Which is a blood pressure reducer?

• A. Fluoxetine
• B. Clomicalm
• C. Amlodipine
• D. Mirataz

Answer: (C)

Reducing blood pressure in animals is achieved by medications that relax and dilate blood vessels, lowering the resistance the heart has to pump against. Amlodipine fits this role by blocking L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle. This prevents calcium from entering those cells, causing the arteries to dilate. The result is decreased systemic vascular resistance and a drop in blood pressure. It’s a common long-acting antihypertensive used in dogs and cats.

In contrast, the other drugs listed serve different purposes: fluoxetine is an antidepressant, clomipramine (found in Clomicalm) is a tricyclic antidepressant used for behavior issues, and mirataz is an appetite stimulant (mirtazapine) for cats. None of these primarily lower blood pressure.