Stopping AMLODIPINE ......experience explained .

Hi Chi,

A reasonable synopsis. It took a year to creep up on me, but as you have said, other medications and medical conditions can hide this and make us think it is natural ageing etc.

I seem to be different to others, I didn't suffer any side effects coming off it, but everyone is differently and our bodies all act differently.

Hi Chi000, thanks for summary. I was on Amlodipine for over 12 years. From approximately 2004 to 2011, I did not take it consistently so this is part of the reason that I missed the side effects or did not recognize that my digestive issue were being caused by it. In 2011, I tried to be more consistent but would occasionally forget to take it for several days.  I began to notice that the Gerds symptoms would subside a bit when I was not taking the Amlodipine (by this time I had been prescribed omeprazole).  It took several more years, 2 urgent care visits, 1 hospital stay, heart cath, not being able to eat vegetables, fruit and eventually protein without having discomfort  before I figured out the drug was causing the issues.  I went cold turkey for approximately a week and when my symptoms subsided I contacted my doctor about all the side effects.  

This forum has helped tremendously because on many occasions I thought it was my imagination. Now, after being off for approximately 6 months, I'm able to eat vegetables, fruit and protein and I no longer have to take omeprazole. 

I had to share after seeing your post and you have my general concurrence.  Thanks again for your posts. 

Chi000,  I receive email notifications from the forum and when I see Amlodipine in the subject line I'm compelled to read it.  I can relate to the suffering because I missed the point that I was being prescribed Omeprazole because of the side effects caused by the Amlodipine.  

At first, I thought my problems were heart related not realizing it was the Amlodipine side effects. It was so frightening thinking that it was the possibily my "ticker".  The cardiologist that prescribed it never mentioned digestive issues and insisted that I have a heart cath to rule out my heart.  He mentioned the swelling in ankles which I initially had but that side effect went away. The heart cath revealed mild CAD so I continued taking the amlodipine and omeprazole until I found this forum.  

Chi00, I hope this answers your question; however, if it does not let me know & I'll try again. 

Agree, Chi000.  I was struggling when I found this site. After reading so many of the reviews, I had the courage to discuss the problems with my PCP.  I'm very thankful and grateful for all the encouragement and ideas to help improve my quality of life. 

Hi Chi000 & Mesirm & everybody else - just wanted to say thank you both, you have been a "lifeline" for me...thank you!  I am 60 days off the evil Amlodipine & just came off a week of horrific GERD, gas & bloating.  Chose not to go the conventional route of taking anti acid RX's & even my GERD RX that I was prescribed after my two Urgent care trips while on Amlodipine.  I started taking papaya enzymes with every meal, eating fresh papaya & pineapple during the day, eating sauerkraut, kefir, buttermilk and fermented veggies and lots & lots of ginger chews & my GERD, gas & bloat is gone, but it was a fairly miserable for a week.  Hopefully gone forever, but the papaya enzymes were a godsend.  I think this is a testament that we can heal our bodies with good ingredients.  When we have acid indigestion we don't need drugs to keep our bodies from producing acid, we need food to help balance our system.  This drug has wrecked havoc on me, but I am trying very hard to recover thru healthy nutrition, meditation, self-care and living in a stress controlled lifestyle.  We are living in a prescription drug culture,  we need to take back our bodies and try to get away from these drugs, because they all have side effects.  I know that there are drugs that some cannot live without, but I also believe in alternatives - we need to stop being guinea pigs - just my opinion. Thank god for this site!