1. Community
  2. Heart Health
  3. Amlodipine

Hair loss due to Amlodipine

Posted , 35 users are following.

yvonne85501
yvonne85501

I had been on Amlodipine 5mg for some years,during this time I had begun to notice my hair thinning and becmoing fine and lifeless.After regular checks earlier this year my b/p was unacceptably high consistently and the dose was increased to 10mg.My b/p was still not within normal limits after 4-6 weeks and I was prescribed in addition 5mg Ramiprimil..it was then that I started to notice a drastic increase in HAIR LOSS (I have read on the leaflet inside my medication that it's a possible side effect).I would like to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience,as I would like to change to a medication that doesn't have this devastating side effect!

1 like, 47 replies

47 Replies

Prev
  • pat1234
    pat1234 yvonne85501

    Posted

    My doctor increased my dosage of amlodipine to 10 mg, my legs and feet were swelling terribly AND my hair thinned considerably.  He has now taken me off amlodipine completely for a few weeks to see how my blood pressure would change, and it has stayed in a very healthy range 118/70...My ankles are now nice and visible, no more swelling at all and I hope to see my hair grow back.  

     

    • jeanette14310
      jeanette14310 pat1234

      Posted

      I experienced the swelling in my feet and legs too. I also had chills. The chills went away quickly, but because I have lymphedema in both legs and feet that made them a little harder to get down. Diuretics is not an option for people with lymphedema, but I knew I would be taking therapy because I had been out of my garments for too long. Let me know if your hair does grow back and what you did to help it.
  • mike92384
    mike92384 yvonne85501

    Edited

    yvonne85501...I too didn't have any luck when taking Amlodipine. My then-doctor prescribed 5 mgs...things were fine, but for a very short time. The 5mgs wasn't controlling the bp very well, so he upped the dosage to 10mgs. 

    Anything I read says that Drs. shouldn't double the dosage when it appears the medicine isn't lowering the bp. Doubling up only increases the incidence of side effects. How true! On the 10mgs. my feet/ankles & lower legs swelled badly. Back to the Dr.. He took me off, & prescribed other meds. I have a relative who takes Amlodipine, & she's absolutely fine with it. She did notice though, that her bp had spiked a little in the afternoon, so her Dr. suggested she take 2.5 in the morning, then 2.5 in the afternoon. It worked! I also have 2 friends who are on Amlodipine..no problems. I read all sorts of horror stories here on the forum about this medication. Quite frankly, I'd never ever take it again,regardless of what my Dr. were to say. I left the other Dr.,& returned to the one I had for over 30 years. While I trust the man implicitly, I would be stubborn if he were to suggest it. 

    Taking a diuretic while on Amlodipine to reduce the swelling will not work. The swelling caused by the drug isn't the same as ordinary water retention. 

    I hope you get some resolve.

  • Farrah711
    Farrah711 yvonne85501

    Posted

    7 yrs 5000 biotin also MSN

    at least 10 others

    shower filter

    water softner

    the list is never ending.

  • bsw13
    bsw13 yvonne85501

    Posted

    Hi a few months back i was prescribed this nasty drug to take in conjunction with other blood pressure tablets i had taken for years and had no complications before this crappy tablet was added on over the top of my usual prescription ( bendrofluazide and enalapril) . However within two months of taking this horrible amlodipine my hair began falling out in chunks particularly when i washed it or when i woke up piles of hair was on the bed sheets . I am at a stage where I'm having to cover my head in scarves and people are asking me if i had had any kimo treatment. Because of the pandemic i can't get a doctor to see me .I've been prescribed even worse scalp treatments that only served to irritate the scalp even more . I was told over the phone by a GP, to stop taking this amlodipine which i did immediately . Now this dreadful rubbish has triggered what seems to be a nasty form of alopecia that wont stop doing its damage . In the middle of the pandemic there are no doctors appointments available . I'm so angry that this has caused me more anxiety and stress Its so distressing my blood pressure must be through the roof by now and I'm in tears a lot and i refuse to go out its totally soul destroying. You are not alone and I don't believe this ia a rare side effect at all , as the drug leaflet is trying to suggest , what utter rubbish .

  • clare99444
    clare99444 yvonne85501

    Posted

    I had dreadful side effects with this medication so came off it plus it did little to lower my BP. I'm currently taking Felodipine which is in the same category but dont feel half as bad as i did with Amlodipine so may be worth trying that one. Good luck.

  • katrina36607
    katrina36607 yvonne85501

    Posted

    Hi I started taking Amlodpine two months ago first at 5mg and then a month at 10mg , I have noticed the hair loss more so since been on 10mg and that is worrying me but the doctor said you dont get hair loss with this drug so must be stress or my age , I am 61, but it only started when I started the medication . Not sure what to do now so may reduce the meds back to 5mg and keep a check of my blood pressue at home for the next month , my next appointment is in 4 weeks .

  • skygirl
    skygirl yvonne85501

    Posted

    Hi I am so so glad I found this discussion. I'm 21 years old and sadly have had high bp (runs in my family) that needed to be treated with medicine. I've had really bad hair loss and I only take 5mg every day, and have been for about 3 months. Thank goodness my hair is insanely thick and curly, no one notices it because I can hide it. But it has made me so sad seeing my hair fall out everywhere, I hate washing my hair because I know it's going to fall out badly. I just notified my doctor that I'm going to stop taking it and asked for her advice on how to do so. I will say, I had hair loss from another product which I was able to revert with vitamins and hair oils. Going to try to do the same thing again to fix this.

  • pat66133
    pat66133 yvonne85501

    Posted

    Hello Yvonne

    I was on amlodopine 5 mg for 18 months when I noticed patches of alopecia. I blamed amlodopine as I normally have thick hair. I underwent considerable tests which all came back clear so I do blame the medication. My pharmacist did agree that it was a side effect. I have niw stopped amlodopine and take pernidropil 4mg but hair still thinning. It makes me so anxious. Does it take time for amlodopine to leave system or is hair loss also a side effect of pernidripol.

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.