Red and purple feet on Amlodapine?

Hi there, I started Amlodapine four days ago after new inset high BP following long recovery from coronavirus. My hands and feet seem to be more red and my feet are turning quite dark purple at times. I also feel very light headed. Is this usual? Thanks l, Mike

[Happyrosie]

It doesn’t sound good to me. I suggest you speak to your pharmacist or doctor by Monday at the latest, but first having checked the leaflet that comes with your new drug.

[Hidden in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks for the advice. Will do, it's a bit weird. But my BP is down..

[Celtic]

Mike, It sounds as though the Amlodipine is having an effect on your circulatory/vascular system. It’s exactly what happened to me, although I don’t remember noticing the light-headedness you mention. I took it for a few weeks some years ago and experienced swollen ankles with the skin turning red and blotchy on my lower legs. When I stopped the medication, all the swelling resolved but one ankle remained red. More recently, I tried Amlodipine again to appease my renal consultant. This time I thought I’d persevere with the same side effects until my next appointment with him. When he saw the swelling for himself, he immediately stopped the medication. Again, the swelling subsided but the inflamed red and blotchy ankles and lower leg skin on both legs is now permanently red, and he said it will now not resolve. I so regret not giving up on it sooner. Amlodipine seems quite efficient at reducing high blood pressure and seems to be flavour of the month with many medics, but it does not suit everyone. There are many other medications to try so do go back to your GP. Plus it’s important for any new BP treatment to be started at a low dose and then titrated up as necessary. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had a rough time with Covid-19 but what a relief it must be for you to have made a good recovery. Keep well.

[springcross in reply to Celtic]

Very well said.

[springcross]

Hi Mike. I would call your pharmacist and ask for advice or ring your GP first thing on Monday. I don't remember feeling light-headed with it although you can get headaches. As Happyrosie has said, and it's what I always do too, have a read of the leaflet that comes with the tablets. I took Amlodipine from last July to Mid to late February and stopped because my ankles, feet and lower legs were quite swollen. They seemed to be OK in the morning when I got out of bed but by late afternoon, it all started again every day. I then developed a nasty rash on my lower legs which looked awful, so my nurse practitioner told me to stop taking it and gave me an alternative, which I have now stopped also and gone back on the Amlodipine as it controls my BP so well. The rash has returned slightly but I am just biding my time at the moment to see if it gets too bad again. Don't let this go without checking it out soon. That's a good post by Celtic, very informative and as has been said, it does not suit everyone although I wish it suited me as it controls my BP well. Good luck and let us know how you get on. x

[Celtic in reply to springcross]

Hope your vision problem has resolved now, springcross.

[springcross in reply to Celtic]

Thanks Celtic. Not really. It's been just over two days now so I suppose there's always a chance it may still improve but I am not holding out any hope. It was really bad by the time I got the injection so I will have to wait a bit longer and see. I have to wait a week before I ring them (if I need to) and apparently, they will see me and examine the eye. They have not been doing the eye tests and scans on some people since the Covid outbreak but they do in other areas. Absolutely crazy. Thanks again. x

[Celtic in reply to springcross]

I’m surprised they didn’t carry out an eye check if you mentioned your vision problem- Covid has got a lot to answer for.......as has China!

[springcross in reply to Celtic]

Absolutely. xx

[lettingoffsteam]

I've been on amlodipine for just over a year but nothing like that.You say you feel lightheaded...perhaps it has lowered your bp too much.Definitely need to check that one with your GP.Sorry you've been through such a lot.

[222hanky]

Hi there Mike! I experienced this and recently found out to have iron deficiency anemia as well. In my case, the lack of blood flow/oxygen was playing a role in the purple coloured feet. It would not hurt to check if you having suffered with Covid and the oxygen issues from it and the addition of amlodopine have given you this side effect as well. Check with Doc and I hope you can get it resolved.

[Hidden in reply to 222hanky]

That's so helpful, the initial reddening began as my post covid symptoms dragged on. Had my iron done last week. All normal. Anything else you can suggest checking?

[222hanky in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mike! I would have your doc do an iron panel blood test, make sure ferritin is included. Do you have a oxygen finger thingy...lol? You can google "covid toes" as well and see some pics to see if they resonate.

[222hanky in reply to 222hanky]

It is possible the lightheadedness is oxygen related post covid.

[Ianc2]

hi Mike

I hate taking drugs and try and change my lifestyle if I can. My blood pressure has been in the range of 140/80 for as long as I can remember. Some doctors say take pills, others say watch your diet and your weight, take exercise, don't drink or smoke. Some doctors say the

BP is too high, others say its not too bad.

They all say watch your weight and make sure your waist size is , and remains at, or less than half your height. That's the hardest one of the lot.

[Hidden in reply to Ianc2]

I'm coming around to that way of thinking Lanc2. This might even be a transitory high BP post covid. On this medication my BP is back to low normal but diastolic right at bottom of range. Think I'll be follow up with GP.

[Coco51]

I had bad headaches with Amlodopine. Also my face went bright red. I stopped before I had a chance to develop any other side effects. I take lisinopril now.

[Hidden in reply to Coco51]

Thanks Coco. I've stopped till I see the doc.