I know its was amlodipine!

I reported this drug to the yellow card scheme back in January. But yes it is a good idea for as many to respond as possible. Must remember to say to my GP next visit that it has been banned in Holland.

Len - I'm not sure it has been banned in another country. Apparently they did have a bit of a supply problem at one stage so that's where the rumour might have surfaced.

Thank you for info MrsO, I would have hated to put my foot in it.

How are you, havent heard for a while?. I seem to be okay at the moment with Doxazosin. Just the anxiety and odd stomache ache (not sure if swollen ankles are to do with it or not) Anyway such an improvement on how I felt with all the others.

Thankyou every one who have responded. Even if it have not been banned any where they should be looking into it. I am appaled that so many of you are having bad reactions to this drug and it seems to be falling on deaf ears . They need to look into this drug because its causing misery to a lot of patients. Llen 7

Hi annie255 im quite well now thanks i am only taking Doxizosin now amllodipine is def off the menu. I havent felt this well for some time. bP is stable thats the main thing. How are you now are you sleeping better i think you deserve to be feeling better now . All the very best........len 7

Thanks for your good wishes. It seems as if we have both found a suitable medication at last. Night time is still not completely cured, I wake up several times, but compared to how I was feeling - well there is no comparison.

Annie - yes thank you I'm not doing too badly, well apart from the still swollen legs and feet from the latest medication, Diltiazem plus Losartan Potassium - I think it's probably more down to the former than the latter. Your Doxasosin is an alpha blocker/beta blocker and one of it's listed side effects is ankle swelling. Good to hear you're feeling better otherwise though. Unfortunately after being on the Losartan for just 3 weeks, my GP called to say that the latest blood test showed reduced sodium levels, but suggested I remained on it until I saw the renal consultant next week as he is the one who put me on it. Still haven't got my BP down to the advised level in spite of the two pills so don't know where we go from here. I'll know more after my appointment next week.

ELAINE - I have felt better on the Losartan than when on Amlodipine, apart from it reducing my sodium level below normal. It doesn't mean to say that because it happened to me it will happen to you though - according to my pharmacist he rarely has patients complaining about side effects from Losartan so it appears to be well tolerated. Hope that helps. Yes, I agree, LEN'S suggestion for everyone to report their side effects by filling in the Yellow Card at the pharmacy is a good idea. The drug regulatory body, the MHRA gave a talk at one of our support group meetings recently (another health condition) and stressed how important it is to report our problems - this is how they are able to compile the numbers of people affected with the potential listed side effects on the sheet that accompanies our pills.

MrsO many thanks for your comments, I have decided to start on the Losartan on Monday so I am hoping this suits me better. If this medication reduces your sodium levels what problems do you get?

Elaine

Low sodium levels are just detected through the relevant blood test and I guess they would have to be very low before symptoms appear. I had another blood test a week after the results of the first but won't know the results of this until my appointment with a kidney consultant next week. This is why the blood tests are so important when taking medication, especially those for high BP. You should have a blood test for urea and electrolytes at least, about 10-14 days after starting your Losartan on Monday - I do hope all goes well.

Both Amlodipine AND Lisinopril were disasters for me.

Amlodipine:

Zombie like feel

Memory Problems

Hurting and Aching

No energy

No concentration

---- Recover after a few months of NOT taking it

Lisinopril:

Memory problems

Mental errors

---- Recovering after NOT taking it

progress is very slow

not fully recovered after two months of quitting

-------------------------

Does ANYONE know exactly how many BP points lowered

one should see when taking ANY of these drugs?

Hi Hitch thanks for your post, can't believe how much more energy I have not taking the Amlodipine, although been prescribed Losartan have decided to stay off meds for a bit longer and have been monitoring bp myself which so far is fine. Don't want to be reckless but honestly I really don't want to take these meds if at all possible.

I'm new to this forum, but finding it is the best thing I've ever done. I live in the

USA and was prescribed Amlodipine after being diagnosed with PTSD. As if that wasn't bad enough, the dise effects of this drug were horrible and the list too

long. The worse....out of body sensation, burning, pins and needles and severe

weakness and vertigo. All symptoms my GP told me were because I was

UNSTABLE. I ended up barely being able to walk and had tremors so bad. But the DR refused to take me off so I suffered thru them. Have been on it for 2 yrs

now and most side effects went away except the depression and fatigue. I decided to start my exercise routine again that I had been dedicated to before all this

PTSD/Amlodipine disaster happened and my muscles started poking again. I asked a GP about this and she said if my BP was ok...I could just stop taking it with no withdrawal symptoms. Oh heavens.........withdrawals brought back burning, pins and needles and pain in my eyes and blurred vision and insomnia . I went to another GP and he recommended staying off the med until he could get

results for lab work done. At any rate, my BP is ok for now. Not going back on this drug...EVER. Has anyone had these withdrawal symptoms and how long do they last? I don't want to risk having another possible break down like I felt when I started this med.

Thank you!

As someone who is taking Amlodipine 5mg (reduced from 10mg due to all the side effects ) I have noticed that some people have mentioned taking Rampiril as an alternative. I was taking Rampiril for over a year before changing to Amlodipine and found it to be very effective in controlling my BP, seemingly without any side effects. However, after some months I began to develop a slight cough which got progressively worse. It turns out that this is a very common side effect associated with Rampiril although one only finds this out later. It actually got to the stage where I avoided going to the cinema or theatre etc in case I suffered a coughing fit whilst there. Anyway, I was taken off of Rampiril and it took a few weeks for the cough to disappear. Not everyone appears to encounter this problem but I mention it should you be experiencing similar problems. Pity really, as I say, in all other respects Rampiril was otherwise ok.