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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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  • commando
    commando Nigel

    Posted

    just been perscribed Amlodipine today and reading your comments i dont think i will be taking them and just stick to my regular medication as iam a chef and work with knives and hot liqued items  dont want to loose my job and be the zombie 
  • commando
    commando Nigel

    Posted

    i have just been prescribed this drug today and reading your comment and the commets of the other peaple i dont think i will be taking this drug 
  • joe02921
    joe02921 Nigel

    Posted

    I met my new Doctor last week. I only had a brief visit with him, it was probably a 15 minute visit. Within the 15 minutes of our discussion he abruptly asked me what was going on with my blood pressure medication. When I asked him what he meant, he responded with the question, "are you taking amlodipine". I told him that I no longer took the medication and asked him why he seemed concerned. His response was, "too many of my patients complain about the side effects, so I try to take everyone off of it when possible". Maybe it is alright for others but it definitely was not for me. I hope everything goes well. Keep reading these posts to find out more about the medication.
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey joe02921

      Posted

      I was most concerned when taking Amlodipine and coming across a recommendation from the Mayo Clinic in the States that following research they didn't recommend Amlodipine for older ladies believing it could adversely effect their hearts.  When I mentioned this to my consultant he replied that the research didn't come to anything.  However the Mayo Clinic is a very reliable source, and, as they say, there is no smoke without fire.....

      Anyone experiencing such side effects as above when on Amlodipine (or any other drug for that matter) should report their experience to the MHRA, a government agency that monitors the market ensuring that medications are acceptably safe.  Perhaps if everyone suffering such side effects as posted in this group, reported their experiences, someone will sit up and take notice/action.  This can be done via the Yellow Card scheme available at pharmacies or via the following link.  

      https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

    • susan503
      susan503 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Mrs. O, Do you have a link to that recommendation from the Mayo Clinic? My mother is now on 5 mg per day along with furosemide and enalapril. She is on these for high blood pressure and Stage 4 kidney failure. She is 81. This is the only type of calcium channel blocker they will use on her because it is supposedly the only one that will not slow the heartbeat, and she has a history of bradychardia induced by certain meds. Does anyone know an alternative med to amlodipine that I can ask the doctor about?
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey susan503

      Posted

      Susan, I'm sorry it was a few years ago that I read the article and on second thoughts it may have been written by the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston which is apparently one of America's best hospitals.  I'm a little too busy to research at the moment (son's wedding coming up) but perhaps you can 'dig' around a little.  Amlodipine is marketed as Novasc in the States.

      I'm assuming your Mum is under a Renal Consultant due to her Stae 4 CKD and a cardio consultant regrding her heart - can these two not get together and decide on the most appropriate BP treatment for her?  We're not medics on here and with her history, she needs expert advice, which I so hope she is receiving.

    • susan503
      susan503 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      I too remember the article from a few years back. 

      She has not been to a cardiologist nor been referred to one. Our health system is quite broken now. Her Nephrologist of 16 suddenly retired due to the doctor shortage and the demands of Obamacare. He was only 53. The new doctor isn't a doctor at all, but a student. I mentioned the article to her but she poo poo'ed it and refused to address it at all. In fact, she ended by telling me she wanted to increase her amlodipine to 10 mg! 

      Things are so bad, when she was referred to a gastro doc for constant pain and diarrhea (excuse my saying) that the gastro doc, being advised she was in Stg 4 kidney failure, scheduled her for a test that would have killed her. I did some research and cancelled the test; only to be told by the nephrology office - as I said - that it would have killed her. 

      We are often left on our own to make life and death decisions these days aren't we? Or at the mercy of those who may have good intentions but little knowledge. For the record, I consider myself a medic! wink

    • susan503
      susan503

      Posted

      her nephrologist of 16 YEARS I should have said.
  • rozanne321
    rozanne321 Nigel

    Posted

    About a month ago, I was sitting at the computer at night trying to plan my day for the following day. I don't have my own car and have to depend upon another person to bring me and my daughter places before he goes to work. All of these things had to be done within a restricted amount of time. While I was thinking this, my heart started to beat heavier, but my pulse was normal. I didn't get much sleep. I went to the Emergency room the next day and my bp was 223/114. But I wasn't feeling lightheaded or anything bad. After about 4 hours of being monitored, they also checked my sinus rhythms and x-ray of my chest which were all normal, they let me go home and put me on 5mg of Amlodipine. The dr. also perscribed me a diuretic and anti-anxiety medication. Those I haven't taken since the dr. said that I should wait to see how the amlodipine works. Two days later, I went to my new GP, my old one retired in Aug., and told me to start the amlodipine. I haven't had any real side effects from it...until a day or two ago.   I have been feeling out of it, zombie-like, not so much light headedm but not aware of my surroundings. I almost got into a car accident yesterday while driving my daughter to college. I thought I had the right of way, but all of a sudden, this person was next to me and her horn was loud! As I was sitting in the parking lot with my daughter, who doesn't have her license yet, I started feeling a little bit zoned out. 

    I have an appointment with my gp tomorrow and I am going to see what the deal is. I have been watching my salt intake and diet. I have lost almost 5 pounds in the past month. A friend of mine says that it take about 4-6 weeks to start feeling

    the effects of it. I am on week 5 and I DON'T LIKE the way I have been feeling!!!

    I take my meds at 7 AM, and I am sleeping about 15 minutes later for hours!

    I feel that my bp went so high that time was because of the stress. I haven't had any stress since then and I don't feel like I need to continue this medicine. I have been feeling out of it, loss of energy and sometimes forgetfulness. That is NOT like me at all! I am going to get a home bp monitor and I think my gp will ask to have some blood tests done. I hope that I can get off this stuff. I feel like since I have lost weight and been REALLY watching my salt intake, I actually use a salt substitute, maybe I can wean myself off of it. I DON'T want to be hooked or reliant on this. Any suggestions?

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey rozanne321

      Posted

      rozanne, have you read my reply to Joe above?  Hopefully when your GP repeats your blood pressure check tomorrow, it will have returned to normal on the Amlodipine and helped by your recent salt restriction and weight loss.  The side effects you are experiencing sound horrid and certainly dangerous as far as the driving incident is concerned, and you should mention this to the GP tomorrow.  I'm sure he will stop the Amlodipine and either try you on a different pill if your blood pressure is still raised, or agree to discontinue it for a while if it is normal and monitor you to see if it stays normal with your continuing weight loss and salt restriction.
  • sheryl29065
    sheryl29065 Nigel

    Posted

    BEEN taking Amlodipine and after reading all things .THe disoriented and blurry vision my stamina is way off, not my self where I was always full lots of energy now IM like forcing the motions have to trash these pills but what do I about bp now dont like these pills effects walking zombie.  Sheryl
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey sheryl29065

      Posted

      Sheryl, you don't have to suffer in silence.  Tell you GP how you are feeling...there are many other BP lowering drugs to try.
  • john54137
    john54137 Nigel

    Posted

    I'm 69 and live in Obama's world across the pond....don't feel bad as I would have been a loyalist in 1776. I have been on Amlodipine 10 MG for about 4 years and have repeatedly told my doctor that I'm fatiqued from the moment I awake to the timeI go to bed. When I get up and shower I have to rest for a couple minutes after the shower to dry off. Then I start shaving  and have to stop and drop my arm because the feel so heavy. I walk out to the mail box about 100 feet and am tired when I get back...not out of breadth...just tired. I have lost almost all my muscle strength in my legs, ass and arms. My blood pressur was high before like 200/110 and I now have it under control which is really important as HP is a killer.

    However, AM is a big pain in the ass and after reading all these stories I too am quitting this drug just to see what happens. I will inform my doctr and make sure he is onboard with some type of wait andsee policy.

    Thanks everyone for your stories.

    John

    • rozanne321
      rozanne321 john54137

      Posted

      Hi John!

        I went to my doctor about 2 weeks ago and had my bp taken. When I ft went to her in early November, it was 173/92. When I went this time, it was 158/86 and I had lost 7 pounds. She put me on 5 mg, of Amlodipine. Iinformed her that I had been feeling extremely tired about 45 minutes after taking the medicine. Almost to the point o where my body just didn't want to move or wake up. I told her that I have been zoning out, almost to the point where I didn't even see a car almost cut me off. And I had my daughter in the passenger seat who didn't see the other car. I take my medicine around 7 in the morning with a banana and water. She told me that I should take it at night. I'm like, why? If my blood pressure goes too low, how is anyone, especially me, know that I have passed out? She also told me to continue to take the full 5 mgs. NOT!!!

       I have decided to take half the amount at the same time eating the same thing. For  few days, I was fine with it. Then today, I was sitting in the car, not driving, and I felt a pain in the left side of my back below the shoulder...  I don't think it's the kidneys, but I think I am gouing to stop taking the meds and let my dr. know. She will probably not be too happy. She also wants me to get some blood work done to check the ler and kidneys. I feel that this medicine isn't for me. I have been watching my salt and diet for a while. I don't have another appointment to see her until April 2015. I am not going to wait until then to see her and have her tell me that I should have been off this for a while!

    • john54137
      john54137 rozanne321

      Posted

      Hi Roxanne 

      Thanks for the info

      Are you in Britain?

      I put a call into my doc and

      He just called back and

      Reduced my pill to 2.5 MG from 10.

      So... We'll see how that turns out.

      If you are over there ... What part?

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service .

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • rozanne321
      rozanne321 john54137

      Posted

      Hi John!

      No, I am across the pond. My doc told me to continue taking the 5 mg. even though I told her of those effects that I have been experiencing. I have been taking 2.5 mg for about 5 days as of this post. My mind is clearer, I am not "zoning out" mentally, and I feel better. I haven't been able to take my bp at home since I don't own a monitor. But my sis in law is bringing one that she had soon. I take my medicine in the morning with a banana. This way, if my bp increases during the day, the medicine would keep it in check. I am still going to get those blood tests that she ordered. One of them checks the liver and kidney function.

      I hope that you do well on the lower dosage.

    • margaret01450
      margaret01450 john54137

      Posted

      Hey John did you get off AM eventually.  I feel the same as you, need to sit down and rest after small tasks.  Wondering if it's the AMt

    • janet23335
      janet23335 margaret01450

      Posted

      Hi Margaret just to say I'm off the amlodipine .I was feeling really terrible .my doctor wanted me to stay on them .can't understand why .I am now on Irbesartan. Not sure what these will like. only been on them for about 5 days now. Jan

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