Blood pressure

[Kingsley09]

recently my verapamil 40 mg three times a day has not been keeping my blood pressure down I was taken into hospital last week with Afib attack and they couldn’t get my bp down with my normal dosage of verapamil bp was 203/112 so I was given 5 mg of amlodipine to take in the morning but all my muscles are aching and I feel so tired I spoke to a pharmacist who said I could change to evening so I’m going to do that tomorrow but am wondering if anyone has done this and it has helped the muscle pain and tiredness thanks for any reply happy Easter 🐣

[mjames1]

Did they take you off of verapamil or did they just add the 5mg amlodipine to the verapamil you're taking?

I'm taking 5mg amlodipine for bp control in addition to diltiazem which I take for nodal protection since I'm on flecanide. All three of the drugs mentioned are calcium channel blockers but they can work differently.

If the amlodipine is helping your blood pressure, give it some time and hopefully you will adjust to the side effects. And if you're still taking the verapamil, ask if you can take say amlodipine at night and verapamil during the day or vice versa. That might also help with the side effects.

Jim

[Pearce1940oscar in reply to mjames1]

Hi thanks for your reply they added amlodipine 5 mg in morning to the verapamil 40 mg I am taking 3 times a day I have spoken to a pharmacist and has suggested that I take the amlodipine at night which I’m going to try

[KMRobbo in reply to Pearce1940oscar]

You can also get verapamil in a 120mg modified release tablet or capsule which lasts 24 hours so you could take the whole dose at once 12 hours away from your amplodimine

[Kingsley09 in reply to mjames1]

Did you have muscle aches in arms and neck when you first started as that is what is really bothering me I live on my own these days and I can’t just sit around all day feeling tired and aching tonight I’m starting taking it in the evening I’m hopeful that will make a difference as when I’m taking it in the morning the aches wear off about 4 in the afternoon so hopefully I can sleep through the muscle ache

[mjames1]

I'm a little confused because I thought I was answering a question by "Kingsley." but "Pearce1940oscar" answered.

In any event, the question about side effects is a good one. I have had some muscle aches and pains. Just never attributed it to the amlodipine, but could be. And when I just looked up amolodipine's side effects, they were listed. So definitely something to discuss with your doctor.

As discussed, taking amolodipine at bedtime might help and then take the veramapil during the day, maybe time release as mentioned. Periodic blood tests also sound reasonable.

Jim

[Pearce1940oscar in reply to mjames1]

Sorry I confused you I went on the site and then forgot what name I went under as I was new so entered another when I was taking statins I ached really badly and my dr thought i had polymyalga and did some blood tests found it wasn’t that and took me off statins

[credimus]

My A/F was diagnosed fifteen years ago. My blood pressure was a very recent problem after open heart surgery for valve repair seven months ago. It has now decreased significantly thanks to my GP altering my daily 5mg Amlodipine to 10mg.