Amlodipine - Gastric problems?

I have been on 5mlg of amlodipine since 2008 for slight blood pressure and over the course of those years have had a gradual onset of digestive problems resulting in a colonoscopy and gastroscopy which said my stomach and duodenum were OK and that I suffered from dyspepsia/heartburn. Since 2014 I have tried to control the burning in my stomache and mouth by cutting out dairy, wheat and gluten, alcohol, caffeine, sugar - you name it! My doctor recommended antacids which did no good, another specialist in gastroenterology said antacids wouldn't work and I should take laxatives and more bran. I have never been tested for Hpylori or candida or gastritis but the burning sensation has got worse. I am wondering whether to take myself off this medication -so I have gone from IBS symptoms to stomache aches to burning - I wish I had seen the above report 5 years ago.

I'm so glad that I found this forum. I've been experiencing the same symptoms ( painful stomach mainly) while on 10mg amlodipine. Definitely I'll try to cut off this meds from now on, but my only concern is what the alternative prescription for high blood pressure everyone is taking after you stop amlodipine? I need some references to discuss with my doctor. A little advice will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I have had similar GERD issues using lercanidipine affter trying Amlodipine:

They must have caused the GERD by relaxing the oeophagus action letting acid

splash up. The less you eat the more acide you get.

I know the Doctors try but these BP tabs kill as much a scure. I am glad of this post and as a cure I will try magnesium rich foods- shreeded whaet etc & laxitives. Lets see what comes!!

Hi GDog,  I had been on amlodipine for over 10 years. I'm very heath conscious so exercising has always been a daily part of my routine.  When I first stated taking  amlodipine my ankles became swollen but because I was so active the swelling went away and did not return.

As many users have mentioned, for some users the side effects slowly take over so I did not realize that the pain under my left breast was radiating from near my stomach. Other symptoms I've experienced are, knotting in my lower and upper intestine, burning in stomach, neck/shoulder pain, burning in left arm, and in center of chest.  In fact, the pain cause my doctor to think it was my heart so I had a heart cath but there was no problem with my heart.

I'm so thankful for this site because I decided to stop taking the amlodipine and now I feel so much better. Most of the symptoms have subsided

This is exactly the same experience that I have had and I am just off to the chemist to see if I can be helped with it. I also have abdominal bloating to the point where I have to put on a different pair of jeans on in the evening.  As this is the only medication I take it must be Amlopidine that is causing these symptoms.

I have exactly the same symptoms and don’t take any other medication but Amlodipine.  Additionally I have abdominal bloating and sweats at night.  I am going away but will try they some other BP medication when I come back.

I was put on amylodipine to go along with my Toprol which wasn't quite doing the job. I have noticed a change in gas, exactly as you described, and abdominal pain or tenderness, more noticeable in the evening. They just recently put my husband on it also. He came home yesterday, had obviously been researching it. He asked if I knew that amylodipine and Toprol were two of the worst blood pressure drugs out there. I did not know this. How nice.  I had been on Nadolol (Corgard) for years, and just overnight, it skyrocketed in price. I mean from like $20 to $300 and my insurance refused to pay any of it. So, I got put on these two drugs bc of a pill that probably cost the pharmaceutical companies 25 cents, being jacked up for patients.  

Gosh no, I have the severe diarrhea., bubbly stomach too.  I can’t go anywhere without a flare up. I’ve only been on Amlodipine for couple weeks. My BP is usually 160/100, it helps some but the bathroom emergencies are crazy! But you’re right I haven’t been hungry since taking it. 

I have had issues with drugs for some time. I was originally prescribed PPI's to counter act the effect that a strong one a day pain killer (etodolac / lodine) had on my stomach. I started then to have reflux and a burning at the back of my throat so had to have an endoscopy which came back as nothing to worry about but some evidence of scarring due to reflux. Move on a few years and I was prescribed 2 blood pressure tablets. 10mg of ramipril and 10mg of amlodopine. Then my stomach problems started albeit on the back of a couple of bouts of food poisoning. I was taking lansraprozole which had co-incidentally been changed from a take one as needed with the pain killer (which was about 1 a week) to take one every day. Since then I have had bowel problems involving 6 or 7 trips to the toilet usually in the first 3 or 4 hours of the day. Had various tests including lactose and wheat intolerance which all came back clear. Sigmoidoscopy that only discovered a couple of divicula followed by a colonoscopy that also came back clear. A change of tablets from Lansraprozole to pontoprazole which definately made things worse including now having some accidents where I didnt make it to the loo.  Terrible terrible acid reflux with even a piece of toast and a cup of tea. This resulted in severe burning at the back of my throat in the voice box which earlier this year I had to have a biopsy for which came back clear. On the back of this and a persistent cough my ramipril was stopped and changed to 8mg of candescarten and for a few weeks my bowels returned to normal but not the reflux. Then my doctor suggested I needed to go back on to PPi's so we started another one of those and the symptoms all returned again.  

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE REFUX AND BOWELL PROBLEMS ARE THE RESULT OF A COMBINATION OF A REACTION CAUSED BY AMLODOPINE AND THE PPI's.  Having said this the only drug I have not stopped taking while experimenting is amlodopine and tomorrow I will top taking this and see what happens. I actually had what I thought was an appointment with a specialist  days ago but when I got to the hospital it was with a nurse and I was basically told I was to fat and drank to much. What a waste of time and NHS money

I have been on Amlodipine for about 1 1/2 years. most recently I've loss weight unexplained and have developed diarrhea. I am only 124 pounds now from 140. I've been through most of the symptoms including panic attacks, heart palpitations, headaches etc. But the diarrhea is a new symptom. I've tried to quit Amlodipine several times but have only lasted 2 weeks at the most before my bp would shoot up again. I'm believing for a miracle to be able to stop this awful drug. I am also on Bystolic.

You are not alone I too have had the same issues while take this drug .

I am experiencing exactly the same issues. I started Amlodipine 5mg early this year in addition to Lorsatan HCT100-25mg, to help control my blood pressure, lately, I started noticing persistent flatulence, bloating and constipation. I once tried a higher milligram a few years ago however my feet started swelling as soon as I started, my Dr asked me to stop it. This year he introduced a lower dose again, no swollen feet but the gastric issues have been so bad. Over the weekend just out of curiosity i googled "amlodipine and digestive issues". I will stopped the amlodipine, I feel much better already in just 1 day. I will see my primary care physician asap.

Thanks for sharing your experience..