Amlodipine 5mg Side Effects - Horrible!

Posted , 27 users are following.

I started researching the Side effects of amlodipine (from users not just what's on the pamphlet you get from the pharmacy, which I always read) as I've been on it for four weeks and am starting to have some serious side effects. From my understanding that's typically about the time the side effects start to show up. Here is a list of what I'm experiencing:

Extreme fatigue

Muscle cramp

Heart Palpitations

Sore skin that burns to the touch

Horrible hot flashes

Chills

Nervous anxiety (I do actually have anxiety)

Nausea and loss of appetite

Tight band feeling around head

Mild headache

General feeling ill

The frustrating part about this is a lot of those symptoms come along with anxiety ...but I had my anxiety pretty much under control. Now I feel as if I'm starting to be out of control again with the symptoms and wondering if it could be the amlodipine?

Any help you can give would be appreciated. I have stop taking the med for now as I'm waiting to hear back from my doctor. My pharmacist also told me it was safe to just stop taking it, but to check my blood pressure twice a day. Thanks again.

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28 Replies

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  • Posted

    Your GP should prescribe something else. Felodipine is similar but without most of the side effects.
    • Posted

      I was taking Amlodipine and had vision problems and headaches. I came off them and was put on Felodipine. I had my dose increased to 5mg and started to get pains in my feet and then in my buttocks and down my legs. It's uncomfortable to sit and lie down. I have come off them and symtoms seem to be decreasing

  • Posted

    Hi Brandy

    I too have problems with it

    I have been on Amlodipine for 7 years

    I had an Aortic valve replaced in 2011 and Ramsay Hunt Shingles 16 months ago

    I have had a fuzzzy / dizzy head and balance problems since then.

    A month ago i started getting dermatitis/ ecezma on my hands right up to the elbow and on the neck.

    I went to the skin specialist and she gave me 1% cortizone with glycerine and cetomacrogol witch really helped. I also have a month on prednisone.

    She also said if the prednisone does not work i need to get my doctor to change my Amlodipene as I may be allergic to it.

    Now I am wondering if it is the reason I am still having dizzy heads and balance problems

    Has anyone heard of this before after 7 years on it ?

    Christine NZ

     

    • Posted

      I posted what I’m going through but yes I’m having the lightheadedness it feels like I’m going to faint all the time I don’t know what to do I’ve been on it one year I don’t want to take it anymore such suffering. Im so dizzy and balance issues also.

  • Edited

    Hello Brandy

    I've been on amlodipine for few yrs now and I get terrible lower back pain so bad AI feel so old the aches and muscle pains are miserable Each time I get up from a sitting position I limp I can't take it anymore I'm going to Dr have him change it no quality of life.

    • Posted

      Hi Chris. I'm sorry you're having these issues. I have not gotten back on amlodipine or any blood pressure meds as the doc at the hospital said my pressure was fine. Actually it was kind of low-ish. I did however find out that I was in withdrawal from lorazepam and didn't know it. So I can't blame all of the above solely on the amlodipine.

      Still, from what I've read it's not a good med. I hope you get something better to deal with your HB. Try lifestyle/eating changes as opposed to meds if you can.

      Good luck.

  • Posted

    Same symptons and similar history spend all my time in my head can't turn off depressed tingling in fingers and face dizzy spells panic attacks from nowhere felt very unstable stopped taking them and things are looking up still edgy but not so much after 5 days off . I think they exasipate any anxiety and the tingling and dizzyness maybe from the anxiety or the drug is cutting off blood flow to head this is how it feels anyway. 

    • Posted

      Dear Alan:

      How are you doing now? I developed anxiety (5/7/20)after taking amlodipine 2.5 mg for 3 months.I stopped the medicine 6/4/20. So far(8/27/20), I still have anxiety. I would appreciate greatly if you can share your experience with me.

  • Posted

    Hi there, my doctor put me on amplodipine 5 mg and now my ankles swell my back lower hurts, my ribs hurts. It it safe to stop. For last year I was on bisoprol 1.5 mg and they made me I'll, bad back my kidneys then I went 2 weeks on Ramipril 1.2 mg I was no ankle swelling feeling okay but I dont know if it was side effects from previous meds still in system started pains in side but hospital said kidneys fine. Then had blood test abnormalities then he put me on stronger 5 mg amlodopine feel tied lazy, back back, feet and ankles swell feel rough. Hot flushes. Hospital infection in urine but going to ultrasound scan. But I need to stop made appointments new doctor ask to change which medication advise????? Shall I stop my back hurts cramped in back kidneys I think Vera

  • Posted

    Hi I was put on Amlodipine 10mg 8 weeks ago blood pressure sky high 245/125 it's brought it down put noticed last couple of weeks bottom of legs hot and swollen and weird marks back of booth legs I'm going back to doctor next week  I don't no what to do do t feel my self  especially when you here all the side effects   Regards Debra

  • Edited

    Brandy,I noticed your post was from 2 years ago. How are things going? I was wondering just how long does it take before feeling better after going off amlodipine? I am on day 8 of being off amlodipine on on Metropolol. The bouts with nausea or a weird strange ill feeling come and go, mostly in the morning. I read a lot of people seem to experience the same in the morning. Wonder if this has something to do with a hormonal change in the early part of the day. Trying to get it all out of my system by drinking plenty of water. Anyone found any current solutions? I went to an ER due to palpitations which I truly believe were from going off the amlodipine. My EKG seemed fine, talked to me about stress anxiety. I think these pills create the anxiety. They seem to somehow alter the nervous system, making you sensitive, anxious, panicky, sleepless, the list goes on and on. Maybe I have some hormonal issues as well, but the amlodipine has seemed to make things worse. Anyone have any current issues or found any solutions that work? Don't want to believe these pills could ruin our lives. I know God as a healer, hoping and praying for his deliverance. We try to go to doctors because they are they to help us feel better. So many medicines contain side effects. Seems we're always chasing the side effects down that they create. Hopefully, prayerfully, someone will have a compassionate solution to help take better care of God's people, without making us ill. God loves us all, and wants us happy and whole.

    • Posted

      MeleMeL::

      Does your anxiety go away? I have severe anxiety after taking amlodipine for 3 months. I developed anxiety 5/7/2020 and stopped the amlodipine 6/4/20. Until now(8/27/20), I still have anxiety.

    • Posted

      H iMelemel, i started taking metropolol tartrate and amlodipine when my pressure went to near 190/120 March 2020 right at the start of COVID. I was near 200lbs. MD put me on meds and I started a healthy diet and wealth lost plan. I have lost 50 lbs the last 10 mos and want to come off metropolo and amlodipine but MD seems to want to keep me on them.

      My side effects started in the last few months (head aches, cold hands and feet, blurred vision, anxiety - stress over things in general, being gassy, swollen ankles, dizzy when standing, ).

      I find that when I drink 1/2 of my weight in oz of water the side effects are less. I'm trying to have my MD reduce both meds... my search shows side effects seems to be less with lower dosage.

      Reply back and let me know how you're doing now.

  • Edited

    I started amlodipine 2.5 mg once per day at night. I took for 3 months and had no side effects. In may 2,2020, I refilled the med, the refill was different batch. I took it for 5 days, I develooed severe anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia and frequent urination at night. I didn't realize what caused all these. In June 4, I suspect all of these symproms must be amlodipine induced( I didn't take anything else( not even vitamins). I discontinued amlodipine. more than two and half months later, , I still have anxiety. insomnia gets better. Does anyone has experience of recovering from amlodipine-indiced anxiety? Thank you very much for your inputs.

    • Edited

      Hi Guoping,

      I am going through exactly same right now, i was taking amlodipine 10mg for almost 3years and anxiety and panic attack started 2,5years after i start taking amlodipine. Frequent urination is a part of this medication how it works, To addition to my anxiety and panic attacks are also muscle tension, headaches, tension headaches, tinnitus, tremors, cold hand and feet and gastric problems. Physical symptoms to my anxiety includes sensations that something is stuck in throat, trembling voice, tingling teeth and cold like runny nose during anxiety attacks. Now i am a month off of amlodipine, tremors, cold hands/feet gastric problems, muscle tension and frequent urination slowly dissapeared, but anxiety and its physical sensation symptoms and tinnitus still doesn't dissapear, i might say anxiety doesn't show up everyday anymore, but tearfullness and sadness are frequent. I just like to ask how are you now 9months later, how long it take for you if so, to get clean from all anxiety and panic attacks, it would be very helpful for people like me which are going through the same now. Thank You very much for your help.

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