Amlodipine and swollen legs

[james223]

I have unstable angina and have been on 5mg Amlodipine for a year. Following a severe angina attack the cardiac doc at hospital upped the dose to the max at 10mg. Since then I find my legs are very swollen by bed time but fine again in the morning. I've been to the doc and he is investigating but has anyone else had this expereince please?

[Celtic]

Oh yes, James, and at just the 5mg dose. Caused what GP described as varicose eczema when the bottom of my legs became very inflamed with red patches. Amlodipine was stopped but retried again just recently when BP became dangerously high, again at 5mg, with a diuretic added in the hope of offsetting the swelling. Again horrid swelling resulted. Now taking another ARB (Felodipine) in a small 2.5mg dose. Still swelling by end of day but not as bad.

My hibby’s ankles swelled when they increased the dose from 5-10mg so they reduced back down to 5mg and added 5mg of Ramipril on which he is fine. In fact doctors do generally prefer to put patients on lower doses of different drugs rather than raise the dose of just one these days. Good luck!

[james223 in reply to Celtic]

Thanks. Trouble is this med seems to have stopped my angina attacks so want to keep on with it if possible

[Celtic in reply to james223]

I so understand, James - I am trying to persevere with the Felodipine(along with 3 other meds) in a similar hope but in my case my BP. There may be another medication that could help you alongside a lower dose of Amlodipine - a small dose of a Beta Blocker such as Bisoprolol, perhaps? I hope your doctor comes up with a good solution.