Amplodipine Side Effects

Snap! with both Amlodipine and Doxazosin......and, in fact, many others.  Amlodipine caused such inflamed and swollen ankles that it led to a diagnosis of varicose eczema.  When added to Losartan, Doxazosin was fine for many months until it "triggered" a reaction in the Losartan and I have recently suffered the most horrendous 24 hour itchy skin problem for 3 months necessitating the prescription of strong antihistamine medication to stop me scratching and bleeding, particularly overnight.  A skin biopsy pointed to medication and the Doxazosin was stopped with relief for my skin after a couple of weeks.  Just a slight itch from time to time still, probably due to being told to double the Losartan dose following stopping the Doxazosin.  I have a constant battle as far as my BP v kidney function v medication side effects are concerned. 

My GP put me on amlodipine for high BP.  Two other meds did nothing to reduce BP.  Amlodipine started to reduce BP slightly then stopped.  It made me so tired I couldn't do anything, just exhaustion all the time.  Out of the blue I had two small strokes .  My carotoids were flowing freely.  I had them all checked a year before.  My cholesterol was low.  Hospital kept me for two days to try to figure out why I had strokes doubled my Amlodopine and sent me home.  Second day home, I passed out.  Fortunately my husband caught me before I hit my head or the floor.  Back to the hospital where they kept me for another two days thinking that  stroke may have been heart related and ran all the heart tests and everything was again perfect.  I am convinced that not only did amlodopine cause me debilitating exhaustion but caused me two strokes and to pass out--something I had never done before.  I am now on three other meds none of which is getting my BP below 165 over 90.  Strokes are 6 weeks old and I have a lot of damage to my left side.  I have trouble eating, my face is still lopsided and I slur my words.  I am 76 years old.

I am sorry that your afib is permanent.  I don't know how much of my strokes are going to be permanent.  Why would a doctor perscribe something so dangerous as amlodopine?  Why is it legal in the USA and not in others?  My husband and I believed right from the time I passed out after the doctors doubled my amlodipine in an effort to reduce my blood pressure that the stroke and passing out was from amlodipine.  How long does amlodopine stay in my system.  Strokes were 6 weeks ago.  I think exhaustion is from strokes not still lingering amlodipine.  Appreciate any input.