I know its was amlodipine!

well, i just started taking Amlodipine a few days ago. Although bp dropped from 160/100 to 120/80, but i think I've been having a few side effects like y'all have mentioned on here. I feel extremely drowsy, weakness in my legs, internal body tremor, general fatigue, disconnection from the world around me, irregular sleep patterns, dizzy spells, lightheadedness, cramps in my legs. I've been praying i don't get swollen feet or ankles. what's more annoying is there's no class of bp meds i haven't tried..they all end up the same-- giving me a bunch of discomforting side effects. I've seen like a dozen doctors, i think they are all cut from the same clothing....they just encourage you to either bear the side effects or try another drug. God, my health's been one hell of a rollercoaster with these doctors. Just hoping God will take pity on me and fix me for good.

I'm convinced that Amlodipine nearly killed me with arrhythmia. I woke in the early hours (two separate days) with my heart feeling as if it was quivering, and I could not feel my pulse. I thought that I was having a heart attack. In addition to this, most days I was waking up with barely enough energy to walk - my partner thought I looked pale and ill. After that I dreaded going to bed in case I did not wake up. This site was very helpful in identifying Amlodipine as the cause, and relevant posts were by Susan503 who said "Something has to be done, but for heaven's sake, there are studies going back 20 years showing how this drug can cause sudden death and heart attacks, especially in elderly women.", and evoc who said he had "dozens of irregular heart beats, nearly passed out at the computer." He added "It took seven months for the irregular heart beats to finally stop." Several other comments stated that changing the Amlodipine pill manufacturer has on several occasions brought on side effects despite being stable on the same dose from another manufacturer for several years beforehand.

I am age 57, about two and a half stone over weight (should be 13 stone). My initial BP was about 185/100. My meds were ramped up to 10mg Amlodipine + 10mg Ramipril, which succeeded in bringing my BP down to about 130/80 which was fine. The last of these increases was from 5mg to 10mg AM. I used up my remaining AM pills two at a time for two weeks without a problem, but when transferring to 10mg AM pills made by a different manufacturer "Crescent", severe problems started in a few days. I noticed that one could easily smell the 5mg pills on one's skin, but there was no such smell with the Crescent ones, which suggests a different composition. Within a few days of changing to Crescent I had the symptoms described above. I bought a CheckMe Pro Doctor from Amazon that does 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring, and found that it was all over the place, particularly in the early hours with a very wobbly trace for short durations that I think may have represented my loss of pulse.

I sent this to my doctor, and he replaced AM with 1mg Doxazosin that made my pulse race so badly that I thought I would have a heart attack any minute. I stopped it after two days because I cannot bear to have my pulse permanently racing. Internet research suggests Urapidil might be a suitable alternative without this side effect, but it does not seem to be available on the NHS.

I have stopped the AM now for a few days and am feeling a lot better. I am still getting loads of irregular heart beats, but they seem to be reducing. I have made contact with a cardiologist because I am not happy with my ECG even though I almost feel normal again apart from the ectopic beats (Multi-focal Premature Ventricular Contractions I think). I am hoping my heart will fully go back to normal in the next few weeks. For obvious reasons I don't think this drug should be allowed. hopefully my account will be helpful, as the heart has not been mentioned in much detail in this thread.

This site just came up somehow and I am so glad to be reading everyone's comments. I have been taking Amlodipine for years with seemingly no side effects. A few months ago I experienced this awful feeling upon waking up: for a few seconds life seemed fresh and I was ready to get going; then, a brick seemed to hit me and I just kind of mentally and physically dropped out. Not me at all. A few weeks ago I ran out of AMO and couldn't be bothered to get more! Ironic, isn't it? So I am not taking it - I was up to 20 mg. a day. I have all the symptoms I'm reading about here: muscle ache, generalized pain, memory loss, and a disconnect from life. Thank you, everyone, for writing on this site. I don't know how long it will take to get over this, but at least I have a clue now as to the cause. I am so grateful for your sharing. And I will update from time to time, in the hope that things get better.

I have just found this site, and only yesterday was put on Amlodopine 5mg by cardiologist. Am already on a low BP med, Olmesartan Plus. His reason for doing this is after a 24hour blood pressure monitorm average blood pressure was 135/80. States that there were a few high readings, have only had one dose of this last night.

Today at work had headache most of the day, and some left breast discomfort, cant really call it pain. I am seriously looking at making an appointment with my GP and considering alternative therapy such as beetroot capsules. I am a Registered Nurse and decided to research this drug before taking anymore, and am surprised to find all these issues with it. I am quite fit and healthy; working full time, 65 years young, walk dog daily between 2 - 3klm, ride horses on the weekends. I am slightly overweight - trying to lose more. Only cardiac issue I have besides blood pressure is that I am bradycardic (low heart rate) I am only on two prescription medications, nexium is other one. Otherwise take herbal/vitamins to stay healthy.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks.

hi

ive been on amlodopine for two weeks. after walking around a mile my legs momentarily feel like concrete. heavy and numb just for a few seconds. its like a big build up of lactic acid that lasts for about 30 seconds. i also get very tired mid afternoon and i think its causing a drop in blood sugar. if i eat something it goes away in 5 minutes but while it lasts i feel anxious and very tired and fuzzy headed. Dr says to give it 8 weeks as it may settle down.

has anyone on here had similar side effects? If you ended up switching meds, what to and any improvement?

Mick

Hello Nigel. I was put on Amlodipine/Benazapril 5/40 since 2012 I'm 59 and I suffered no hardcore side effects as I see many sufferers in this forum have during those years. Even at startup. Found out why I didn't get those severe side effects because according to some Amlodipine website and my GP, Afro Americans appear better to tolerate the drug than Caucasians. It may be a genetic thing going on or something. My case is now quite the opposite. I stopped the Med a year ago and I'm still having withdrawals 3 maybe 4 days week. The side effects you are experiencing, I'm experiencing now except labored breathing for about 10 mins BP goes to 150/88/88. When the attacks are gone, BP drops to 133/82/75. I did all I can to stay fit, eat right and exercise, but can't exercise regularly because I know what day it will hit. This pill most likely is designed for life. I'm going back on it. I hope you find another BP Med other than Amlodipine.

I'm in tears. I am so afraid I have a neurological disease or a muscle disease. I think it could be the amlodipine. I had a stroke from covid in January. it caused a blood clot in my neck which went to my brain. the hospital doctors started me on amlodipine , adding it to my bystolic.I haven't felt strong a day since. its hard to recover from the stroke when I'm exhausted. my muscles have zero energy. they twitch and cramp. I can barely lift my arms to do anything. I felt weepy all the time. I am nauseous and can't fight my way back from this stroke with no energy. my muscles twitching and spasm all day. its hard to function. I tried quitting the 10 mg I was on. my doctor pulled me off of it when I complained. abruptly. I had rebound blood pressure from the wicked stop. 215/ 120. I went to emergency room. they told me it was in my head and got my pressure down and sent me back to the same doctor who wasn't listening to me . He started me on Telmisartan 40 mg. it wasn't bringing the bp down. I felt weak and dick again. I went back to the emergency room. bloodwork showed i had rhabdomyolysis from the Telmisartan. I was admitted and on intravenous fluids for days. but now I'm stuck on the amlodipine, the only drug that in combination with my Bystolic, keeps my pressure down. I want to get off the amlodipine and am slowly weaning myself down, but as I do that my pressure goes up a notch each time I cut more of that pill down. I've been taking about 7. 5mg plus 20mg of Bystolic in the morning and 10 mg of Bystolic in the evening. I need this to be out of my system. I fear it is the reason for my muscle and nerve issues. plus, I have a stinging sensation and a cooling sensation in my esophagus. swallowing seems a bit off. and my neck hurts. just so weak. Before my stroke I was biking a 10 mile daily trail. I can barely walk my dog. I am forced to choose between controlled pressure and these debilitating side effects. I just want to die. this isn't living. I want to know if anyone who has stopped this drug feels normal again and if my symptoms sound familiar