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I know its was amlodipine!

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Nigel
Nigel

I am a healthy 58 yr old and normally very active. BP was rising over the last year or so to 178/98 and so this Jan my Doc put me on Amlodipine 5mg. Thats when it started. Firstly with a loss of energy, then total loss of stamina, I felt like a Zombie all the time. As the month progressed I started to get forgetful, dizzy spells, very tingly left hand and painful joints all througfh my left side. BP did not drop as fast as hoped so Doc added Lisinopril 2.5mg. Hey... off with the faries now! After two weeks I could not concentrate on anything people were telling me and to the point that I was becoming detached from the real world. And that was only after a couple of weeks on the cocktail. I decided to trial which drug was causing this and first removed the Lisinopril for a few days then swapped over to stopping Amlodipine. Cor.. what a difference. Almost the next day after stopping Amlodipine I started to recover. After just one week people at work are now saying 'welcome back' and I know what they mean. BP not down yet but I am never going near Amlodipine again, its a wrecker!

Has anyone else had anything like my reaction?

42 likes, 815 replies

815 Replies

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  • billie80254
    billie80254 Nigel

    Posted

    Hi, I also have benn taking Amlodipine 5mg for a few months, my ankles became so swollen that I halved the tablets and have been taking 2.5mg for a while. Over the past two/three weeks I have had breathing problems which I have never had before, breathing in was almost scary as if I wasn't going to be able to. yesterday I only took 1.25mg and today I feel so much better. I had tried Lisinopril previously and developed a cough so was changed to Amlodipine. Has anyone else had breathing problems?
    • donna56749
      donna56749 billie80254

      Posted

      I took amlodipine  for two weeks. Didnt take it yesterday or today. Swelling is going out of my legs and knees aren't hurting as bad.As for the breathing yes it felt like something was tightened around my lower rib cage. feeling a lot better hoping a few more days will get me back to where i was. i will never take thay stuff again.
  • patricia41612
    patricia41612 Nigel

    Posted

    I was on Amlodipine for a short time it made my ankles balloon over my shoes, and I had no energy at all, plus aching joints and muscles,  the Dr agreed it was the tablet, and now I am fine with no medication, just cut down on sweet foods and lost a little weight.
    • ivan_rtw
      ivan_rtw patricia41612

      Posted

      Hello Patricia and others...

      I have been following your posts with interest, yes, it is the drug that will make your knees, legs, and in particular ankles swell. My gp has had me several other drugs for my high bp. All (for me anyway so far) have given awful side effects in one way or other. I am a moderate asthma sufferer also which gets to me more in the cold weather than any other time of the year. It seems to me by makeup and body is very very sensitive to tne drugs,  Anyway, I have lost some weight, a stone or so, and intend to lose another stone and a half, I was 14'4 a year agao, now 13' and have a target of 11 ' 7 which, as i'm 6 feet tall is very lean for me but then thats what my gp says I should be for my age etc. My target date for this is spring 2015 to lose the weight gradually (this works for me I have found)  I no longer eat ANY microwave readymeals, have a low salt diet and have cut out bacon, sausages and any other poor quality meat or other processed products. I now cook from scratch at home and love the better tast of the food and veggies. Brown whole meal bread for toast .My only vice is some wine and lager beers at the weekend or when on holiday in moderation and not on a school night as you might say . So, has my bp come down? Yes, and without drugs, its still on the high side but nothing like it was and I know I can get it down more. High bp is a largly due to lifestyle issues (be honest with your self over this) you can help yourself without drugs, however, if your bp is sky high, ie, over 200 or so then you will need to get it down very quick or risk very serious illness, I have a bp moniter to keep a check on mine- buy one , they are very useful.

  • Trikkerguy
    Trikkerguy Nigel

    Posted

    I just called my son, and told him about the same thing that Nigel wrote, I've been very fatigued for a while, I just got up after an hours nap sitting on my couch. Got up about 7:30 am, ate, went on line, then got very tired, almost to a point, I couldn't keep my eye's open. I'm on 10mg of amlodopine, it's been affecting my weight training, concentration, basically I too feel like a zombie. I also get swollen feet sincie I started this med, nave had it before, and I'm now on water pills. I know every med has side effects, but this is not the way to live. Tomorrow I have an appointment for blood tests, things must change for this 76 year old. BTW, I'm a Floridian, my grandfather grew up in Petticoat Lane.
    • michele_20247
      michele_20247 Trikkerguy

      Posted

      Good to meet you Trikkerguy, my name is michele and I haven't written here for a while but continue to get all the discussion comments. I too was very badly injured ...yes I say injured, because when I was prescribed Amlodipine I became extremely ill. Severe fatigue and weakness, extreme weightloss, and nerve damage joint and muscle damage. Dr told me I had the FLU. I think we ALL know what the flu feels like. Please just get off the med. You may find it interesting to read some uselful articles on the peoples pharmacy website. [Link removed] I"m sure you'll find it. Can I ask....just what is your blood pressure?

      Michele

      Moderator note: Links have been removed

    • Trikkerguy
      Trikkerguy michele_20247

      Posted

      Hi michele, just came back from my doctor, I told him about my fatigue, being tired, occasional puffy feet, and the fact Amlodipine is banned in Holland. My BP has been about 130/70 average, he asked my schedule, what I do during the day, I told him I lift weights about every other day, sometimes heavy, anyway, he looked at my blood results, and told a colleague that was there, he was happy with the numbers based on my age, and told me he would shoot himself in the foot if he changed my meds. He said it took him a while to find the right combination for my high BP, and attributed my tiredness with the heavy lifitng, he recommended I workout everyday, but lighter.
    • michele_20247
      michele_20247 Trikkerguy

      Posted

      Well...good luck to you my friend. I too worked out. Key word....worked. Now I can't excercise at all. DRS orders! My hopes are to one day day be able to do so. But no one knows if I will even heal. Please...keep an eye on your side effects. If they do NOT get better, please do not ignore these symptoms. Do your research on Amlodipine. I'm sure you'll find plenty of information out there to make an informed decision. You take control over  your health and don't leave it strictly in your Drs hands. Look for natural things you can do for your BP as well..

      My best to you.......Michele

  • charlieshore
    charlieshore Nigel

    Posted

    My wife was experiencing the same reactions, she had been on the drug for two years and was achanged person. I felt I was loosing her. About ten weeks ago she stopped taking amlodipine and started to feel better within a couple of days. She has however been left with insomnia. I supported her in her effort to leave this drug and she started to get more exercise in the way of walking more and establishing a healthy diet. She has lost almost a stone during the period and feels much better and so do I, my wife is back. Blood pressure is falling slowly, but surely. A long job but going the right way. I would have liked her to have joined a slimming club but she was not keen. I wish anyone who is in this drug well but think it would be wise to inform your GP of your intentions. If you give up amlodipine be intent on increasing your exercise and  establishing a really healthy diet and no smoking and minimum alcohol.

     

  • keith24605
    keith24605 Nigel

    Posted

    My doctor put me on 5mg dose of amlodopine after a routine health check, which showed my blood pressure to be 178/114. After one month, my blood pressure had only dropped to 170/110 so my dose was doubled. Within 3 days my legs and feet swelled and I was having to get up 12 times a night to pee. I went back to the doctor and told him I was going back to 5mg, which he agreed with. The swelling immediately stopped but I was still having to get up 4 times a night to use the toilet. About 3 months later I started to feel dizzy, lacked stamina and even routine tasks felt like a chore. I went back to my surgery and asked to speak to a nurse. She asked me if I was taking the tablets at night or in the morning and I told her that I had been taking them at night, as the instruction leaflet just said to take them at the same time each day. She then informed me that amlopodine should only be taken in the morning, not at night and made an appointment for me to see another doctor three days later. I took her advice and all the side effects disappeared within a couple of days. I then went to see the doctor, who confirmed that amlopodine should not be taken at night and he also added that he was on it, too, and his blood pressure was higher than mine.( He is 31 years old......I'm 63

    As a final note...my 66 year old, very fit brother is also on amlopodine and he suffered the same side effects until he switched to taking the tablets first thing in the morning.

     

    • Trikkerguy
      Trikkerguy keith24605

      Posted

      Some days I can workout after taking the Amlodipine, other's like today, not so much. Everything felt heavy, and I'm fighting the fatigue, not good when throwing around 50 lb dumbells.
  • Marc_B
    Marc_B Nigel

    Posted

    Hello everyone. I am a 24 year old male. I've been diagnosted with Hypertension at the age of 16 (I think). 2 months ago I was prescribed 5mg of Amlodipine and 20mg of Amiloride. Both meds share alot of the same symptoms but after doing a ton of research I figured that it was the amlodipine that was making me feel extra tired, zombie-like and giving me these muscle aches. I'm much relieved to see this thread with everyone sharing alike symptoms because I was very paranoid. When I first started my medications I weighed in at 230lbs. I changed alot of my diet and 2 months later i am at 209. I really thought I was losing my mind because I would wake up from a good rest and still always feel really sluggish and tired. The Amlodipine, however, is working. My blood pressure without it is about 160/110. My pressure dropped to an average 130/85 which is a huge improvement, but these side effects are really drastic. I plan to continue my weight loss so that it will be alot easier to controll my hypertension and I can discontinue Amlodipine. Thank you all for sharing your experiences.
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Marc_B

      Posted

      Marc, I'm sorry to hear you are a hypertension sufferer at such a young age but,  if you are having bad side effects from the Amlodipine, you don't have to wait until you've lost more weight in an effort to come off them.  Why not ask your GP to put you on a different medication - there are loads of different ones out there.  I'm on my 6th different pill and so far the only one that doesn't produce very unwanted side effects for me.  Well done on the weight loss though - a consultant once told me that high blood pressure can improve by around 10% simply by losing weight.  Cutting down or out on salt, processed foods, refined carbs, coffee and alcohol can also help.  Do let us know how you get on. 
    • Marc_B
      Marc_B MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Hello again MrsO and everyone else here. I've been taken off Amlodipine for about a week or so now, and I am almost back to normal. I can now fall asleep normally and stay asleep the entire night through, until I have that sudden urge to use the restroom from my other medicine haha. No more tingling on my left side. I can also breath normally and I do not feel like my breathing is being slowed. Its amazing, I honestly feel like a new person. I highly highly highly recommend that anyone using amlodipine with side effects stop taking that pill. My doctor told me to NEVER try to cope with side effects from a medicine. Thankfully, I've lost 30lbs since beginning amlodipine and my blood pressure has improved enough to where I only need to use one pill to control my blood pressure. Since starting medicines I've kind of become a health freak. My eating habits have completely changed...but thats a different story for a different day haha. Thank you all for your comments and sharing experiences. It really helps to figure out what to do about these side effects. I wish you all well.
    • Nells54
      Nells54 Marc_B

      Posted

      Well done on your weight loss - trying to do the same but not as successful
    • michele_20247
      michele_20247 Marc_B

      Posted

      Well congradulations! I'm so glad to hear of your success getting off that horrible med. And you would be the first person I have heard say their Dr told them to NEVER try to suffer the side effects of a med. I WISH MY DR WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO ME!!! I suffered such bad side effects from this med and she dismissed them all. Now off Amlodipine for 7 months and am looking at permanent nerve and muscle, tendon damage. Still working in rehab. Things are going very slowly. Still can't fall asleep normally.

      I wish you all the continued success with your journey to good health!

      Michele

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Marc_B

      Posted

      Woo hoo, Marc!  Thank you so much for letting us know. You deserve to feel well again, especially in view of the fact that you are helping yourself so much via the weight loss and your diet control.  Not easy to do but you can now be our role model!smile  Keep up the good work and hopefully stay off the pills.  Well done you!
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