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This can be a dangerous medication - beware!

Posted , 64 users are following.

Colibri
Colibri

I took 5mg of amlodipine without problems for about a month. After the first-week period of adjustment, in which it completely knocked me out, I felt normal again and was overjoyed that it lowered and kept my usual 150+/90+ BP down to a textbook 120/80 (with minor variation).

But then side effects began to develop. I found my sleep increasingly poor, until I could only reach a half-sleep, no matter how much exercise I had had that day (or benadryls or Ambiens I took), "twilight sleep" I think it's called, and I arose as tired as when I went to bed, as if I hadn't slept at all.

Then I noticed that I would suddenly have shoulder and upper back muscle pain within an hour of taking amlodipine. The doctor lowered my dose to 2.5mg of amlodipine plus 40mg of benazepril, which brought only temporary improvement. The painful muscle spasms returned.

And most disturbing were the severe hot flashes that woke me up at night, as if the room were on fire, but the thermometer indicated it was only about 70°F (21°C) and my own body temperature was sub-normal, only 97 F or so (36 C), but despite my feelings of being overheated, I did not sweat - except from the soles of my feet, which is unusual for me. But my skin felt like it was on fire.

Then I would often wake with my brain "on fire" and itching like a bad allergy that I couldn't get to to scratch, and my eyes burning and streaming with tears.

The end of the amlodipine is when I opened the trunk (boot) of my car and blood vessels in the tips of my fingers where they had contacted the edge of the trunk (boot) lid burst and my fingers swelled up. I have never had weak blood vessels, or anything like that happen before.

Calcium blockers cause the blood vessels to relax and thin out - and now I wonder if not become weak. That would be a great setup for a stroke. I basically had a stroke in my fingers.

I will NEVER take this medication again. I believe it can lead to muscle pain, unrestorative interrupted sleep, and worse, strokes. I now consider it poison for me.

By the way, amlodipine has been banned in the Netherlands and other countries because its dangerous negative side effects outweigh its benefits. I don't think the Dutch are arbitrary or capricious in their decisions - I totally agree. This substance should be banned everywhere.

15 likes, 121 replies

121 Replies

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  • maria44264
    maria44264 Colibri

    Posted

    Maria44264: I am on the same medication which you speak of and is now having terrible back pain my hands and feet it's really puffy I'm beginning to feel this medication is killing me what medication where you placed on now if you don't mind my Asking . perhaps I may be able to ask my doctor to consider it for me anything is worth a try at this point.
    • mike92384
      mike92384 maria44264

      Posted

      maria44264...One should never increase or decrease medications without consulting their Doctor. What's good for one person, may be bad for another. 

      Swelling of the feet is a very common side effect of the Amlodipine. Again, some have it, some do not. Taking a diuretic to alleviate the swelling caused by the Amlodipine will not work either. The senations you described that are going on in your hands are likely because of the Amlodipine as well. 

      You may suggest to your doctor that you come off the Amlodipine, & start taking something else. Kaleani7551 increased the medication of Lisinipril to one more pill.I would NOT recommend anyone do that, again because they should consult with the doctor. While the increase of medication may have worked (they're  lucky they didn't run into a bp that went far too low), it may not work for you. Also, Lisinipril is in the class of ACE Inhibitors. A common side effect of ACE Inhibitors is a dry hacking cough that will not alleviate even with taking a cough syrup or lozenges. The cough also has been known to keep people awake at night. I'm not saying you will develop the cough, you may not, but I'm just giving you the headsup on ACE Inhibitors. I take Coversyl (an ACE Inhibitor) & have not experienced the cought whereas 2 of my friends certainly did suffer the dry hacking cough. 

      My suggestion to you would be for you to get back to your doctor.

  • troutflier
    troutflier Colibri

    Posted

    Started on amlodipine 13 weeks ago along with ramipril, the first weeks were horrendous with all sorts of pains, sleep interuption, loss of feeling in the legs, head aches etc. Then it all got worse! I started with diahorea, nothing would relieve it and I was refered to a consultant who ordered a colonoscopy with biopsy. I have been diagnosed with lymphatic colonitis. However last week I went on holiday and left the amlodipine at home, after 2 days, back to normal. Got back home and took the amlodipine for 2 days and the diahorea returned. Not slept, in pain, exhausted! WILL NOT be taking this again.
  • katherine51724
    katherine51724 Colibri

    Posted

    I am with Michelle20247. I have been off this drug for over 6 months during which I had hip replacement surgery. That did not go well. My doctor insisted I go on another BP drug and it seemes to have further inflamed my lower legs, feet, ankles and toes which are burning ice and painful and swollen. I cannot walk without a cane. Got rid of that doctor and so am at square one. Trying to re-gain my life. 
  • katherine51724
    katherine51724 Colibri

    Posted

    Also I tried to 'just call your doctor' over and over and over, wrote emails, actually hand delivered letters begging him to adress my symptoms. After three emergency center visits this summer for pain and balance (severe) he told me that I was making it up and that I must be "mentally ill". He actually yelled at me saying "don't lecture me about pain" and "if you won't take the drugs I perscribe then why do you come here?".  It took me a couple of months to get new doctors and then to start to request referrals. Meanwhile sympoms have been getting worse. I feel like suing for malpractice because this has all cost me damages and so much money. 
    • mike92384
      mike92384 katherine51724

      Posted

      katherine51724...I'm sorry you're going through "hell". I see from this writing that this took place a year ago, so I'm hoping things have worked out for you. How well I know what it's like to have a know-it-all doctor. The one I had for 4 years was young, licensed for just 4 years, but came across as though he knew everything there was to know about medicine & I was just the lowly patient,AND he hardly paid attention when asked a question because he was concentrating on the computer. Luckily for me, I was able to return to my previous doctor, & now I'm as happy as a lark about it. At least I can talk to him & he's paying attention.The biggest thing is that we have an excellent rapport. I don't know of any doctor who would lecture a patient when it's plain to see they are experiencing horrible side effects from medication. If you had been taking the medication for just a few days, then they'd likely suggest the patient continue for a bit longer, then consider switiching meds. 

      There are some doctors out there who need to answer for their dreadful behaviour. Getting the registry governing the doctors to pay attention could be another matter too, but if it were me, I'd be lodging a complaint...& would definitely consider consulting a laywer.

      Please let us know how this all went. I wish you well.

    • katherine51724
      katherine51724 mike92384

      Posted

      Hi Mike, I just saw your reply. I guess it's 'fast forward' time on the internet. 

      After a 'detour' thru breast cancer I'm starting to get back. My legs are still a mess. I'm getting ready to lay it on that bad doctor. I found out that the medical assistants and nurses are the ones who know about actual care of people (aka patients). I now have a truly excellent medical care team. I lucked into that while getting out of the bad patient care system (but are good at research), and value it greatly. These people all PAY ATTENTION! You hit the nail right on the head and drove in your observation perfectly. 

      Also, as an aside, all my 'side effects' are listed on the gov drug website that is legally mandated. "Safe" is considered somewhere under 5%, tho that may have updated and changed a bit. If one is in that small % then, well, good luck. The legal requirements have been met. No legal recourse. 

      In partnership with my, now, primary care doc (who is great and I've been with her for about 2 years now), I'm going off ALL drugs except for my cancer drugs. It will take some time. It is not comfortable, but it is like sore muscle pain after an especially long walk - tired and sore at bedtime, feels better the next morning. At least I hope so. I'll stay tuned. 

      Thanks Mike! Best wishes for you, who and wherever you are!! K

  • ann_c.04098
    ann_c.04098 Colibri

    Posted

    I hate this drug and everything about it... I was put on Amlodipine bes 2.5mg by my new cardiologist not realizing that it is the generic name for Norvasc which I equally hate.. was on it over 15 years ago and it made me so dizzy I couldn't stand up... My problem with the heart is due to excess gas from the vegus nerve which is a gastro problem.. these doctors will not look at the whole picture and think the patient who lives in their body has no clue when we try to describe what is going on with us..

  • marie77443
    marie77443 Colibri

    Posted

    Wow,I hated this med,and I think my severe foot pain which came out of no where was from the amolodopine.so tir
  • jonathan04099
    jonathan04099 Colibri

    Posted

    Hi, I am 39 male and have been on Amlodipine for just over 2 years now (the worst 2 years of my life physically and emotionally) and thankfully (i hope) came across these types of dicsussions today, and will NOT be taking Amlodipine EVER AGAIN (I have Lisinopril and Metoprolo as alternative untill seeing Doc again).

    A "breif" summary of my story... In 2011 I began taking HBP meds and landed on Metoprolo after other monotherapy did not have much affect. Metoprolo seemed to work and I didnt pay much attention to BP for a couple years and avoided Doc.

    In 2012 I started excercising often, mostly running which I loved and got up to 30+ miles per week, lost over 40 pounds and felt the best physically and mentally I have ever in my entire life. Late 2014 I began feeling bouts of extreme tirdness and realized my Heart Rate was often in low 40's (but good blood pressure). I went to see Doc about this, and she switched me to Amlodipine which I didnt think much of (untill today).

    Looking back, a few months after starting Amlodipine I began noticing a slight numbness/tingling on my entire left side, along with muscle pain on entire left side, as well as low back/stomach (kidney?) pain that wouldnt go away.

    Not once did it cross my mind this could be related to Amlodipine, and I actually was scared I may have had a small stroke (mostly because I was feeling this distinct numbness in left side of head/face). I explained this to my Doc and she felt I had just overdone something, and with all the running and some minor weight lifting injuries I thought the same. Ended up having multiple MRI's and Xrays of Cervical and Lumbar Spine, along with Brain MRI all which showed normal (all the whil still taking Amlodipine).

    I decided to quit running for a while to see if things improved, but they did not... Then perhaps patially motivated by my physical frsutration, I took a job back in my home state and did not have insurance for 9 months.

    Once I got insurance agian I was determined to get my problems figured out. After seeing several doctors it was determined I had FAI hip issue, which I hoped contributed to my problems. I ended up having a Hip Surgery (which did go well and may have been a good thing in long run), but it has had no affect on my overall issues with left side pain, numbness, etc...

    Long story short, I recently saw my doc about switching up Blood Pressure meds (ive actually been taking Amlodipine + Metoprolo latley) and were trying Amlodipine plus Lisinopriol instead, but that got my doing some research which landed me here...

    So, to day I took my last Amlodipine, and I HOPE HOPE HOPE these left side symtpoms dissapear. I will give an update in a few days on what happens.

    Sorry for the long story....

     

    • jonathan04099
      jonathan04099

      Posted

      Also, just to be more specific of all my symptoms...

      (also when I say pain, I mostly mean sore muscle feeling and constant need to stretch)

      -Left foot pain

      -Left leg pain or muscle tension

      -Left Low back pain

      -Strange feeling in lower left abdomen (like somtehing is wrapping around me, and tender)

      -Mid back pain on left side only

      -Left Shoulder issues

      -Left Arm pain best described as golfers elbow/carpultunnel

      -Lastly and most disturbing, slight left side head and facial numbness and tingling + same general sensation along entire lefts side of body (which maybe just a mental thing, IDK anymore).

      -Oh, and shortness of breath plus trouble sleeping.

       

    • ramvin
      ramvin jonathan04099

      Posted

      Hi Jonathan, 

      I hope you are doing better now. I realize that your post is three months old. It caught my attention though because your symptoms are very similar to what I had when I was on amlodipine 10mg. I, however also had some pain on my right side (shoulder, elbow and foot). It was much less severe and not as constant as those on my left side though.

      My question however is if you are completely free from the pain now. I have been off amlodipine for almost ten days now. The pain has mostly disappeared in most of my body but I still have some residual elbow and shoulder pain. Definitely not as intense and constant as before but it still comes and goes a couple of times a day. I am fearful that damage done is permanent or a least will take a long time to completely disappear. Hoping you (or anyone with similar experiences) can provide information on their "recovery" from amlodipine effects. 

    • mike92384
      mike92384 jonathan04099

      Posted

      jonathan04099...if you truly believe the  Amlodipine is the culprit of your problems, you can come off it...but don't do that without your doctors knowledge or consent. If he/she truly wants you on two medications, you can try an A.C.E. or ARB. Lisinopril is an A.C.E.Inhibitor. Some people have problems with it. The most common side effect is a dry hacking cough,which is very very common with A.C.E.inhibitors. This doesn't mean that you will have the cough. I don't recommend Lisinopril, but do recommend Coversyl. My physician said it was a 'good medicine. There are two types of Coversyl...some have a diuretic in it, & I'm sure your doctor would know which to prescribe for you. If you don't want to risk the dry cough, there's always A.R.B's to take. Valsartan is a good one as is Irbesartan. 

      Please let us know how you get on. We're all here to try to help as much as we can.!!! smile

  • gwen22261
    gwen22261 Colibri

    Posted

    Have just read this Colibri ,and all i can say is thank you ! I get so many terrible side effects from any BP tablet im so worn out and fed up , my Dr wants me to try Amlodipine but after reading this ,no way ! why can some people take medication with no problems and a few cannot ! I hope you have now found something that helps
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