Amlodipine?

[Forestdweller]

Hi all, I had a stint in hospital recently and my d dimmer blood test was a bit elevated (311) they checked for PE and nothing was found but my blood was very thick even on the aspirin so my cardiologist has put me back on clopidogrel and I have to take dual anti platelet till next summer ‘22

they also discovered that my blood pressure is raised which is unusual because I have always had low bp, they have prescribed me amlodipine and after reading about it I feel very wary about taking it and wonder why of all the no meds they could give me, why did they give me the one that has the potential to fiddle with my brain, my mental health is up and down since my stent and diagnosis, and I am worried that this new drug might just be the last straw, and I will have a big mental health crash or go completely potty 😬 is there an alternative to this drug? I will discuss with my gp on Monday, but it’s the weekend and my brain is ticking, really just wondering is any one on this drug and how does it affect them, and is there any alternatives if I really feel it’s a risk I’m not prepared to take with my mental state.

Thanks all, hope you are all doing okay 🤗

[Blackcatsooty]

Do discuss with your medics. Ideally an inhouse pharmasist ?

Amlodipine did not agree with me at all and if you are stressed and/ or depressed then maybe An alternative could be considered. Above all, only change in agreement with you GP.

[Hidden]

Well I took it for some months on top of my already extensive ‘pill cocktail’. I measured my blood pressure daily and it was generally very low.

Seems to me that if you suffer an acute event then you are ‘over medicated’ just to keep everything suppressed.

I decided to stop taking Amlopipine. Monitored my BP - no change. Can’t say I ever felt it was messing with my head though!

[Carealot]

I take 5 mg pd and no effect on my brain - that I’m aware of.

[MissCS in reply to Carealot]

I take 5 mg and it hasn't affected my brain either. It has actually brought my bp down....But l guess we are all different so it might not work for everybody.

[Hidden]

Tool norvasc 5mg (amolipidine) for 2/12 months it makes me skeepy and awfully bloated. Feel a lot hungry and put on 2 kgs. No mind effects. I am off all BP medicines tried pomegranate juice with its yellow peels 1/2 glass every day. In 2 months don't need any bp lowering pills

[MissCS in reply to Hidden]

Thanks a lot for sharing.

[Hidden]

Hi hope you are feeling less stressed about taking Amlodipine . I have border line high BP. It always goes up when I have it checked at the surgery but at home it’s fine . Had the 24 hr BP monitor which again was border line average . GP suggested I take low dose of BP medication due to a history of raised BP in my family history . I take it last thing at night and have had no problems .I too was reluctant to take meds for my BP if they were not really necessary . Going back for a check soon COVID permitting but I feel fine and have not had any adverse reactions . I think COVID has put everything in perspective and as BP problems have been suggested as a health condition which can affect mortality I am happy to continue to take it . Hope this helps, if you want to ask specific questions please do A

[Forestdweller in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply, my bp is normally fairly normal on or under 120/70 I had a few random high bp’s while in hospital around 134/80 and it was enough to medicate me, I also had to have another angiogram and again my radial artery went into spasm so that’s the justification... can’t blame my body really for having a strip when they are in there poking about 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’ve been keeping a diary of my BP (not on the drugs) and majority are in range. My pulse tends to get a bit tachycardia at times.. I will speak to my GP about it all, just wanted to see what others experienced on it

[MissCS in reply to Forestdweller]

Your BP is fine...l don't think you need any medication at all. I wish l don't have to take it and l have tried to stop it but it goes haywire after l don't take for a while. It's not bad when my asthma is well controlled but if it's triggered my BP also starts playing up...you can't win😥😡. Gradually l will come off it. Take care my dear.

[MikeBB]

I have it as part of my post-stent (well, 2 in 3 years actually ) and as far as I can tell my brain isn’t fried by the stuff. Unlike bisoprol which was dire. Yet, having got off it in conjunction with discussion with my gp, all the cardio bods sucked their teeth in disapproval.

Gave me dreadful nightmares and 10 kg weight increase. Amlodopine seems fine for me. I gather it’s not just about lowering bp but helps the vessels be more elastic.

Statins are also recognised as a culprit for ‘brain fog’. My brother can’t tolerate them at all. ‘Fecked with my head’ was how he put it. I’m sort of ok.

Have speaks with gp and cario folks.

[Forestdweller in reply to MikeBB]

Thanks, I have what they think is probably coronary spasm so that makes sense if it makes things more elastic. I’m sure statin (40mg of atorvastatin) is the culprit for a lots of my odd bodily feelings lol. Trying to speak to a doc and have things reviewed based on my symptoms is like trying to pull teeth, either I can’t get an appointment or if I do my symptoms could be caused by a multitude of things. I’m just trying to avoid that ‘ fucked with my head thing’