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Published on: August 13, 2019
Amlodipine gynaecomastia
1Department of Radiotherapy, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton SM2 5PT, UK.
Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|February 18, 2004
Summary
This case study details gynecomastia, a side effect of amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker). Symptoms in a 70-year-old male resolved after discontinuing the medication, suggesting a direct link.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Gynecomastia, the enlargement of male breast tissue, can be a side effect of various medications.
- Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, is commonly prescribed for hypertension and angina.
- Drug-induced gynecomastia is a recognized but infrequent adverse effect.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the second confirmed case of gynecomastia associated with amlodipine use.
- To highlight the potential causal relationship between amlodipine and gynecomastia.
- To discuss potential underlying mechanisms for this adverse drug reaction.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 70-year-old male patient experiencing gynecomastia.
- Clinical observation of symptom onset after initiating amlodipine therapy.
- Assessment of symptom resolution following amlodipine withdrawal.
Main Results:
- The patient developed gynecomastia within three months of starting amlodipine.
- Gynecomastia symptoms resolved within three weeks after discontinuing amlodipine.
- This temporal relationship strongly suggests amlodipine as the causative agent.
Conclusions:
- Amlodipine can cause gynecomastia, as evidenced by this case.
- Prompt recognition and drug withdrawal are crucial for managing amlodipine-induced gynecomastia.
- Further research into the mechanisms of amlodipine-associated gynecomastia is warranted.
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