Based on FDA | Can I take amlodipine with dairy products like milk or yogurt, or will they affect its absorption?

You can take amlodipine with dairy products like milk or yogurt. Current evidence shows that food, including dairy, does not meaningfully change how your body absorbs amlodipine, and the medicine can be taken with or without meals. ^{[1] [2]}

What the evidence shows

• Official prescribing information notes that the bioavailability (how much drug gets into your system) of amlodipine is not altered by the presence of food. ^[1] This means eating or drinking common foods, such as dairy, does not reduce its absorption in a clinically important way. ^[1]
• Clinical studies in healthy adults found no significant difference in amlodipine absorption when taken in fed versus fasting states. ^[2] These findings support flexible dosing with meals if that’s easier for your routine. ^[2]

Practical guidance

• You may take your dose once daily at the same time each day, with or without food, including milk or yogurt. ^[3] Keeping a consistent schedule can help you remember doses and maintain steady blood levels. ^[3]
• If you experience stomach upset, some people find it more comfortable to take amlodipine with food, and dairy is acceptable for this purpose. ^[3]

Special notes and common myths

• Unlike some antibiotics whose absorption can be reduced by calcium in dairy, amlodipine does not have a known clinically significant interaction with dairy calcium. ^[1] Pharmacokinetic summaries consistently report stable absorption characteristics regardless of food. ^[4]
• Amlodipine’s long half-life and steady blood levels also make it more forgiving of minor timing differences with meals. ^[4]

When to be cautious

• If you take combination tablets that include other medicines (for example, amlodipine with a second drug), the other component could have its own food considerations; check that product’s specific instructions. ^[5]
• If you have liver impairment or are elderly, your doctor may individualize dosing because amlodipine can stay longer in the body, but this is unrelated to dairy intake. ^[4]

Bottom line

• Amlodipine can be taken with dairy products without reducing its effectiveness, and you can take it with or without food based on your preference. ^{[1] [2]}