I know its was amlodipine!

Hi

I am new to this forum and have been on amlopodine for about 6 weeks now. I didn't read side effects before I started but I did read them after about 2 weeks. I had noticed heartburn sometimes, nausea, tiredness often. I was taking 2.5 mg every other day for the first week. I then started taking 2.5mg every day. The tiredness progressed over the next two weeks to exhaustion, I found my mind was getting muddled. I lost my appetite which was good as I didn't have the energy to cook anything!

I has a couple of weeks off of work as I couldn't function properly. I was constantly overheated as if I had a slight fever. I got far too hot in bed and when I got up I was awake for about an hour and then fell asleep for a few hours. This got better and started at 4.5 hours now down to about 3 hours. I don't do anything during the day apart from make a snack and a cup of tea, wash up and go to the loo. It feels as if I have the flu without the cold bit.

When I saw a my doctor last time which was a week ago she wanted to put my tablets up to 5mg. I refused as if I can't function now what effect will that have. I went back to work half day Tuesday and fell asleep as soon as u got home for 4 hours. The next day was my day off and I went to a small local shop. I found my muscles ached walking around the shop. Te following day after 8.5 hours sleep i struggled to wake up and after getting up could hardly walk down the passage.

I am now off of work again. I decided to look for a forum to see if anyone was experiencing similar effects. Last night I found this and it has made me feel so much better knowing that I am not the only one. I did mention my side effects to my doctor who said she hadn't heard about a bad reaction to these. I mentioned the fever but I felt as if she thought i was exaggerating. Last night I didn't take a tablet and I am going to now take them every other day for a few days and then stop. My blood pressure is the same as yesterday so far. I felt a bit brighter when I woke up this morning and I will report back in a few days time.

I hope many people read this forum as it can give a lot of hope. When I feel better i shall try to reduce it by more natural means.

My thanks to all the contributors and those who are so supportive. Thank goodness the forums are there.

I hope my experiences help someone else.

Ginette

I think GP's don't want to admit that Amlodipine causes so many side effects as it's cheap to prescribe and it's an easy option. When I took Amlodipine on it's own (5mgms then increased to 10 mgms daily) I felt so unwell and there was no improvement in my blood pressure. When the Amlodipine was reduced and I was prescribed Losartan as well I started to feel so much better and my blood pressure started to reduce. My concern for you is that you took a low dose and had side effects. I would be seeking a second opinion.

Hi Matron

I tried to get another doctor but the one who I wanted to see who is very thorough is booked up for three weeks. I shall get another opinion if I need more tablets. I am off of work at the moment so bood pressure, although high isn't off the scale.

I feel far more alert today as I decided not to take the tablet again. I was awake for six and a half hours without a sleep. I have only had two relatively short sleeps today about an hour long and more energy although still some muscle aches and pains and still a bit feverish. I can feel an improvement.

I do react badly to some tablets hence the cautious start. I take Mysoline, Tegretol and Ramipril 10mg. I have taken the Mysoline and Tegretol for many years. Ramipril for about 2 years, I also had a reaction when I went from 5mg to 10mg. I do need to lose weight and my job is a long day with lots of sitting around.

I shall look into natural blood pressure supplements.

I did also make some soup today, with a soup maker but I wouldn't have been able to do that two days ago.

I became cautious with medication when I saw the effect certain meds had on my mother.

Ginette

It's really interesting. The best GP's (mine included) are booked up far in advance! I hope you get this sorted out. After all doctors are supposed to make us feel better not worse!

That is true. I have a friend on this and she is fine but those of us who have bad side effects suffer. To not be able to function and have trouble even thinking is awful. I think doctors ought to take our side effects more seriously. I have read on this forum that this has been banned in some countries but that they give it to pets. I am certain that no pet of mine will take it! I would imagine had pets shown similar side effects people might have considered putting them down. I

If I was older I would have been far more worried that I was losing my memory although I know memory loss can affect those younger. Luckily the side affects happened so quickly and with such severity that I new it wasn't coincidence. I hope parents and carers of the people who are on this medication and are ill when they have the dosage raised will look here. They could have quality of life changes as you found.

Thank goodness for this forum.

Hi everyone who have contributed to this discussion RE; Amlodipine I think its case proved. . the only problem is its only us that know it. . and I still have not heard from yellow card, don't tell me they are in on it as well, the only advise I can give to everyone who is having terrible after effects from this drug is hound your GP until they help you find a more user friendly drug for your high BP, and keep send your yellow cards and or go on line. someone out there should listen eventualy just don't hold your breath, all the very best to everyone ...... len 7.

Thanks Len

I am off to the doctors today. I have stopped taking it. I am still tired most of the time but less muddled. Aches and pains still there although it has only been a few days. I am hoping this will all improve in time.

It will be interesting to see what the doctors says today.

Ginette

I was on Amlodipine for almost three weeks, first at 2.5 then doctor upped to 5. A week after starting, I had a variety of side effects, including dizzyness, light-headedness, occasional flushing of face, cold tingly hands, fatigue, poor sleeping, burping, etc. Decided to stop it a week ago, but am still having the side effects. I have this question for others who have quit: how long did take for the side effects to subside or disappear, if they did?

Hi Phil

It is now about two weeks since I stopped. I must say that first most noticable thing for me was the day after a stopped my head felt clearer and I could think straight. I had been really muddled and couldn't think clearly. I am still suffering from a bit of memory loss. The aches and pains also cleared within the first few days. The overwhelming exhaustion has also changed to just being constantly tired. The difference being I had trouble walking down the passage where I was so exhausted. Now I can walk about indoors but I get really tired during te day. I now have difficulty sleeping at night. I work time times only so I am off of work now and will be going back on half days in a couple of weeks.

I have another diffent tablet to take but I wanted to allow myself recovery tome from this one before embarking on another one. I hope your side effects are easing. I would say give it a couple of weeks more as it needs to get right out of your system.

I hope you notice improvements soon. Let me know.

Ginette

after reading this, I thought I should say it's obvious we are all so different. In my case (67 y male) I have had the best results with amlodipine. With the other high BP meds I'd been on for 15 years, my BP was continually going up. Finally 180/110 about a year ago. My heart specialist/stress said my heart is fine and strong but the arteries are not. he prescribed AM (5 mg per day). At first I deal feel soem sluggishness. I durtailed my other BPO meds and reduced the AM to 2.5 mg per day. My BP is now regularly at 120/70 and pulse at 60. I walk 4 miles most mornings, 2 reps of 25 pushups each and 40-60 situps, 2-3 times per week on the eliptical (sp?). I do house reno'ing on the side of property management. (I am retired... lol.

Like I said we are all different. It works well for my 65 year brother (lives a stressful life of teaching music at a private high school plus does his own concerts, etc.). But it did not work for my 66 year brother (he lives a life of beer in Nicaragua). 

Nigel, this is so interesting.  I have been on Ramipril, was changed to Losartan and last week had Amlodipine added; so now I'm on Losartan 50mg and Amlodipine 5 mg. Brain fog? Yes, but that started with the Losartan and is still there.  The worst thing is the memory thing - words, reasons for having written letters to people - awful.  And I'm an intelligent 68 year old author of numerous books who has always been "on the ball."  It's a horrible feeling. But the plus side is that my bp is now way down.  The question is, which is worse? Struggling with the side effects and having good bp, or getting my brain back and having high bp and the attendant spin offs.  Can't decide!!!