| Hypertensive disease
Bystolic vs Norvasc
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for hypertensive disease.Deep comparison between: Bystolic vs Norvasc with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsNorvasc has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Bystolic based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Norvasc but not Bystolic, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Bystolic
Norvasc
At A Glance
Oral
Daily
Selective beta-1 blocker
Oral
Once daily
Calcium channel blocker
Indications
- Hypertensive disease
- Hypertensive disease
- Stable angina
- Angina Pectoris, Variant
- Coronary Artery Disease
Dosing
Hypertensive disease Start at 5 mg once daily, with or without food; increase at 2-week intervals up to 40 mg. In severe renal impairment (ClCr <30 mL/min), start at 2.5 mg once daily. In moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B), start at 2.5 mg once daily.
Hypertensive disease - Adults The usual initial antihypertensive oral dose of NORVASC is 5 mg once daily, and the maximum dose is 10 mg once daily. Small, fragile, or elderly patients, or patients with hepatic insufficiency may be started on 2.5 mg once daily and this dose may be used when adding NORVASC to other antihypertensive therapy. Adjust dosage according to blood pressure goals. In general, wait 7 to 14 days between titration steps. Titrate more rapidly, however, if clinically warranted, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Hypertensive disease - Pediatric patients The effective antihypertensive oral dose in pediatric patients ages 6-17 years is 2.5 mg to 5 mg once daily. Doses in excess of 5 mg daily have not been studied in pediatric patients.
Stable angina The recommended dose for chronic stable angina is 5-10 mg once daily, with the lower dose suggested in the elderly and in patients with hepatic insufficiency. Most patients will require 10 mg for adequate effect.
Angina Pectoris, Variant The recommended dose for vasospastic angina is 5-10 mg once daily, with the lower dose suggested in the elderly and in patients with hepatic insufficiency. Most patients will require 10 mg for adequate effect.
Coronary Artery Disease The recommended dose range for patients with coronary artery disease is 5-10 mg once daily. In clinical studies, the majority of patients required 10 mg.
Contraindications
- Severe bradycardia
- Heart block greater than first degree
- Cardiogenic shock
- Decompensated cardiac failure
- Sick sinus syndrome (unless a permanent pacemaker is in place)
- Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh >B)
- Hypersensitivity to any component of this product
- Known sensitivity to amlodipine
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=1%) Headache, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, bradycardia, chest pain, peripheral edema, insomnia, dyspnea, rash
Postmarketing Abnormal hepatic function, acute pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, atrioventricular block (second and third degree), bronchospasm, erectile dysfunction, hypersensitivity (urticaria, allergic vasculitis, angioedema), hypotension, myocardial infarction, pruritus, psoriasis, Raynaud's phenomenon, peripheral ischemia/claudication, somnolence, syncope, thrombocytopenia, vertigo, vomiting
Most common adverse reactions (incidence >1%) The most common adverse reaction to amlodipine is edema which occurred in a dose related manner (up to 10.8% at 10 mg dose vs 0.6% placebo). Other adverse experiences not dose related but reported with an incidence >1.0% are fatigue (4.5%), nausea (2.9%), abdominal pain (1.6%), and somnolence (1.4%).
Dose-related adverse reactions Edema: 1.8% (2.5 mg), 3.0% (5 mg), 10.8% (10 mg) vs 0.6% (placebo). Dizziness: 1.1% (2.5 mg), 3.4% (5 mg), 3.4% (10 mg) vs 1.5% (placebo). Flushing: 0.7% (2.5 mg), 1.4% (5 mg), 2.6% (10 mg) vs 0.0% (placebo). Palpitation: 0.7% (2.5 mg), 1.4% (5 mg), 4.5% (10 mg) vs 0.6% (placebo).
Gender differences For several adverse experiences that appear to be drug and dose related, there was a greater incidence in women than men: Edema (14.6% female vs 5.6% male), Flushing (4.5% female vs 1.5% male), Palpitations (3.3% female vs 1.4% male).
Less common adverse reactions (<1% but >0.1%) Cardiovascular: arrhythmia (including ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation), bradycardia, chest pain, peripheral ischemia, syncope, tachycardia, vasculitis. Central and Peripheral Nervous System: hypoesthesia, neuropathy peripheral, paresthesia, tremor, vertigo. Gastrointestinal: anorexia, constipation, dysphagia, diarrhea, flatulence, pancreatitis, vomiting, gingival hyperplasia. General: allergic reaction, asthenia, back pain, hot flushes, malaise, pain, rigors, weight gain, weight decrease. Musculoskeletal: arthralgia, arthrosis, muscle cramps, myalgia. Psychiatric: sexual dysfunction, insomnia, nervousness, depression, abnormal dreams, anxiety, depersonalization. Respiratory: dyspnea, epistaxis. Skin: angioedema, erythema multiforme, pruritus, rash, rash erythematous, rash maculopapular. Special Senses: abnormal vision, conjunctivitis, diplopia, eye pain, tinnitus. Urinary: micturition frequency, micturition disorder, nocturia. Autonomic: dry mouth, sweating increased. Metabolic: hyperglycemia, thirst. Hemopoietic: leukopenia, purpura, thrombocytopenia.
Postmarketing experience Gynecomastia has been reported infrequently. Jaundice and hepatic enzyme elevations (mostly consistent with cholestasis or hepatitis), in some cases severe enough to require hospitalization, have been reported in association with use of amlodipine. A possible association between extrapyramidal disorder and amlodipine has been reported.
Pharmacology
Nebivolol is a beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent; at doses <=10 mg in extensive metabolizers it is preferentially beta1-selective, while in poor metabolizers or at higher doses it inhibits both beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors, lacking intrinsic sympathomimetic and membrane-stabilizing activity at therapeutically relevant concentrations.
Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow-channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. Amlodipine binds to both dihydropyridine and nondihydropyridine binding sites. The contractile processes of cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle are dependent upon the movement of extracellular calcium ions into these cells through specific ion channels. Amlodipine inhibits calcium ion influx across cell membranes selectively, with a greater effect on vascular smooth muscle cells than on cardiac muscle cells. Amlodipine is a peripheral arterial vasodilator that acts directly on vascular smooth muscle to cause a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance and reduction in blood pressure. In patients with exertional angina, NORVASC reduces the total peripheral resistance (afterload) against which the heart works and reduces the rate pressure product, and thus myocardial oxygen demand, at any given level of exercise. In vasospastic angina, NORVASC blocks constriction and restores blood flow in coronary arteries and arterioles, inhibiting coronary spasm. Following administration of therapeutic doses to hypertensive patients, NORVASC produces vasodilation resulting in a reduction of supine and standing blood pressures. These decreases in blood pressure are not accompanied by a significant change in heart rate or plasma catecholamine levels with chronic dosing. With chronic once daily oral administration, antihypertensive effectiveness is maintained for at least 24 hours. Plasma concentrations correlate with effect in both young and elderly patients.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Bystolic
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (4/12) · Qty limit (1/12)
Norvasc
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (0/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Bystolic
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (1/8)
Norvasc
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Bystolic
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (2/3) · Step Therapy (2/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Norvasc
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Bystolic.
No savings programs available for Norvasc.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.