Amlodipine Hell.. coming off it.

Posted , 56 users are following.

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.

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  • Posted

    My BP is around 132/87. Pulse 55.

    A bit to the high side, but doing some exercise and blood tests are good.

    • Posted

      Hi Debra... Diffus...

      Great that all the bp are comfortably within..

      I too ..am at at 110days off after 3.5 yrs on.. and the are still the neck pains and sometimes just feel ill...

      I am trying to rest more and go low on salt and sugar and frieds... and contain the situation ... 😑

    • Posted

      Hope all goes well kind regards Debra
  • Posted

    Hi Jeff how you feeling now I'v. Been on Amlodipine 10mg for 2 months started with swelling on feet and bottom of legs did you stop the tablet or weened yourself of     Regards Debra

  • Edited

    This stuff This stuff ought to display a government health warning, for ME it was toxic.

    Usually at 66y, I now restrict myself to the occasional 50-mile ride on a road bike, or a 15-mile hill walk.

    After a week on 5~10mg of Amlodipine, I just managed to make it back from a corner shop 400 yards away,

    before being forced to sit down on my hallway stairs, unable even to take off my shoes.

    Severe cramping of my lower Lumbar muscles, bloated lower legs, abnormally high Heart-Rate,

    a cold sweat and a general feeling of being very unwell.

    I go to my GP's surgery only to be told the earliest appointment is a month away.

    Six days off this substance, and all is almost normal.

    It appears, after reading what's on this forum, no thought goes into the dishing out these poisons,

    just what's listed on a computer screen...beware of doctors. to display a government health warning, for ME it was toxic.

    • Edited

      Hello, 

      I agree a warning should be issued with this drug. It was toxic to me as well. I wished I had figured it out sooner that it was poisoning my body. I started at 5mg and then was upped to 10mg and suffered for months before doing a little research on my own, thats when i discovered the side effects listed matched by symptoms. I have been off this drug now for a couple of months an I am 100% better.  

    • Posted

      It is toxic in my opinion and I am amazed how drs just hand you the prescription and not tell you any side effects or anything. They don't explain how it works or how you may feel taking it. What to look out for etc. That is why I always talk to my pharmacist.

    • Posted

      Forgive my difficulties.

      Sadly I fell to the influence of severe Parkinson disease. LITTLE help given.

      I wish the end would arrive.

      All my wishes to you ALL.

      I can't do this anymore.

  • Posted

    Day 50 off Amlodipine (11 months on) - still taking Losartan (2 x 25 mg) daily.

    Blood pressure not too bad (132/85)

    Now sleeping 7.5 hours at night - great.

    Today has been a challenge with dizziness, flu-like condition (which I haven't had for two weeks) and just feeling sick and frustrated...

    Energy is gone and can't do much due to the dizziness...

    How are you all progressing?

     

    • Posted

      Hi diffus

      130 days off after 3.5 yrs on ..

      All the mental issues subsided

      However physical issues .every 7 to 10 days willl still get

      1. Neck and shoulder discomfort

      2. Flu like symptoms with teary eyes and running nose.. or..

      3. Stomach anxiety and tension

      4. Fatigue ...

      As long as severity is manageble .. got to bear with it

    • Posted

      Hi Chi000 - Well it appears you & I are about the same symptom wise.  I am now 136 days off/5 years on.  My biggest issues are the random neck jabs & shoulder tension & the crazy bouts of anxiety that I get.  Also, I went to an allergist to have my shortness of breath episodes checked out.  Turns out it probably wasn’t panic attacks at all, but rather allergy induced asthma.  I had a bout of this 18 years ago after we had a lot of rain which caused flooding & I am very allergic to Mold & Mildew.  I find it curious that I developed this again...wondering if my stress brought this on.  The allergist said it doesn’t take much to trigger it - overall, I am feeling better everyday and trying desperately to avoid sugar (it’s in everything!) eat well & destress - I started drinking Holy Basil Tea to mellow me out & I think it has helped to ease my stress a bit - hope you all are managing well - Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Posted

      Well debra....

      If u now discount the issue on asthma... you and i are amost identical ....in progress or regress.... how you call it .....🤔

      Let's update each other weekly and see if we can get throught this ...

    • Posted

      Hi Chi000 and Debra16694 (+others)

      Thank you for you updates.

      I am really surprised that the side effects are taking so long to dissapear. You are both off more than 4 months and still suffering.

      Did any of you suffer from (nautical) dizziness or brain fog? I have my share and it is amplified in stressful situations and even when talking to friends and neighbours.

      I have also noticed my pulse is acting very strange. Usually its 55 to 60 when resting, but sometimes it goes up to 75 without any reason. That might just be normal...

    • Posted

      Hello Diffus...

      We are all suffers .. as i write this ... i am still with neck and shoulder tenderness and feeling not energetic ... tomorrow there willl be some little this and that ...

      I am past 4.5 mths off... the brain fog and dizziness and most of that is gone .. and i am most grateful i do not have the swollen legs and gerd etc... but i so not feel as well as before amlodipine ...

      These 2 weeks .. i stopped having bloated stomach .. so maybe that has improved ...last night . I woke up and my pulse was 60 .. usually is 50 .. so i wondered for a while... i must have been tense about something .. i am having jet lag these few days .. so .. it may be sleep upset ...

      ... anyway .. we keep observing all these little upsets .. will it all go off .. i hope so ..

    • Posted

      Hello Chi000 & Diffus - I have actually been feeling pretty good the last 3 weeks & then got a bit of a weird virus that’s been going around & then WHAM! All my Amlodipine symptoms sort of reared their ugly head again.  Severe bloating, flushing headache, electric shock/tingling in my extremities/blurry vision from almost a migraine type headache.  Basically it was just a weird stomach virus, but the gas pressure was so intense around my heart, I thought I was going to go to Urgent Care.  I only tell you this, because I now think my body is just wired to respond this way since being on that HORRIBLE drug....I never ever had issues with headaches/bloat/GERD/tingling in extremities/flushing - I am so OVER it! Everyone in my family had this bug, but my symptoms went beyond everyone else’s...it’s like I have to find a way to re-wire my brain & it’s response to fighting things off - other than that fabulous episode (lol) brain fog & dizziness have stopped - Soldier On!

    • Posted

      Hi debra

      I am 5 mths off / 3.5 yrs on .. stilll get tension .. neck and shoulder .. some sleep difficulty .. same anxiety and general tiredness .. lack of enthuiasm ....😩

    • Posted

      Hi there Chi000 - ok, so I am 5 months off/5 yrs on - I would have to say that my anxiety/irritability is still with me, my energy has increased, sleeping is much better, zest for life still isn’t there either.  I just came off the worst case of indigestion/bloat/gas pain which lasted for almost a week...scheduled for an ultra sound of my gallbladder.  Not sure if all of this is residual Amlodipine poisoning or Menopause or?  Overall, feeling better but anxiety is still huge issue - 
    • Posted

      Hello debra .... i am now 5.5 mths off .. issues less intense and less often .. but still tired .. how are u improving ?
    • Posted

      Hi Chi000 - I am 5 1/2 months off as well...same here except I have just come off of 3 weeks of total terror...I live in the path of the Thomas Fire (California’s largest Wildfire) had to evacuate twice & my anxiety level has been thru the roof.  I never ever remember having this type of anxiety before...when I get so anxious it seems to effect my stomach & then I experience horrible bloating/gas & you name it - I definitely feel like this is the result  of taking this stupid drug...I feel like it really changed my body chemistry or at least my adrenal/ cortisol levels -  overall, muscle aches seem less, and all other symptoms I don’t really notice at all anymore, thank god! Happy Holidays!

    • Posted

      Hi debra .... most happy for u ...to hear

      "overall, muscle aches seem less, and all other symptoms I don’t really notice at all anymore"

      This is what i think happens as u cease to notice those issues and drop off the forum and .....just ... ease off ....

      We are same profile so i guess if u are stopping after years .. if possibly takes 6 to 9 months to forget off the issues ....

      I am surr yr gert and anxiety .... even is related .. is caused by an "external trigger" and not the vague onset caused by amlodipine ...

      Merry xmas.........cheers

    • Posted

      Hi Debra, Chi, Katherine, Jeff + others

      I hope 2018 has been good to you all so far.

      Unfortunately, everything is in reverse here. After some improvement in the second half of December, my heart went crazy in January 2nd. Atrial fibrillation and ER - pulse was 160. They gave me DC (electric treatment) which helped.

      No problems the day after, but now insomnia, stress, anxiety flashes, head rushes and pulsating head has returned. And negative thinking as soon as I wake up - at 4 Am.

      Pulse is now 75-85 at rest.

      Normal is 55-60 for me.

      The usual neck pain, tinnitus and dizziness remains unchanged.

      It has now been 100 days off / 9 months on / 5 mg.

      I have my doubts that Amlodipine is to blame for all this.

      As usual - No help from my GP.

      We must accept setbacks, but this is so frustrating.

      Stay healthy!

    • Posted

      Hello diffus and all ..

      Diffus... really sorry to hear yr episodes ..

      I am 3.5 yrs on / 6 mths off ... i got off 70 % of the issues but the neck and tiredness and some sleepiness bothers me still ..

      I took the xmas off to visit a psychologist / homeopath / chiropractor . Was interesting ....

      Amlodipine is like a catalyst .. mostly no issues .. but for some , it really works to bring up major side effects in combination with some other inert issues .. body weakness.. mental issues etc ...

      So is hard to find a patient with just elevated bp and no other issues having taken amlodipine and goes into such suffering ..

      There fore ... i was told if u suffer from the side effects .. stopping amlodipine my not totally stop every problem .. u need to address either thru other medical means or holistic therapy .. like homeo... like accupuncture .. yoga .. is no point to dwell into the mechanics of calcium channel blockers .. more medical treatment will meam more drugs etc

      . Etc..

      Just a short sharing ...

    • Posted

      Hi Chi.

      Thank you for your post.

      Good to hear your progress.

      Considering to visit my chiropractor.

      Did it help you?

      Yoga is great. Must take that up again.

      I am pretty sure that Amlodipine has caused nothing but bad things for me.

      But yes - I have other issues.

      I saw this video om YouTube which points out some of them.

      Maybe doing too much.

      https://youtu.be/GjqUatabTIw

      Best regards

    • Posted

      Hi diffus ...

      For me it is hard really .. because i think i am not mentally stressed but the is a frame of mind that needs to change to ease off this problem...

      I think yoga .. accupunctute .. osteopathy ... etc etcc ... works to traditional science but also divert yr mind from its current state and may make the difference there ..

      I so have bad days still but maybe less intense... less often .. less prolong .. but see .. by saying all these obervations .. i am caught in the miind trap of constantly self evaluating .. sigh !!

      I still believe my neck issues are equivalent to yr ectopics etc .. the body mis steps in different ways .. still ... it is a challenge to escape the clutches of the problem without resorting to meds .... but we got to try ...

    • Posted

      Hi Chi

      I think I know how you are feeling when it comes self evaluating.

      Its very hard not to.

      My experience is, that even if you wake up and everything is quite good, you can't understand why

      There must be something wrong. And the their usually is - or will be later...

      Best regards

    • Posted

      Don't overlook other possible causes. Check into Thoracic Outlet Syndrome TOS, I had Tachycardia with it.

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