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Frightened by amlodipine

Posted , 3 users are following.

patricia59601
patricia59601

I have been taking amlodipine for almost two years.  I have always had problems with it, but recently it has become frightening.  Currently, I am taking 5 mg and beginning to taper to a lower dose because I am sick.  I suffer weakness, overall feeling of illness, loss of concentration, lack of motivation, smell cigarette smoke when there are no smokers living here, insomnia, dry mouth, dry eyes, stuffy nose, aching bones,and just an overall sense of hopelessness and helplessness.  My doctor is at a loss as I have tried many different meds during this struggle.  Since I live in a major metropolitan city, I thought I could find a hypertension specialist, but because i am a senior citizen and forced on Medicare, that is impossible.  I have decieded to not take amlodipine anymore.  I am calling my doctor today to get an appointment.  I am also calling my cardiologist, because he might have suggestions.  It seems that no one knows how to help a person who is sensitive to all medications.  I am also trying to find doctors who are not locked into traditional medicine. Thanks for allowing me to express my feelings today.  Please offer any suggestions.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • sharon34402
    sharon34402 patricia59601

    Posted

    Hi patricia59601,

    I understand totally what you are going through. I, myself, am allergic to many medications also. I know how frightening it can be. I had no luck with the amlodipine.

    I kept getting the runaround. It can't possibly be due to that medication. As I have said in the past, people react differently to drugs. It may affect one person one way and another person in a totally different way. You know your body. If something is not right your body lets you know.

    I really don't know if any of these blood pressure medications are good for us. They may lower the blood pressure, but have many side effects.

    Be sure you talk to your doctor before stopping any medication.

    I hope you find a solution to your problem. Good luck!

    • patricia59601
      patricia59601 sharon34402

      Posted

      Hi sharon 34402,

      The side effects of amlodipine are so horrible!  I have not taken any medication today and I am already feeling better.  I will take a dose tonight and suffer through the insomnia and sick feeling.  I have an appointment with the cardiologist tomorrow.  He will do a stress test, and we go from there.  Hopefully, he will provide the change that will be beneficial, yet tolerable.  I am asking him about several different meds.

  • robert25274
    robert25274 patricia59601

    Posted

    This may be a long shot, but have you ever been tested for hypothyroidism, it only requires a simple blood test?

    While many of the symptoms you describe are potential side effects of Amlodipine, they can also be caused by an underactive thyroid. I ask as your description sounds like me, before I was diagnosed with thyroid problems long before I started taking Amlodipine.

    Some of the listed symptoms are:

    Tiredness

    being sensitive to cold

    weight gain

    constipation

    depression

    slow movements and thoughts

    muscle aches and weakness

    muscle cramps

    dry and scaly skin

    brittle hair and nails

    loss of libido (sex drive)

    pain, numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome)

    • patricia59601
      patricia59601 robert25274

      Posted

      Robert25274, I have not been tested for any thyroid problems.  I do have many of the symptoms that you listed.  I have scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist, and next I will schedule with my gp for a thyroid check.  I have 9 of the symptoms on the list that you provided.
    • sharon34402
      sharon34402 robert25274

      Posted

      Hi robert25274,

      I also have hypothyroidism. I have had it for many years. I too was bothered with many of the symptoms from amlodipine. From the reports I have read, this drug causes many, many side effects. I am NOT saying that her problem can't be from hypothyroidism.

      Just a food for thought. I know when I brought this up to my doctor he said it couldn't possibly be the drug. After I stopped taking the drug, the symptoms abated.

    • robert25274
      robert25274 sharon34402

      Posted

      I simply brought it up as I suffered very similar symptoms due to the Thyroid problems, long before I started taking amlodipine. Indeed in my case, the only problem I had with amlodipine was odema, which, while bad at the start, settled down once the dose was adjusted.
    • sharon34402
      sharon34402 robert25274

      Posted

      Hi robert25274,

      I am happy to hear that amlodipine is working for you. Just watch it down the road. I was on an ACE inhibitor for many, many years and developed angioedema. No answers as to why. My sister was on that same ACE inhibitor and developed angioedema after a month. Go figure?

      By the way, amlodipine is not an ACE inhibitor.

      Good luck.

    • robert25274
      robert25274 sharon34402

      Posted

      I am a little mystified about your reference to Amlodipine not being an ACE inhibitor as I am aware it is a calcium channel blocker.

      Although looking back, I did mistype oedema, the spelling used here in Britain for edema, perhaps causing some confusion with angiodema? Angiodema is an oedema that occurs deeper in the dermis as opposed to peripheral oedema, which occurs in the upper tissues, and a common side-effect of calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine.

      Not that it matters; however, I also take an ACE inhibitor, Ramipril and have done for the last five years, along with the Amlodipine, and Bendroflumethiazide to control my blood pressure.

  • marianne39208
    marianne39208 patricia59601

    Posted

    These are the symptoms I have had for the last two years, and they're getting worse all the time. I'm to the point where I would rather have a stroke than feel like this. 

    I have been tested for thyroid, it's fine. Also diabetes and anemia, both fine. My doctor thinks it's a mental problem. Now I know it's not just me.

    other bp meds me dizzy, cold extremities, can't put head down, even to tie shoes without blood rushing and then draining back, not worth it.

    When I lose weight my bp goes down. I don't need a drug that contributes to weight gain.

    i hope you find an answer and if you do, please post so we know how you are doing.

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