Amlodipine - increased dose - overdosing - effects - waxing lyrical

[Auiron]

I have taken 5mg Amlodipine since the age of 61 and have always worked out my Blood Pressure BP by taking 12 readings over time and deleting the highest and lowest and taking the average. In 2004 my average reading was Systolic S 126, Diastolic D 75 Pulse P 58. I was also taking Simvastatin 20mg. The pains in my legs and back were solved many years later by taking co-enzyme Q10 which lately I've started buying 100mg capsules from a well known supermarket that are surprisingly cheaper than elsewhere. It took sometime for co-enzyme Q10 to work so it needs patience - in my case anyway. Do not take Q10 when pregnant or breastfeeding.

All was well until this year, quite recently, my average blood pressure rose to S148 D85 P72. My dose of Amlodipine was increased to two 5mg tablets each day and my average BP fell to S127 D70 P58. At about this point my brain went for a walk and tablets change to 10mg and arrived every two months instead of every month. Written in giant letters is 10mg and can't be missed. - or can it, yes. I took two tablets each day for 12 days in a row, a dose of 20mg, before my brain returned and I noticed my disastrous oversight.

On taking 20mg of Amlodipine I noticed my feet, ankles and calf muscles started to swell. Taking my 5,000 step walk in the evenings after 8 days I could only walk 500 steps due to tightening in the chest and breathlessness. My legs became very tired and I had very short spells of dizziness and spells of memory loss - unable even to remember my phone number of 39 years. There was no pain in my feet, ankles or calf muscles despite the increasing swelling. The only pair of shoes that would fit were a pair of canvas shoes that expanded when wearing thick socks in winter and left in the cupboard for over 30 years - never throw anything away. There was however pain during the night in my thighs that was extremely painful and lasted up to 10 minutes. I sprayed a freeze spray on my legs that worked to some degree. The pain was extreme tightening and particularly in an area where there is a group of veins and some pain continued all the following day. Strangely now a few weeks later the number of veins showing has reduced by about 75%, strange that.

On noticing I'd overdosed on Amlodipine the next thing to do was phone the doctors surgery. They arranged for the doctor to phone me back. In a conversation with the receptionist who said, "that must have reduced your blood pressure"? I replied, " yes, todays lowest was S99 D58 P39 the same as an Olympic athlete 50 years younger than me". Of course this is extremely dangerous and I notice a lady in New Ash Green, Kent actually died from taking Amlodipine - an error by a Pharmacist. kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/... - So take very much care. As I didn't, probably lucky.

The doctor asked me what effects I'd noticed on taking 20mg of Amlodipine. His advice was to just take it easy and you should be alright. Continue taking the correct dose without missing any.

So far so good. My breathlessness has reduced and leg pain hasn't returned. On taking tablets for mild water retention my calf muscles are almost back to normal though only the expanded canvas shoes still fit.

The problem with Amlodipine like many other blood pressure reducing tablets is the need to drink plenty of water. Anyway, feeling a lot better now.

[Alison_L]

Hi Auiron. I'm pleased to hear you don't seem to have done yourself any permanent damage. When we're on a raft of medication, it's sometimes easy to forget what we're supposed to be taking (even when it's clearly written on the box!), but your experience also highlights the reason others should not take it upon themselves to decide what level of medication is best for them.

Listen to the medics, and read the label xx