Amlodipine

I agree with you. Mine was 5 mg of amlodipine per day my doctor increased it to 10 and I have told her time and time and time to take me off this medicine put me on something else I have aches and pains on my right side of my ankle on my left side of my ankle on the bottom of my feet my legs feel uneasy with my legs makes me feel like I can't keep them sturdy and stable I feel achy all the time I'm going back to my doctor and I will demand take me off of it I'm going to eat healthier and try other things I can't live like this anymore

Thank you Jacqui for the great tips - I knew about most, but not about the sour cherry concentrate.  Interesting while I was on the horrid drug I had an insatiable craving for cherries...I would eat them frozen by the handfuls...maybe my body was trying to tell me something!

Thank you,

Debra

Hi Jacqui  . I hope   you are successful Amlodopine are a dreadful medication. I too was on them for a couple of years suffered side effects . I pleaded with my dr to change them but it was hard because he couldn't see anything wrong with them . I told him I wasn't going to take them anymore so he relented. He put me on Rampiril. And I'm still having side effects with these . I've discovered that they are virtually the same med . I'm dreading asking my dr for another change given the run in I had with him last time . I feel like a zombie I've lost all interest in anything even my love of sewing etc . Everything seems so much trouble I can't concentrate my memory seems to suffer too . I'm anxious all the time I suffer from over heating I feel like I'm in a world of my own I have difficulty making decisions. You say you suffered from brain fog . Could you tell me your symptoms please as I feel perhaps it's only me as most people who have side effects suffer from different symptoms from me . I would like to hear of your ways of what you do to reduce your BP . And perhaps you could keep us up to date . I think a lot of us would be interested how things are going . Good luck Sue

Thanks very much for your replies ladies. I'm so sorry you are all suffering with these awful side effects. I really have read nothing good about Amlodipine and I can't believe it is still being prescribed. I just couldn't take another day on it as it made me feel so unwell. Sue, the brain fog was like being spaced out and having to think really hard when I was chatting to people about what I was saying - if it was making sense (I was previously on Citalopram to relax me and this made me feel the same way - so came off that too). I was losing my confidence and it scared me. Also was very forgetful. I started getting really hot flushes which I'd never had before (and haven't had since) and went very red in the face (not like me). I felt like I was heading for a stroke or something (when that was what the medication was supposed to prevent) but I feel good as new now. Forgot to mention that it made me feel very sick too.

I try to have a good walk most days and drink lots of water (I am on Indapamide 2.5mg - this has no side effects for me and I feel fine but as it is a diuretic I need to drink plenty of fluids)

Debra - the sour cherry concentrate is great, though can be expensive. Holland and Barrett sell it around £16 for a large bottle, £10 for smaller bottle and £2 for a little sachet. You just dilute in water.The sachets would be good to try as you could take it when your blood pressure is showing high and see if it works for you.

Chris - yes you must talk to your GP about it and if you get no joy go and see another GP. I know they are there to help you but if they haven't experienced these side effects then they can't really understand. I started to feel so old really quickly and I'm sure I would have become very depressed very quickly too if I didn't stop taking them. It's your body so you should be in charge of what you put into it. I'm sure your GP will be more sympathetic next time you see him.

Please take care ladies and good luck x

Hi Sue - I know exactly what you are describing regarding the feeling old & depressed with anxiety.  I thought once I was off the Amlodipine (82 days off) that I would feel terrific again, I feel better but not great.  Today out of the blue I woke up and was so sore from muscle aches you would have sworn I moved an entire household by myself. The other day I had horrible jaw aches that I was certain my teeth were coming loose.  I suffer from constant anxiety & would describe myself as being way more irritable, than ever before.  The doom & gloom has lifted, but I am no way my old self.  I find it difficult to walk up a flight of stairs & before I thought nothing of going for a 5 mile walk - it just sucks what this drug has done to all of us & I only hope it isn't permanent damage.  It just seems like everyday I wake up with a new ailment, couple weeks ago it was horrible GERD for a week - so over it! I am 60 years old & this is the time of life that I should find enjoyable, but everything seems overwhelming because I just don't feel so great - it concerns me that you have been off this drug for a year & you still feel this way, oh no! The current drug you are on is not a Calcium Channel Blocker, so I wouldn't think it would have the same side effects, but what do I know...sounds like all the B/P drugs are bad with side effects, it's finding the one with the least amount of side effects - good luck!