Amlodipine and palpitations/increased heart rate

I've been off this drug for 10, days now, I still have palpitations, stiffness in the neck and light headedness at times. It will also cause sexual dysfunction. I only just worked out that I've been on this horrid drug for approximately 8 years after I suffered what i realise was a very scary episode while having minor surgery to a nose problem. I had never had high BP until then, I suffered a cut or rupture to an artery causing severe blood loss, my BP went haywire and i ended up in the cardiac unit, my late wife was also contacted and advised to get up here quick. They never found the reason for the BP problems, I was and still am, healthy, fit, have a healthy diet. i was tried on several BP tablets and eventually on to Amplodipine. I only realised how awful the stuff is following a few months of though and research about symptoms I associated to living with her condition. She had 8 years of cancer and we have 2 young daughters. When I dug deeper and got involved with forums I was horrified, angry, distraught, that the medication was the problem for many of my feelings/symptoms. I'm trying out Beetroot caps 3 times a day as it's a proven BP reducer, a bit more exercise. I was on 5mg Amlodipine, it has a half life of 33hrs, which is quite long so you can work out a time scale on how long it takes to clear. 14 days is a probably about right though it'll keep clearing for longer. Hope this helps and that you get back to normal asap.

Hi Jilly, i don't notice much difference with or without alcohol, I only really took notice after visiting my doctor to try and get to the cause of the palpitations. It was following this visit 4 weeks ago and when back home i started to give it more thought and suddenly remembered I'd had this going on for several years, it may sound as if I wasn't paying attention but I simply assumed it was me being anxious about my wifes cancer etc,,, but now that she has gone and I'm still having all the symptoms, research has shone on the dark Amlodipine cloud and I'm not pleased at all.

http://www.bris.ac.uk/phys-pharm/people/person/julian-f-paton/index.html. Look at this research

Hi Jill,

When I was on Amlodipine my pulse rate rose from a healthy 75 beats to 95 beats a minute. I am now taking Lisinopril pulse rate still high but I don't have the swollen ankles or the aches in the back of the legs. I am still not happy though. I have been taking the grape seed extract for two weeks, my blood pressure is fine but the cough (side effect) is driving me insane. Has anyone else ever taken Lisinopril?

I took 2.5 mg of amlodipine for almost three months for pre-hypertension bp levels. My systolic was between 130-140 and diastolic never over 68. 

After nearly three months on amlodipine, I also developed heart palpitations that were diagnosed as "harmless" PVC (premature ventricular contractions) and elevated pulse. My doctor suggested I also take a beta-blocker to stop the PVCs instead of acknowledging that palpitations are a common side effect of amlodipine. I asked to switch to a diuretic for bp control, and stopped the amlodipine that day. The PVC palpitations subsided in about 12 days. My bp stays below 120/65 on the diuretic which seems to have fewer side effects, but I still want to decrease the 25 mg dose. I also had some mild anxiety on amlodipine which disappeared in a few days after stopping the medication.

I read that the amino acid taurine is helpful in preventing heart palpitations, and started taking this and a magnesium supplement daily. Not sure if that helped stop the PVCs or just quitting amlodipine did the trick, but I will continue taking both supplements. The side effects of this drug are terrifying, and I don't want this to happen again.

I hope your symptoms improved soon after your post. Sorry it took so long to reply, but I just found this site recently.

I have just found this site, and only yesterday was put on Amlodopine 5mg by cardiologist. Am already on a low BP med, Olmesartan Plus. His reason for doing this is after a 24hour blood pressure monitor. States that there were a few high readings, have only had one dose of this last night.

Today had headache most of the day, and some left breast discomfort, cant really call it pain. I am not seriously looking at making an appointment with my GP and considering alternative therapy such as beetroot capsules. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I am only on two prescription medications, nexium is other one. Otherwise take herbal/vitamins to stay healthy.Thanks.

currently on day 8 of non stop heart palpitations. 4 EKGs in that timeframe are showing PVCs. magnesium seems to help temporarily. i stopped amlodipine last saturday after 2 emergency room trips in one day for these palpitations. it feels like im going to have a heart attack. my primary told me my PVCs are benign. do not take amlodipine

Sounds like I am dealing with the same thing. Been taking Amlodipine for 6 months, about a month ago I started getting palpitations (skipped beats). finished wearing a 10 day Holter monitor which showed I had SVT and PVC, but told they are benign. Any way I had enough of it....tapered from 5mg to 2.5mg for about a week and then stopped completely 3 days ago, still have palpitations but they have gotten less I am hoping they go away completely in a couple weeks.

Been taking it for about 5 months now. I have these episodes all the time where i get foggy, lightheaded, chest gets tight i get short of breath and feel like im gonna black out. Ive had every heart test known to man over the last few months and they all are good. now I'm having swelling in my lower legs and the skin looks diclscolored and dry. I have headaches half the time and low energy. Cant believe none of the doctors have suspected the amlodipine. anyone else have these episodes like this come on suddenly? I feel like I'm just waiting to die. like my body is shutting down.