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Amlodipine Hell.. coming off it.

Posted , 56 users are following.

jeff09792
jeff09792

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.

6 likes, 154 replies

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  • david44767
    david44767 jeff09792

    Edited

    I had some of the same symptoms while taking amlodipine for just a few weeks.  Mainly "Brain fog" - could not think straight! - and terrible apathy and even depression.  Bad dreams and outright nightmares.  I told my doc I would not be taking this poison anymore.  He changed me to Losartan which eventually started diminishing my kidney function.  I'm now with a new doctor who took me off Losartan (kidney function is now returning) but also wanted to put me on amlodipine.  I said No!  I described to him pretty much what you just described and he looked at me as though I was crazy.

    Thanks for confirming my concerns about this drug, amlodipine.

    • Guest
      Guest david44767

      Posted

      Hi David44767

      Sounds like Amlodipine allright. The problem with most doctors is, that if you experience some kind of (to them) "unknown" side effect - you are most probably not right. They don't believe you...

      How are you coping with Losartan?

      I am taking 75 mg of Losartan myself and has been using the drug for almost three years.

      Best regards

       

    • david44767
      david44767 Guest

      Posted

      Diffus, as mentioned, I stopped taking the Losartan in December because it was causing my GFR (kidney function) to drop... fast.  I'm off it now and the numbers are going back up but not yet normal.  I just take a diuretic now for BP... HCTZ 12.5mg.  It's working.  👍

    • Guest
      Guest david44767

      Posted

      Sorry David. Read your message too fast and on the cell phone  :-)

      How are you coping with HCTZ 12.5mg?

      Any side effects?

      Thanks

    • meles
      meles david44767

      Posted

      Thank you for letting us know about Losartan. I am on Candasartan, which may be the same 'type' as the names have the same endings (usually an indicator of the types of drug). I am worried as I now suffering what feels like irritable bowel and diarrhoea over the last month 9I have been on it for a month now), and am fearful it is affecting my kidneys detrimentally. I also spoke to a friend over Christmas who is awaiting a kidney transplant after being on BP pills for years - I must ask her which ones. The doctors are blaming her Blood Pressure, but it sounds more like the BP meds are to blame. I have never heard that BP can affect the kidneys. Has anyone else?

    • david44767
      david44767 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Diffus,

      About the HCTZ...  I started out taking 25mg but could only do it for a week because it made me feel really bad... like I had the flu and couldn't sleep.  It also gave me severe dry mouth.  But the doctor had pre-approved me cutting them in half in the event of bad side-effects.  So I started taking the 12.5mg once a day and it is helping my BP to come down.  I notice just a little dry mouth which is tolerable.  I keep a glass or bottle of water with me which I  need to drink more of anyway.

      I want to try a beet supplement to see if that helps improve my BP even more, the way it has helped Jeff, the originator of this thread.

  • chris21802
    chris21802 jeff09792

    Posted

    Jeff , I had problems like that to dizziness every once in awhile I get dizzy and it takes a long time for that stuff to get out of your system sometimes it take months so be patient I've been on am lodipine for several years and I'm having extreme muscle weakness and pain in my ankle I can barely walk I'm sorry I meant amlodipine I feel weakness in my legs like they won't hold me up it's terrible the doctors won't listen they just won't listen I feel so miserable my medical insurance is terrible

  • ronny49418
    ronny49418 jeff09792

    Edited

    Hi jeff , are you left handed primarily?? Was trying to figure out, i just took the pill for two days and started having horrible elbow pain in both armsand pain the right leg... now after 13 days my right elbow still aches a little... 
    • meles
      meles ronny49418

      Posted

      The effects seem to be indiscrimate. I am right-handed but the cartilage in my left shoulder was damaged by Amlodopine. It also gave me tendonitis in my right thigh. If you are having horrible pains in your elbows, please consider returning to your GP and asking for a change of medication. Personally, I am so disgusted with all the side effects with these medications  that I have taken myself off them and am changing my life-style (the usual - cutting back alcohol, healthy eating, half a fresh lemon juice first thing every morning [color=#333333]and plenty of exercise). [/color]I would encourage everyone to try a change in life style to see if it makes a difference and ask your GP to change the type of medication if you are having adverse side effects. I looked back at my BP readings from last year while on Amlodpine (and suffering severe side effects), and after four weeks off the medication and there was absolutely no difference! BP still up and down, with it or without it. It is gets better with life style changes though. The way doctors encourage us to take meds, then not believe us when we tell them how detrimental they are affecting us is shocking.
    • ronny49418
      ronny49418 meles

      Edited

      Hi meles, thnks for the response... i was recently diagnosed for high BP reading was 144/96.. m 28 and a regular to the gym.. the doc earlier suggested propanolol and my left arm used to pain a little later i was asked to discontinue and start amlodopmine 2.5mg first day i took the pill i had pain in both my elbows and the second day i took unberable pain on both elbows and heaviness on the legs.. then i left the pills i take 3 garlic cloves in the morning with honey along with 8 pumpkin seeds,5 almonds and 1 teaspoon chia seeds ... my BP for past 1 week is close to 125/80 today morning was 126/77 ... 

      So i guess lifestyle changes with low salt diet and above mentioned stuff have worked for me though as i right there is a mild pain still in my thumb fingers and right elbow... earlier it used to be more internal pain and now its more superficial like the muscles.. but that dull ache really annoys... it comes and goes... when i sleep and wake up i have no pain but as the day begins it starts soon as my daily activities begin... i think this lent god has been testing my faith and in the days to come i have faith i would be healed... sorry for the long message.. god bless us all

    • ronny49418
      ronny49418

      Posted

      The reason i asked is because i feel ... there might be some vascular calcification happening in the arm or the body part used more than the other... just wanted to clear this thought of mine.because u said your left arm pain persisted for quite sometime Thnks
    • meles
      meles ronny49418

      Posted

      Hi Ronny,

      Great stuff on bringing down your BP! Well done, you!

      I did not manage to get it down that much (139/98) (but then the meds were not helping either so...), but feel remarkably active now and full of beans, now I am off the meds. I am back at the gym but my shoulder and thigh permanently hurt whatever I do or do not do. The GP did a scan a while back and diagnosed a bursa and tendonitis which I know was caused by the Amlodopine. This was a build up over a couple of years though so since you only took Amlodopine for a short time, it should not have had time to affect you greatly. However, perhaps it might be a good idea to go back to your doctor and ask for a scan?

    • siswarrior
      siswarrior ronny49418

      Posted

      Hi Ronny

      glad your numbers are doing good, can you tell me do you mix the chia seeds with the garlic and honey? if not can you tell me how you take the items you listed to lower your numbers?

      or how you combine or not combine

      thank you hope you get healed from the pain you experiencing

  • michael32218
    michael32218 jeff09792

    Posted

    Jeff,

    How do you feel now 9 months later? I have been off that crap for 6 months was only on it for 1.5 months and I have had panic attacks anxiety weight loss and tremors still 6 months later.

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