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
ElmerGantry Colibri
Posted
I am 64 and over the last 5 years my blood pressure has gone from 120/80 to 148/95.
I was on ACE inhibitors but they made me cough myself almost unconscious.
I was moved onto Amlodipine 5mg, Didn't seem to have much effect so it was increased to 10mg.
Within days of taking that dosage, my legs below the knee to my ankles and fee swelled up to the point where I couldn't easily bend my ankles of get my shoes on. I developed a sever rash - sore like sunburn with hives. I felt feverish, but my temperature was normal - feverish moving onto delirious (not quite). I was so fatigued, that it was an effort which brought tears to get off my bed during the day. I had unusually negative feelings and started feeling suspicious of my family;s motives with things they were doing. I also had digestive disturbances and disturbed sleep. The harshest thing was that my BP actually seemed to go up to around 155/100 with occasional spikes higher than that.
I discontinued after about 3 weeks total.
I had read that Amlodipine has a half life of 30 hrs and that it should all be out of my system within a couple of weeks, That was about a month ago - in that month, the swelling has gone down a bit, the rash has become less angry, the BP has come down a bit - but there are still big spikes sometimes - but a week ago, I had a massive cramp which tore my calf muscle in the night - it has taken a week for the bruising to come out. I am sure that it is connected. I also have moments of passing dizziness.
I am beginning to think that either it takes a lot longer to exit the system - or that it has somehow changed my metabolism.
I think I have to just weather the BP and try and reduce weight and do more walking once my feet and legs work again.
geraldine93690 Colibri
Posted
did you just stop the medication , Or did you just Wean yourself off
ElmerGantry Colibri
Posted
I just stopped it cold.
I had only been on it for 3 weeks or so. My blood pressure had not come down.
Stopping suddenly appeared to have no ill-effects. It took about 3 weeks for the obvious side effects to go. There is still a rash on my legs but it is barely noticeable.
My torn calf seems to have mended itself, but my right leg still feels a bit swollen - but not very noticeably.
I have now lost about 6 cm from my waist, and my blood pressure is very slowly coming down. I understand that for a 64 year old, the high end of the normal range is 147/91. About half my readings now fall on or under that figure. The biggest factor in that weight loss has been my elimination of alcohol from my diet,
Frampril Colibri
Posted
i'm here cause us seniors have med discussions sometimes and my wife brought this up .I have white coat syndrome as they call it.My PCP don't by it he give me Norvasc took on Wednesday went to wedding on Saturday. Had to take shoes off,feet started to hurt wow talk about swell.had suit on had to shimmy pants up like I had Jeans on.Left wedding early holding on to building to walk to car.I did not go to emergency cause read about side effects.Put pills in toilet,laid with legs up cause I have the bed.On Monday was better,Took Tuesday off Just for the Relaxation.Went PCP on Friday He said Oh it was the Norvasc,NO ONE CARED.Unless you are in bad shape ,stay away,The guy that made this should burn in hell.That was 8 years ago,started running not put a pill in my body since.
dan59498 Colibri
Posted
I was on Amlodipine for over a year. So many meds hard to Tell about what side effects were from what meds. But I had found (afterEducation) how Amlodipine worked and started thinking. Quit Amlodipine 6 /20/ 18. After a Day of Leg rest.....I started walking round the Block. !6 Times in 1 day = 4 Miles. Doctors wanted to do a By-pass....MY ASS! I am Walking 3 miles a day .....In addition to Working out for 4 hrs and Traded 1 Six pack for Another. The Amlodidpine had Corkscrewed my Artery (Popliteal) .....Circulation was so bad.....I had to wait until Disability to get Treated for my DISABILITY!In short I am looking for a Law firm handling Amlodipine Class Actions.5 Lawyers have passed so far.
dan59498 Colibri
Posted
I was on Amlodipine for over a year. So many meds hard to Tell about what side effects were from what meds. But I had found (afterEducation) how Amlodipine worked and started thinking. Quit Amlodipine 6 /20/ 18. After a Day of Leg rest.....I started walking round the Block. !6 Times in 1 day = 4 Miles. Doctors wanted to do a By-pass....MY ASS! I am Walking 3 miles a day .....In addition to Working out for 4 hrs and Traded 1 Six pack for Another. The Amlodidpine had Corkscrewed my Artery (Popliteal) .....Circulation was so bad.....I had to wait until Disability to get Treated for my DISABILITY!In short I am looking for a Law firm handling Amlodipine Class Actions.5 Lawyers have passed so far.
ElmerGantry dan59498
Posted
All I can say is that finding a lawyer is not as important as staying alive and well.
I have found that the main driver of my high blood pressure was not weight, alcohol, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, diet... it was just emotional stress. Even if it is not the main driver for you, I wouldn't like to think that you were swapping a newfound six pack for a six foot hole.
Don't give away your power to amlodipine by engaging in legal fights. Let it go to quote Sylvester
meles ElmerGantry
Posted
It is important to register your side effects (in Britain we have a Yellow Card we can make complaints about bad drugs). We want to prevent doctors giving out this damaging drug and prevent people from getting poisoned off them. Only a legal class action would stop the big Farmos and therefore doctors continue to stop prescribing damaging drugs, If we had a lawyer to fight a joint action, it is in their hands so we wouldn;t have to worry, if it was a no win-no fee.
Izatu Colibri
Posted
please i dont have any high blood pressure if i take in amlodipine tablet will it increase my high blood pressure ??
robie082418 Colibri
Posted
this is my first time here..Im taking amlodipine 5mg.. I dont know if anyone of you here suffer of gum pain/ ache..and my gums are swollen..and the pain is up and down of my gums..my teeth are okay ..after a month of taking amlodipine i feel this ..and my lips its look like no feeling..What should i do..or maybe some of you here is like this ..even i take a panadol nothings happen..
donna08879 Colibri
Posted
I started this medication about 3 months ago and experiencing more and more side effects.
I am nauseated, joints ache, back aches, sometimes have shortness of breath, used to be able to go on long walks, can't seem to do that anymore, just don't feel good.
rosemary30025 Colibri
Posted
I have kidney issues because of my blood pressure being so high. They have tried over 15 blood pressure medications and it is still high. I do not like taking medication..Esspecially when they do not lower my blood pressure. I do not like how I feel on this medication. I also take 100mg of metoprolol er. My blood pressure us still high. So why would I take it??. I wont. I have protein which is very high in my kidneys. I had stents put in and they failed. All of these drugs have horrible side effects and they do not work fo me. I will end up losing my kidneys. Drs seem to never find out how to fix things. But they do give you a drug for everything. Thanks, but no thanks. I want the to fix my issues. Not make them worse with drugs,. I have been on 100 mg metoprolol been on amlodipine bessylate 10 mg. My vision is very blurry. I have ringing in my ear every day. I feel nauseas and extremly tired. My heart rate is very low 40`s and my blood pressure is still high 157/72. I am they disgusted with the medical field today. They seem to not fix a darn thing . But love giving you pills for everything. Well not for me. I am done with the pills.