Amlodopine

[Sue4983]

Hi there

I have just been put on Amlodopine for high blood pressure but I take Magnesium chloride at night for painful muscle spasms .

I’m a bit unsure whether I can still take this as the drug interaction tool says there aren’t any but all the info online says do not take any magnesium supplements with this drug.

I also phoned the manufacturer of the magnesium supplement and they said it was O K but as they have a vested interest to say that I’m still not sure ?

Any help would be much appreciated .

Thank you

[10gingercats]

I take magnesium,a small dose,approx 150mg nightly and Amlodopine 2.5mg in the morning. Doc. has not said not to take it.

[Sue4983 in reply to 10gingercats]

Thank you for that . My Amlodopine dose is 5mg but I do take it in the morning so perhaps it just can’t be taken at the same time ?

[Hidden in reply to Sue4983]

Depends on how long the amlodipine dose hangs around / lasts for - it could still be there when you take the supplement?

[Hidden in reply to 10gingercats]

But has the doctor said you can take it?

[Sue4983 in reply to Hidden]

I was so shocked about it because I’m also due to have a operation soon that I didn’t think to ask him . I’m going again in a weeks time and can ask then but I need to know before then really .

[Hidden in reply to Sue4983]

That’s understandable lot to take in.

You could try a pharmacist but if like mine their stock answer is ask your doctor.

Good luck

[Sue4983 in reply to Hidden]

Yes that’s the problem but sometimes I find the GP isn’t always sure either !

[Hidden]

I would ask your doctor to get the definitive answer that is particular to you and your case. There could be a different answer for different people.

As example Boots brand say ask doc before taking if on medication. Says this on bottle of vitamin c and bottle of b12 ( not mine). May be a standard thing on all their supplements. Erring on the side of caution with a blanket approach.

👍

[Sue4983 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah you’re probably right .I might ask the pharmacist tomorrow

[Ageingfast]

Chemists will give appointments to see a pharmacist to advise you on your meds. My small GP surgery has a specialist to advise. The BHF nurses will help. But do not ask Dr Google. Never Google for medical advice. It is not moderated.

Sooty

[Sue4983 in reply to Ageingfast]

Thank you for your reply . Our local pharmacist where we get our prescriptions from isn’t very friendly or approachable unfortunately but might try BHF helpline as you suggested .

[Puzzled8]

As others suggest, best to check with pharmacist or gp. I was sent to hospital recently with what turned out to be afib. When dr was questioning me, I told her I had recently started taking magnesium and asked if that could have caused any problems. She said no, if anything it would have helped. Not on amlodipine but on similar bp meds - lisinopril and Diltiazem. I take the magnesium at different time from other meds.

[Sue4983 in reply to Puzzled8]

Thank you . I’ve just checked with the pharmacist who was quite helpful today and he said he doesn’t think it will be a problem but just take it at a different time as you mentioned

[Partner20]

The normal recommendation is that magnesium should be taken 4 hours away from any medication, as it can interfere with absorption. There is no specific warning from the manufacturer apart from the intravenous use of magnesium in pregnant women when BP should be closely monitored, but that would suggest that this takes place in a hospital situation, and is not referring to oral magnesium supplementation.

[Sue4983]

Thanks So much conflicting info Should have just checked with the pharmacist in the first place !

[Hidden]

I take both of those will now read below what everyone says !!!

[Sue4983 in reply to Hidden]

I think it’s just a case of spacing them out but there’s lots of different types of magnesium so maybe that matters as well It’s a bit of a minefield ! The one I take is a liquid magnesium chloride

[hihannula]

Hi Sue. I would think if you are not taking the two at the same time, it would be ok????? I know magnesium relaxes muscles, and that would include your Heart muscle, but I’m not 100% sure that means magnesium lowers your BP as well. Sorry to ask a question. Does the form of magnesium you’re taking, stop your night cramps? I get horrible cramping, it’s rare I sleep for more than 1-2 hours at a time. I take magnesium glycerinate. It helps a little, but it doesn’t stop the cramps completely. Thank you Sue.

[Sue4983 in reply to hihannula]

Yeah that’s what the pharmacist said I take Magnesium chloride in liquid form and it does seem to help .I have problems with my jaw and that affects my neck so I wear a splint and take the magnesium

[hihannula]

oh, your cramps are not night time foot and leg cramps. I may try the form of magnesium you’re taking. Thank you for the reply . 🌻

[Carriefarm]

Hi, I take 5mg Amlodipine first thing in the morning and a Magnesium supplement in the afternoon and have had no problem whatsoever. Why does it say not to take it?

[Sue4983]

Thanks for your reply . The info is very contradictory in some it says it can lower your blood pressure too much and others that it can make the Amlodopine less effective .After speaking to my pharmacist I’m just doing what you do and spacing the two out .