Getting Off Amlodipine
Posted , 9 users are following.
I was put on beta blocker 2.5mg in late October 2017 due to high blood pressure. I suspected that the supplement which i took for nearly 2 weeks occasionally has spiked my bp because my bloodwork result were normal. While on bb, I was extremely tired, my left eyelid was swollen, anxiety, heart palpition and having brain fog, nightmares etc. I told my GP about the side effect but she told me it would go off when my body start to adjust. I monitored my bp frm home and presented the whole 2 weeks reading to her. My bp taken at home were always normal below 120/80 but when in GP's clinic it normally higher.
In early January 2018, i went to see another GP and showed him my daily reading. He told me to stop taking beta blocker and gave me amlodipine 2.5 mg to be taken every 3rd day. The purpose is to wean off my bp meds. As i am super sensitive to drugs, i have several side effects though not as bad as when i was on beta blocker.
Now i am off of amlo for 11 days and i am still not feeling so well. Today I am extremely weak and tired, having anxiety and palpition as well. My bp this morning is 104/76. Today i feel like i have no hope to succesfully get off amlodipine but i have to be strong. I dont want to swallow tht pills anymore. Hope i can make it!!
0 likes, 27 replies
jorjie32829 ann12290
Posted
I am off Amlodipine 5mg now for just on 10 days.
I had the most horrific side effects from it. From nightmares, to bleeding nose, lethargy and general malaise.
The worst when the room seemed to spin around me, and I couldn't walk without a support of some sort.
I ended up in hospital - they thought i had either had a stroke, or a mini heart attack.
All of the tests came back fine though.
The only thing they could point to was my adverse reaction to the Amlodipine.
I am slowly recovering. I too feel weak and tired.
ann12290 jorjie32829
Posted
Sorry to hear about yr bad experience. How r u doing? I hope you are getting better now.
Ann
jorjie32829 ann12290
Posted
It has been difficult. I still don't have the full taste sensation back in my mouth.
After coming out of hospital, I saw my doctor, who had prescribed the evil medication and he said from the results from the hospital, my blood pressure was OK!
He recommended that I take my blood pressure at home, twice a day for a fortnight, and not the take any medication at all.
I've done that and my blood pressure has been within acceptable limits. No need for any medication at all,
To think that I was poisoning my body! There was no need for it.
ann12290 jorjie32829
Posted
I did the same thing too. I took my bp reading 2x a day. I recorded them and shown it to my GP. Finally he agreed with me that i dont have blood pressure issues and told me to slowly weaned off amlo. I was on it for 3 months @ 2.5mg.
I am about 115 days off amlo but i still dont feel quite myself as before and i was quite a healthy person before taking this med.
Fatique, palpitations do come and go but the symptoms has reduced. I dont have any other side effects like nightmares, jittering, headache etc anymore. I hope they have permanently left my body.
U take care.
Ann
Robingee ann12290
Posted
How long until you guys felt normal again? My husband stopped taking Amlodipine over a week ago and he can't get out of bed or eat. He's in agony and I want to find out when he can start feeling normal again?
jorjie32829 ann12290
Posted
I'm about 26 days off now and I'm still recovering. I have bouts of lethargy, but the nightmares, nose bleeds and so on have stopped.
I still have to recover the full taste sensation. Everything still tastes somewhat metallic, but at least now I can distinguish between sweet and savoury foods.
It does take a while for the side effects to go away completely.
Robingee jorjie32829
Posted
How long did it take for you to be able to get out of bed and eat and live your life? A week out any he's in bed all day.
ann12290 Robingee
Posted
As for me, the first few weeks off amlo, I was extremely tired and was very weak and lost apetite. I had anxiety and palpitations as well. I stayed indoors most days and all i wanted was to be in bed. After about a month so, most of the symptoms have gradually reduced.
I am still in recovering process after 100+ days off amlo. Hope one fine day, I am back on track again.
Does yr husband on any other bp meds?
Tkc
Ann
Robingee ann12290
Posted
He's on atenalol. Luckily his BP has gone down. I hope he's ok enough by next weekend as we're spending the entire weekend out of town for his daughter's graduation.
akarrena ann12290
Posted
I stopped all medications 11 days ago (after consulting with a hypertension specialist). The first few days I felt amazing with a real sensation of calmness, and back to how I felt before the meds, but then some of the symptoms seemed to start re-appearing and today I feel dreadful, dizzy, nauseous, light headed, agitated, distressed and extremely emotional, with a dreadful internal trembling, a strange feeling in my head and an overall feeling of being off balance as well as having constant anxiety and breathlessness.
Is it likely these are now withdrawal symptoms…and is there anything I can do to ease them?? Any advice would be much appreciated.
ann12290 akarrena
Posted
I am sorry to hear what you have been through. How are you doing?
I did experience some of the withdrawal symptoms you mentioned above but after a while they have slowly leave my systems. As for now after 4 months off amlo, i still do get headache and fatique from time to time but a lot lesser than before. My bp is normal.
I do brisk walking at least 3x a week and now i start swimming as well. Try to do some exercises like brisk walk, yoga etc. As for supplements, i take omega 3, magnesium and drink hibiscus tea.
Hope you will get better soon. Tkc.
Ann
Robingee ann12290
Posted
When did you feel normal enough to live the life again? It's been 2 weeks for my husband and it's still a struggle to get out of bed.
akarrena ann12290
Posted
Hi Ann, and thank you very much for your reply.
After my post last week my BP went wild and was over 200/120 resulting in rapid heart rate and chest pains, and an unwanted visit to A&E. Rebound hypertension it seems. Following that I started some new BP medication and across the week my BP has been much better although somewhat up and down.
There has been a definite improvement in how I was feeling last week, although I did have some dreadful panic attacks early on. What I am struggling with at present is (I suspect) bouts of low blood sugar... causing shaking/trembling and an excruciating feeling of distress and weakness, and which is taking several hours to pass despite eating to try and ease it. I have experienced this a lot previously whilst on BP meds, and been told it was reactive hypoglycaemia and simple anxiety, but I am not sure it is that simple as the discomfort (for want of a better word) is so intense and agonising, and my blood sugar readings don't always reflect low BS. I believe beta blockers can mask low BS and possibly cause hypoglycaemia.
?
I shall try exercising as you suggest, think about some supplements and look forward to some further ongoing improvement, like it seems you have experienced over a period of months.
ann12290 akarrena
Posted
How r u? Any improvement?
Regards
Ann
Robingee ann12290
Posted
A little, he has really good days. The PCP of course says it's not the medication. He's seen a rheumatologist and that came up with nothing, next it's the neurologist. I just hate he's not back to himself yet, mostly he's just really tired.
Robingee ann12290
Posted
I just realized you didn't ask me, this site is confusing and I'm not awake.
ann12290 Robingee
Posted
Dear Robingee
I would say if your husband doesnt have any other health issues , then he will slowly recover.
How was your holiday (his daughter's graduation). Did he make it?
Regards
Ann
akarrena ann12290
Posted
Hi Ann
Nice to hear from you. Since my post I have felt really unwell and distressed, with what feel like adrenaline surges that last several hours, some extreme panic attacks, very low mood and a constant feeling of stress and exhaustion, as well as terrible hunger problems. It is like my whole nervous system is upset. Some of this I experienced whilst I was on the BP meds, but now this is much much worse and I just don't know whether it is the result of coming off the Amlodopine, the Ramipril, the Bisoprolol...or whether it is menopausal symptoms. GP doesn't think it is the BP meds. I am now on low doses of Losartan and Felodipine and my BP is good although not too settled as yet.
Best wishes to you.
K