I know its was amlodipine!

My goodness.... why the bun fight? Thank goodness for this website/forum & those taking the time to contribute & help people like me, in a situation that I personally couldn't understand & needed some idea as to the problem. It would have been great to get some professional, immediate answers from my GP, but at the time of my posting I was desperate, due to my GPs unavailablity for almost a week.

Now, of course, it is stating the obvious that for everyone one that suffers, many, many don't. So flippin' what? If I hadn't have been suffering I wouldn't have bothered to 'Google' would I?

I did come off the script..... after some HELPFUL information off this forum. A decision 'rubber stamped' by my GP later...... when I was much improved.

So if you are ok with AM fine.... if you’re not..... well it is probably worth considering some of the advice as offered above. It's not crap or panic sarsons - some of us are adults & can take a balanced decision based on the information provided. Others of course 'throw their toys out the pram'.

Hi all. Thanks Victor for returning this discussion to the adults! As I indicated in my last posting, I have now been off Amlpdipine for two weeks and boy do I have a feeling of being back to my old self! Walked and walked to my heart's satisfaction while I was away, something I could not have contemplated a month ago due the lethargic and depressive feelings I experienced while on the drug. The severe pains in my eyes have very dramatically reduced. Blood pressure has been closely monitored and is a bit up and down varying between 130/90 and 149/71. I have started to make some life-style changes which I have no doubt will help me control the blood pressure better. I am due to see my GP this week so that we can review things and most probably try another drug if he so feels. I will keep the forum posted of progress or lack of it.

This forum was a life saver for me during what I considered to be very dark days. Reading other people's experiences gave me encouragement that I was not alone and the courage to go and have serious discussions with my doctor. Medicines are supposed to make you feel better when you are unwell and not worse! Whether you are the only one it makes unwell or one out of many is immaterial. Once again thanks all for sharing your experiences and if it is one soul this forum has helped recover from a very dark place it has been well worthwhile!

Hi all,

I have removed sarsons comments as the comments were not helpful and as others have said the forum is for people's own experiences to help others in the same situation. People will not post if they are not having issues, it's like posting in the hyperthyroidism forum saying you and/or most people do not have hyperthyroidism.

Sarsons - people in here and in the rest of the discussions on this site do realise not everyone has the same problems and if you wish to leave a comment please do but please do not accuse users of panicking etc. They are simply trying to be better informed and have the choice of taking other's advice or not. If you do have an issue with my removing the comments you can send me a PM.

Regards,

Alan

Emis Moderator

Hi Senora I am so pleased that you are starting to feel like your old self again. It is a fantastic feeling when you wake up and can get back to your normal acitivities without the struggle to function as you used to. I do agree with you that our GPs have such a huge workload. They prescribe what they are familier with and also what is the flavour of the month, cost wise. Reps visit surgeries and sell their products where GPs will often opt for the cheapest, because they are also governed by their budget and may have to use drugs that won't stretch their purse strings. I was prescribed AM in hospital after being an emergency admission, however they told me to go straight back in if my feet or legs started to swell . This didn't happen straight away so I went back to my GP which was a big mistake. Also when I took the remaining tablets back to the chemist once my GP had stopped the AM they told me that swelling to feet and legs is a common side effect . I have recently spoken to a doctor who says that the side effects of Amlodipine can be awful and that she felt for those who suffer them. I am so glad that I found this forum because it has helped me to realise that I was not going mad and that other people are in the same boat. I can remember how scared I was when I was in the middle of the side effects and was so pleased to know that I was not alone. I am not one to sit and suffer so once I knew that it could be the effects of the medication rather than the high Blood Pressure that was making me feel so ill, I felt strong enough to go back to my GP. However it was a battle at first to be taken serious but they finally listened to me so never give up, life is too precious to waste if you feel it is the medication that is causing your symptoms.

Bye for now Ansatasia

When I first started to take Amlodipine I had most of the same side effects as in these threads especially tiredness, breathlessness, loss of memory and generally feeling out of things. When I went back to the chemist (Boots) to fill my repeat prescription I mentioned the side effects to the pharmacist who said that I may be better off taking it at night before I go to bed. This has made such a difference - I sleep much better although I do wake earlier than before but am raring to go. My memory is much better although I do still wish everyone I met wore a name badge!I was a very active person before being diagnosed with high blood pressure and having changed the timing of the pills, I now play squash and tennis again and seem to have more energy than I've had for a long time. Maybe I am just lucky - also I'm not on any other medication.

Best regards

Jay

I have just been put on Amlodipine 5mg yesterday. My BP was registered for a couple of days 185/110 average. Having read this thread I am now a little worried if I should even continue

SteveD

Don't panic just yet SteveD - you may be ok as AM does not affect everyone badly. Jay in the comment above has found that it works for him and thats great. For me it was all ok for a couple of weeks and then the 'wheels fell off' so to speak. It didn't matter when I took them either. So bad for me but not everyone. See how it goes and you'll know soon enough, as the issues identified above seem fairly commonplace with those that suffer side affects. Alll the best.

Hi Steve I agree with Victor to give the medication a chance because it may suit you fine. I tried it but was unlucky and the side effects were not nice. Still I am now on Losartin Potassium and doing great on it. What you need to do is make a list of all the things you can do now ie work, hobbies, sleeping pattern, energy levels etc and see if after taking the medication for a while if any of these have been affected and if so to what degree. Some people can manage the side effects if they are mild but mine were severe. So good luck and let us know how you are gettin on.

By the way if any one is interested a new web site has been printed in my monthly Blood Pressure Magazine where you can report the side effects that you suffer from medication and they research the drug, So far Amlodipine is not on the Yellow Card List but if enough people report their problems with the drug then maybe it can be modified . I hope that I am allowed to print this web site www.adrreports.eu.

Hi all, I have now been off AM for a week and starting to be myself again. The foot and ankle swelling is going down fast and finally I can get some shoes on. The pain has gone completly. I felt so good at the weekend I had a night out on the town. I go back to my GP on Friday for a check up and see what the BP is like. I will update you on my return

Hi. I'm 78 years ol and 3 years ago had an aortic disection. 3 weeks intensive care after 8 hour op to give me a replacement upper aorta. It is very important that my Bp is kept low to avoid further disections!THanks to terrific medical care I have lived a further 3 years!. I'm now having my cateracts sorted out and my bp was 210 over 100! after lying down for 30 minutes it was down to 160 over 90. Had my bp checked 3 days before op planed 170/90. GP put me onto amolodpopine 5mg. bp down to 140/80. Op ok. Am delighted with my new eye but am so fatigued, lazy, lacking stamina I find it difficult to ride my exercise bike for 4k's and walk my normal 2 mile daily trip into town. Thanks to this discussion group I'm seeing my GP shortly and will I know come off amlodopine. I want to get back to feeling great and walking distances. thanks to all contributers!

Hi all, some progress report. I have now been off Amlodipine for three weeks and I can honestly say that I am back to my old self! All the symptons have now gone but blood pressure is still being monitored closely. Got checked by the nurse last Thursday and I recorded 130/70. I would like to believe that the lifestyle changes I have put in place are producing some results. Kept my appointment with the GP and he finally accepted that the symptoms I was experiencing were largely due to the drug and he says he would not put me back on it. He has also referred me to get a 24 hour blood pressure monitoring done. After that, he will decide whether I need to go back on a BP lowering drug and which one. Like you Nigell, I know it was Amlodipine ! I tried it for seven months and it did not work for me. It may work for other people. I join others in saying try it but don't suffer in silence for a long time, like I did, if you start feeling some of the paralysing sypmtoms some of us experienced

i have really high blood pressure in 3 yrs its not gone down im taking this drug im just tired all the timeim on 10 mg im really wondering if i should just stop it

Hi, I am a 46 year old female recently prescribed Amlodipine 5mg (nocte) to be taken at night for high BP. Now into week 4 I started to become aware of various physical symptoms including breathlessness, palpitations, able to hear my heart racing, tightness in my neck, lethargy, nausea, loss of appetite, loss of taste, lack of concentration, irritability, general tiredness and reduction in physical ability i.e. activities like walking, hanging out washing.

Initially I had put this down to a combination of things, the high BP, stress (life is currently stressful) also previous gastro problems.However having had stress and anxiety before this felt nothing like it, and as a psychotherapist I suspected that there was more to my symptoms than this - so googled Amlodipine and hey presto found this forum.

I have now made an appointment with my GP for this evening and will insist in a change in medication. I will also ask why he/his practise is prescribing it when it is banned in several european countries. I would urge anyone else who is having symptoms/side effects that are worrying or debilitating to go back to their GP and request a change in medication. I do get it that this medication may work for some.

I intend to report back when I have seen the GP.

Best wishes everyone

Hi therapist - when I visited my GP recently I asked them why I had been prescribed AM. She told me that 'they' have to prescribe it initially as it excellent for lowering BP but does have issues and subsequently was not surprised at what had happened to me. Don't know how true the GPs statement is but there you have it. Let us know what your GP says.

Hi Victor, saw GP last night. Explained side effects and he has now prescribed Losartan, the first dose I have taken this morning. Psychologically I already feel better knowing I am no longer on AM. GP accepted my reporting of side-effects but was reluctant to enter into debate about the AM being prescribed. I suspect a great deal is down to costs and NICE guidelines and drug companies.

I will keep you posted regards outcome of Losartan and how I am feeling in a week or so.