindopril arginine and amlodipine)
- Conjupri (levamlodipine)
Prevention & Wellness
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