Amlodipine

[cazlooks]

hi, I've been prescribed a very low dose of amlodipine, but I had (gall bladder stone caused) pancreatitis this time last year, I'm just starting to feel OK after it. Should I take this?

[Happyrosie]

I really don’t feel that this is one for us amateurs. A good point to start, assuming your doctor isn’t being helpful. would be a pharmacist as they are more clued up than doctors about medicines and their side effects.When you had pancreatitis did the medics tell you to avoid certain things? Is this issue on the Amlod pack insert?

Have you tried to get your BP down by other means, such as lifestyle and diet? Lots of good information on the website of Blood Pressure UK.

[cazlooks in reply to Happyrosie]

hi, thanks for lots to think about, I'll chat to the pharmacist. I have kept my bp down for years, fighting the genes, vegan, gf, lots of walking/gardening etc. However a consultant tinkered with my tablets last autumn and I wasn't optimal, I've had health issue after health issue, and my bp got totally out of my control and I'm not well enough to fight it atm. So I gave up and took the amlodipine, and hope to wean off it when I'm more well. Good news is that the consultant has agreed to optimal meds again, liothyronine and levothyroxine mix at high doses, and I get them on the NHS. So at least I'll be saving hundreds of quids a month, I just want to be well enough to enjoy it. lol

[springcross]

Hi cazlooks. This is a question either for your GP or your pharmacist, we can't advise you on things like this although I'm sure your GP wouldn't have prescribed it if it could be harmful, but it is still best to check. Good luck.

[lettingoffsteam]

I would send a message to your GP if you have any concerns or talk to your pharmacist.Mind you just to say that I've been on 5mg amlodipine ( along with ramipril and propranolol) with no effects apart from a nicely lowered blood pressure reading.

[Paja]

You should definetly check with your GP. I researched this in the past and found that ARB Blood Pressure medications pose a lesser risk of causing pancreatitis but I'm not a GP so please check with yours. I take a number of medications and almost all of them pose a somewhat of a risk. I too have had pancreatitis in the past but it could have been cause by my Diabetes 2 medication. Hard to know.