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Amlodipine Hell.. coming off it.

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jeff09792
jeff09792

I was put on Amlodipine about 2 1/2 months ago for slighlty high BP. (Im 45 super fit kick box all the time) About 1 month in I noticed heart palputations laying in bed at night , and small bouts of blurry vision. 2 month mark I was tired all the time and had chest and left arm pain. Been to ER had stress test, EKG etc blood test eveything OK.

Then out of nowhere brain fog hit, head aches, overall weakness nuasea, arm and chest pain. It took me noticing when I took a pill, arm pain got worse and had trouble swallowing. So found this site and took my last pill 11 days ago.

First 3 days vision better no brian fog. Day 7-8 bad flash back of wekness nausea chest and arm pain. Now day 11 of being off, it I still do not feel 100% left arm chest pain little better, nausea comes and goes. I am convinced it is Amlodipine Docotor says no. Ive had additional blood test this week, all came back fine. So two months taking it hoping at two week mark of not taking pills I really start to improve. As far as BP drinking beet juice once a day keeps it in check.

6 likes, 154 replies

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  • d01875
    d01875 jeff09792

    Edited

    Hi Jeff

    It's good that the side effects kicked in so soon, that way you have more chance of recognising that it's the pills doing it. If you read other posts, you find that many take them for years before anything happens and then it can take many months or years before you discover that the pills are to blame, all the time getting worse and worse. Makes life pure misery. What I find frustrating, is that no matter how many tests you have, EKG, blood tests, endoscopy (as in my case), specialists, the list is endless, but all come back negative and clear. In my case, the doctors kept telling me it wasn't the pills and I'm sure they thought me a hypochondriac and started treating me as such. I thought I was going mad, or had dementia, the mental effects were so bad. Physically, I was unable to function.

    Pleased you are off them and I'm sure you'll continue to improve now.

    • chris21802
      chris21802 d01875

      Edited

      , dear do the doctor say the same thing to me it's not the medicine it's not the medicine and I'm telling them it is the medicine change it I have severe muscle spasms in my back I have pain in my ankle and my foot I keep getting terrible bouts of gout terrible will you can't quit cold turkey on amlodipine because you could get a heart attack stupid government insurance I'm on coumadin and my doctor doesn't call me for when the blood level is too high or too low two months ago it was three weeks before she called me and I told her I said what is with you people I end up trying to self dose myself because they're so incompetent

    • Guest
      Guest d01875

      Edited

      Hi i just found this post by googling for help. i have been on Amplodipine for 8 months but in the last 3 weeks have developed awful gastric problems. bloating, looser stools, stomach pain, etc. I have been referred to a gastro doc. I am terrified I have cancer. Can you tell me why you were given an endoscopy? was it for similar reasons?

      thank you

    • deb36125
      deb36125 chris21802

      Edited

      I have been on 4 different blood pressure meds so far. I was on lisinopril the longest, but when he had to increase the dosage my cough was insane, so he switched to amlodipine. I have intense ringing in my ears and a weird headache. I called my dr today and explained what was going on and he is switching me to benicar. The office staff said I don't have to wean off of it, but I am going to ask my pharmacist. I have found that pharmacists know more about drug side effects and interactions. I also explained to the dr when I was there last visit that if I have to take this drug for my BP probably forever that I want one with the least side effects. I asked him if he was willing to help me with the task of finding the best med and he said that he was. So when I called today to let him know my symptoms he was willing to change it. I also have an appointment on Tuesday with an ENT because the ringing, pressure and headache in my head is terrible and I read amlodipine is ototoxic. I want to make sure my ears aren't damaged or I have a brain tumor because that's how bad it is. Still need to find out from my pharmacist if I need to wean off of amlodipine or just go off and start taking the benicar. My drs office said I don't have to but I will ask my pharmacist to be sure. I will keep you all up to date. Hope you all feel better too.

    • Willardolson
      Willardolson deb36125

      Edited

      Deb, did the ringing in your ears stop? I can hear the ringing in my classroom over middle schoolers. I am going to call my doctor first thing to get off. Just praying the fullness my ears and throat, loss of taste and ringing in my ears improves.

    • agatha76319
      agatha76319 deb36125

      Posted

      Deb, been on Amlodipine. Stopped taking the meds about 2 weeks ago but I still get weird headaches. . . how long did yours last, and what did they feel like?

    • deb36125
      deb36125 Willardolson

      Posted

      it greatly lessened, but I still have mild ringing (which I always have had since I get labrinthytis on occasion as well). I apologize for not responding sooner. I have been off the web except for work related reasons. I hope you have improved. This new blood pressure med is working nicely for me. I am pleased. The dr recently put me on a new cholesterol med because the previous med gave me muscle aches.

    • deb36125
      deb36125 agatha76319

      Posted

      they went away within a week or two. I felt improved daily. It was the most horrible experience on that pill. I am glad I am off of it. On occasion I still get an odd headache, but it is rare and the ringing is mostly gone.

    • agatha76319
      agatha76319 deb36125

      Posted

      This odd headache is what drives me crazy, I feel pressure in the head. Something that feels like brain zaps from time to time a clicking, burning or cold sensation in the head. Sometime get post nasal drops

    • MeleMel
      MeleMel Guest

      Edited

      Guest

      What did you find out? I have gotten the same stomach pain and gastirc problems. Hopefully your diagnosis came out ok. This medication is horrible.

    • robert79939
      robert79939 d01875

      Edited

      how long were you off it before you started feeling better ? I quit taking it this weekend after many diet changes and having constant upset stomach issues as well as a swollen and sore tongue and mouth

    • Guest
      Guest MeleMel

      Posted

      Hi, Mel and Rob,

      I have been experiencing the same problems as you both, sore mouth, gums, stomach and acid issues. Plus tremors and muscle weakness, ask the doctor if I could come off them. he said yes my b/p was sable. But 5 weeks of amlopine I'm still suffering the symptoms.

      And I can't hardly walk as the tablets have also affected my feet.

      Having blood tests on Tuesday.

      I agree this meditation should be banned.

  • cpwood
    cpwood jeff09792

    Edited

    See your doctor NOW!  Almost immediately after my Amlodipine dosage was increased from 5 to10 mg I felt palpitations and weakness.  I went to my doctor and found I had developed aFib.  Even after I gave up the medicine it continued to get worse until I actually passed out and ended up in the hospital for a pacemaker.

     

    • jeff09792
      jeff09792 cpwood

      Edited

      Well I had another EKG blood test and chest xray a week ago, everything looks good
  • bellabruno
    bellabruno jeff09792

    Edited

    HI There, I find it amazing how many people are suffering on this drug and DRs are still prescribing it. I have an apt today with with my primary care. She is not aware I stopped taking it.  Every day is a little better for me, I still have a long way to go and I am hoping for a full recovery.   I will need to be on another BP meds and I do tend to run high. I am glad you are feeling better and hope you too will get a full recovery. 

     

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