This can be a dangerous medication - beware!
Posted , 64 users are following.
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
chris21802 Colibri
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I agree 100% I've been on this meds for several yrs have terrible muscle pain lower back/ middle I can feel the muscles contracting as I move a certain way or try to relax them. At first I thought my over weight contribute to the pain which it does nothing like this.I finally put two and two together. Sometimes I'm down for days I can hardly breathe walk. Have to take off work. I can't do this anymore I'm in pain all the time I'm going to go to my doctor and demand I get taken off this stuff I think everyone for their help
roger55237 Colibri
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mike92384 roger55237
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roger55237....I'm certainly not a doctor but what you describe doesn't seem to fit any side effects of medicine.
You have shoulder pain which is worstened by lifting an item from a store cart...also a popping feeling in the left shoulder. You also must be very careful with what you're doing with the left arm. I too had much the same symptoms, but what it turned out to be was TENDONITIS. I also have arthritis in the joint, & also a small calcium deposit. Why not ask your doctor for an x-ray???? Don't forget to tell him/her about your legs.
Things could be going on in the spine...pinched nerves, herniated discs, etc.etc. When we think we have a problem in the leg, arm, hand etc...it can truly come from things going on in the spine.
By all means see your doctor. Please let us know how you get on.
Frans_1957 Colibri
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Its a pity only now I found your posting. My name is Frans, I'm a Dutch national living in the Philippines. 10 months ago I was this healthy gentle giant of a man 198cm tall and the bathroom scale telling me 142 kilos. Okay slightly over weight back then. Out of the blue one day I fainted on the street, woke up with severe chest pain and friends rushed me to the hospital thinking I either had a heart attack or was at the verge of having one. I woke up in the Intensive Care unit with a needle sticking in my arm and fluids dripping into me like crazy. And doctor number one... Sir your BP? 239 / 117. Its a miracle you are still alive.
Strange I never felt sick, never felt anything. But a day and a night later? A doctors prescription with yes, an invoice attached to it you could have easily bought a medium sized car for. So sitting at home? I'm looking at names of medicines I had never heard of. Amlodipine... Simvastatin... Nebivolol.... Codinine... and Panadol for the severe headaches.
Weeks passed and besides the chest pain that disappeared I felt no improvement and I had this weird sensation in my lower left arm. Then the sleepless nights started and the panic attacks I couldn't explain. So back to the hospital late at night. Doctor #2 that doubled my doses of Amlodipine to 10mg and doubled my doses of Nebivolol.
Ten days passed and I was feeling worse than ever. Hot and cold flashes you don't believe are possible and I woke up in the morning with hands shaking like crazy. So back to the hospital to doctor #3 that promptly reduced my doses of Amlodipine and Nebivolol back to 5mg per tablet. Days passed and I felt worse and worse. I could hardly eat anymore and after two or three spoon fulls I pushed the plate with food away at night. By then? I had already lost 16 kilos body weight.
So back to the hospital to doctor #4 that promptly added vitamin D to my list because she suspected slight nerve damage. And again I go home and things got even worse. I had spasms in my legs and arms at night that lasted hours. In the mornings I had to hold a half full cup of coffee with two hands because they where shaking so badly.
So back I go to the hospital. This time to doctor #5 with a simple question "What happens if I go off these medicines cold turkey?" No don't do that... Keep on using them was his reply. And I come home looking at this plastic container full with all kinds of pills thinking this cannot be healthy anymore and flushed them all down the toilet. The days, weeks that followed? Where pure hell...
And then I bump into this 72 year old British lady living in Australia on an other website related to Amlodipine and email her. "The so called medical experts will tell you there is no proof of Amlodipine and Nebivolol addiction. But believe me you at the moment are addicted to them. Your symptoms? I have had them all and it took me three years to get over it."
I am fighting and struggling at this moment, I have lost 54 kilograms body weight as I fight against every spoon full of food I eat. I have not lost anymore weight but neither am I gaining it. I agree with Colibri, Amlodipine and yes Nebivolol are absolute poison and should be banned world wide. When I step out of the shower in the mornings looking into the mirror I can almost cry my god what have they done to my body.
Frans
shazzavb Colibri
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Really interesting to hear your side effects. I'm on 3rd type of BP meds and have experienced lack of sleep due to hot flushes (which I was told was peri-menopausal), sore muscles, chest pains .... after 8 weeks I've come off them but have been told i will have to try another type. I am 48, healthy ... until this no health problems and I regularly exercise. I am pushing myself to exercise but the lack of energy has been hard
marcia_27799 Colibri
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Frans_1957 marcia_27799
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Hi Marcia 27799,
I stopped against all advise of my doctor with all medications cold turkey. I was already feeling horrible with no energy in me what so ever. When I stopped completely for about a month it actually got worse then slowly but surely I started to feel like a human being again. Now, with the exception of the high blood pressure I feel okay to very good. I'm on an almost no salt diet, eat a lot of Papaya (which really helps) and started taking vitamin D only. Never again will I be tricked into swallowing that poison again. A year ago I was a healthy 198cm tall, 142 kilogram male. Now? I've lost 56 kilograms as I hardly ate anymore, had no energy in me for anything. It's all changed now...
Frans
Frans_1957 marcia_27799
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Hi Marcia 27799,
I stopped against all advise of my doctor with all medications cold turkey. I was already feeling horrible with no energy in me what so ever. When I stopped completely for about a month it actually got worse then slowly but surely I started to feel like a human being again. Now, with the exception of the high blood pressure I feel okay to very good. I'm on an almost no salt diet, eat a lot of Papaya (which really helps) and started taking vitamin D only. Never again will I be tricked into swallowing that poison again. A year ago I was a healthy 198cm tall, 142 kilogram male. Now? I've lost 56 kilograms as I hardly ate anymore, had no energy in me for anything. It's all changed now...
Frans
vasiliki7 Colibri
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I had similar issues with this awful drug. Insomnia or rather short burst of sleep and awakened in a panic with my arms tingling. Agitation all day. It also wrecked my stomach. I have a hiatal hernia and it caused a very bad flare up. My doctor insisted I continue it because it kept bp down. Finally stopped it and switched to atenolol. All other symptoms are gone but now I'm just breathless and tired. SinceI have mvp it works on anxiety and im sleeping again.
Mainelily Colibri
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I just found this board and am so sorry to hear about your experience I am thankful, however, to read it for I have had similar symptoms. I was put on Norvasc about a month ago. My increased blood pressure is actually due to other medications I am taking, one of which can not be discontinued, but the other can be lowered. I never had hypertension until two years ago. I am 70. I became nauseous, like you twilight sleep, shaky, chills, weakness, flushing, felt like my face was on fire. Had body cramps, extreme fatigue, couldn't think straight at times. Because I didn't want to have a stroke and because the provider that prescribed this was new I didn't quit taking it except for a day or so but returned because like I said I didn't want to have a stroke. I am also on Lisinopril.
At any rate I will not take it and am considering getting another physician. From what I understand it can take a week to get out of your system. If you are still on this board please let us know how you are doing and if you have found out anything else about this medication. Thanks.
BAD_MEDS Colibri
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Listed below are the side effects of the Calcium Channel Blocker Amlodipene from drugs.com
The cardiologist try to dismiss the effects-and say your body will adjust with time....that is NOT TRUE....
this medicine and many others can make your life miserable....why is a doctor not able to listen.....why do they not care........I have visited 3 cardiologists in the last 2 years. Each states you have to learn to live with it....that is truly pathetic.....what happened to quality of life.....uncontrolled hypertension can lead to stroke; heart attack; or kidney failure.......we all know that......why not take the time to listen to a patient and find the answer with a meicine that works and is safe. I have been on 16 different BP medicines over two years from 3 different cardiologists. They all control blood pressure but they make you sick in so many ways. I am now decreasing to Amlodipene 2.5mg.....I have back, neck and joint pain; hot flashes; sleep problems; tichiness of the scalp and skin; nausea......the most recent doc had me on Amlodipene and Lisinopril.......that is a very BAD combination.......I was so itchy I could not work or sleep. See below the story of Amlodipene.
AMLODIPENE
More commonSwelling of the ankles or feetLess commonDifficult or labored breathing
dizziness
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
feeling of warmth
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
shortness of breath
tightness in the chest
wheezingRareBlack, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
blood in the urine or stools
blurred vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chest pain or discomfort
chills
cold and clammy skin
cold sweats
confusion
dark yellow urine
cough
diarrhea
dilated neck veins
dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
extra heartbeats
extreme fatigue
fainting
fever
itching of the skin
joint or muscle pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, or toes
pain in the arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in the calves or heels upon exertion
painful or difficult urination
pale, bluish-colored, or cold hands or feet
pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
red, irritated eyes
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
redness, soreness or itching skin
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
slow or irregular heartbeat
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
sores, welting, or blisters
sudden sweating
sweating
swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
swollen glands
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
unsteadiness or awkwardness
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
weak or absent pulses in the legs
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
weight gain
yellow eyes or skin
BAD MEDS looking for an answer!!!!
marie99503 Colibri
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https://ask.metafilter.com/277930/Is-amlodipine-banned-in-Holland
This medication is not banned at all just read the article. I am on 10mg a day and I can say that I am not happy about it at all. And am now starting to search what the side effects are
mike92384 marie99503
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Hi marie99503...For some, Amlodipine works well. As you might know, it is the generic of Norvasc. Here in Canada, it is said that it's law the generic forms of medications must have the same ingredients of the brand names. A lot of people highly doubt this truly happens. Perhaps it's the fillers in the generics????
My Dr. believes there's a difference between Apo and Novo. When I mentioned to him that I was told it's the same...he just laughed & said.."oh no it isn't".
With 10mg of Amlodipine there is a higher risk of side effects...the most common one being swollen feet, ankles & legs. When I first started taking bp medication, I was on the 5mg...things were ok, but we were losing control of the bp. The Dr. I had back then, doubled the medication to 10mg. What a mistake!!! My feet, ankles & legss (below the knee) were badly swollen, therefore I was taken off the medication. Anything I read..& I do my research from reliable sources, states that doubling bp medication only increases the risk of side effects being worse. If the meds aren't working in the usual dosage, chances are they are not going to work with an increased dosage. As for Amlodipine being dangerous...I hardly think so. Perhaps it's the side effects people are experiencing that they believe to be dangerous. In any event, if a person is experiencing side effects that's upsetting them, they should discuss alternatives with their Dr. Sometimes the benefits outweigh the side effects, but c'mon...nobody should have to feel downright ill because of a medication. I certainly wouldn't.
Mainelily Colibri
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roger55237 Colibri
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meles roger55237
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mike92384 meles
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Sorry guys...but it seems people are blaming the muscle situation on Amlodipine. While I don't like that medication..I truly don't understand how it would affect anyone in that way.
I will say though...some people in this forum get on the bandwagon. They'll blame a med for problems without even giving that med a chance to work. If muscles become weakened, it should be investigated as to the cause. There are muscle diseases out there.
roger55237 mike92384
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meles mike92384
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You obviously have never made a connection between drugs and their side effects. Many of the side effects experienced here are on the warning leaflets. If it has not affected you, then you will not understand. People on this site know it is the drug when (many like me) have had there dose doubled and overnight cannot walk the next day. Once we come of them, we improve immediately, although there are often lingering side affects, or even permanent damage. It took a long time to convince the creators/distributors of Thalidomide that there were serious side-effects because people were unwilling to see or listen to the evidence. And you are right, muscle weakness should be explored (whatever the cause), but it is rarely taken as serious by GPs unless the patient's insist.
mike92384 meles
Posted
meles...I'm sorry, but my intent was not to insult you. For sure, I have made a connection between drugs & their side effects. I stand by my point though...many on this forum do not give medications a chance, but will take themselves off after just a few days or a week. This is totally premature. Doubling a dose of medication, especially when the patient is already experiencing bad side effects, serves no purpose but to certainly increase the incidence of side effects.
I don't know where you live, but I can assure you, most GP's here would not take a patient's complaints of weak muscles lightly, especially where strong evidence is concerned.
We as patients need to be advocates for our own health. If we need to insist on something, we should never give in especially when we know full well we are right.
Again Buddy...I do apologise if I made you to feel you had been slighted or insulted.
roger55237 mike92384
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meles mike92384
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Incidentally, it says on most accompanying leaflets that if you experience side effects, you should consult your GP immediately, not simply perserve with drugs. Some can be life threatening as in swollen tongues and throats.
pat2626 roger55237
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Thanks Roger for sharing your experience. I'm trying to find out why I'm having such bad muscle twitches/cramps and now this shoulder thing too. I was scared it could be ALS or MS. I started on Amlodipine last May. In Nov I've found I have a nerve sheath tumor over size of a golf ball and waiting for surgery soon. I'll be talking about this med. I'm fairly active walking daily and this is my only med. very scary!!!
meles pat2626
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roger55237 pat2626
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pat2626 meles
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Thank you Meles. We don't know what caused the tumor or how long it's been there. Thank God my biopsies showed no cancerous cells but the whole tumor needs to be tested. I have lots of friends praying for me so I'm staying positive.
pat2626 roger55237
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Thank you too Roger! I'm not in any pain but I was back in Nov with sciatica down my left leg. The MRIs showed my tumor but I don't think my muscle twitches are related since its in both legs. I never connected this to Amlodipine till I saw your post and joined. Now things are starting to make sense. I was getting bad cramps in the back of my thigh after sitting upright in a chair. Those are so painful. Now this thing with my shoulder but it only hurts to reach and I haven't noticed any certain time it's happening. I am 66 and a woman so I was just thinking it's my age just can't believe these things are happening. I didn't have good luck with lisinopril after years of that it was giving me Angio Endema.
pat2626
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Guess I should have said the tumor is in my lower spine but I have no pain. I was started on 5 mg of Amlodipine and felt fine but every time I go to the Drs my pressure is high so I got upped to 10 sometime last year that's when now I think my leg cramps started. I don't get those very often but the muscles move continually mostly feeling them at night. What's hard is I'm use to lifting wood loading truck loads for winter. I seemed to pull my shoulder out doing nothing but lifting a piece of clothing from a hanger in the closet or reaching for a door knob. I don't feel good most mornings as I don't sleep well either. 😢
roger55237 pat2626
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mike92384 pat2626
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pat2626...Your doctors are giving you good medical attention by testing the whole tumor. While it doesn't show cancerous cells, one can never be too careful. When dealing with the spine, surgery must be considered extremely carefuly. I'll give you an example. A friend has a 28yr old son...he's a very tall young man. His legs were giving out on him from time to time, then it became more frequent. Finally a friend sent him to hospital, & the hospital in turn sent him to the city hospital's trauma unit.
As it turned out, the guy had two tumors in his spine...one very big, the other smaller. The surgery was done in 2 parts because it was too much both on the surgeon & on the patient. Months upon months upon months of physical therapy took place. This is over 1 1/2 yrs ago. To this day, the man still can't walk., & has been told he very likely won't walk again. They did chemo therapy as well. I did ask a nurse friend of mine as to why chemo would be done on tumors that were not cancerous, & she said it was likely because with the tumor(s) being so big, they wanted to eliminate or shrink some of the tumor that was very close to the spinal column. Quite frankly, & I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, I think a nerve must have been nicked. I think the young man was 'between a rock & hard place". He would have been damned had he not had the surgery, but damned when he did.
Today's medicine is all fine & good., but there are a LOT of things out there they can't cure. They know how to alleviate symptoms & help us to feel better, but they don't know how to cure the ailment. That boggles my mind.
My advice here pat2626, is to tread very carefully if surgery is mentioned. Do your research, do your homework, get a 2nd opinion if necessary, & be sure the surgeon is extremely qualified.
I don't want to alarm you in any way...just passing along some information that might be of benefit to you. Please do let us know how you get on.
pat2626 mike92384
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Thanks Mike I have to admit I'm very scared and would love a second opinion but time is running out. This tumor is growing but I'm lucky it's growing away from my spine but it is wrapped around my nerve root 4. The surgeon comes highly qualified as I've looked him up. I'm to the point where I just want it out and I'm in Gods hands. I haven't been very religious but it's changed me now. I'm just sooo thankful I'm not in pain now but I know I will be as they have to cut a bone and fuse my discs. Yikes!!
Rosger are you on statins by any chance for Cholesterol?