I have been having many adverse effects from Amlodipine after more than two years. No more oedema but a lot of vague and not so vague symptoms which could be attributable. I list these below in no particular order:
insomnia
heightened anxiety
weight gain (not sure about this as I started in amlodipine a few months before lockdown started. )
depression and dread
extreme fatigue/no get up and go
not feeling “myself “
dizzy/light-headed spells
increased need to urinate especially at night
My question is: does anyone else get these side effects? Some are nefarious and a bit difficult to pin down to amlodipine so I’m reluctant to tell GP.
l have an appointment next week so would appreciate advice. I am currently on 5 mg of Amlodipine but am only now taking 2.5 m g in a bid to lessen side effects. It does help but I would like to come off it altogether if poss. My current BP readings are around 128/72 on average, but they can go a bit higher if I’m stressed.
I’m thinking of asking for Losartan - does anyone have any comments on this or experience of taking it. I really don’t want anything that makes me more anxious and put on more weight!
Do hanks!
Written by
bonnythecat
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I’m not on either of these, Bonny, but what I would say is that your doctor probably needs as full a picture of you as s/he can, in order to have the best outcome. And the best outcome is lowered blood pressure and you feeling well.
I’d suggest you have a look at the website of the specialist charity Blood Pressure UK and see if anything there resonates with you.
2 years of feeling like that,i did 1 year and packed them off , never again ,im sure they will kill you in the long term, well they would have me ,the anxiety,no sleep ,depression ,i nearly went down the easy way out,
i did it like you 5 then 2.5 then every other day for a week then stopped them, no idea what bp is now,not checked it for 18 months but still here and feel well. mine was 165/95 on amlodipine.it worked for me but was a bit nervous nt taking anything at first,but walking,turmeric etc keeps me going, sleep taking ages to get right after bp pills, anything fom 0 to 6 hours a night, depression went straight away,anxiety comes/goes but nothing like it was,never had it before bp pills,god knows what it does to your nervous system but its a slow recovery in my case, covid did not help lol. but im 100 per cent better than i was on pills. im a big believer in asprin a day and that helps a lot.
Thanks Peter, 4 am and i’mwide awake! GP will say I have to be on something I guess. I can’t believe more people don’t complain about the amlodipine if it is really so destructive. as I said before the symptoms are hard to pin down. I do as much walking as I can but after say 5 miles I set off pain in the hips so have to be careful. I will no ask GP about taking aspirin. Good luck !
I am sure amlopedine has had a deleterious effect on me and I have now given up taking it completely - but what really resonates with me is is the 4 a.m. wake up. I could set my clock by it every morning - 4 a.m. BANG - wide awake and no chance of getting back to sleep - that's the end of the night - very debilitating long term. I am still on the beta blocker Atecor, but I'm not happy about it.
Hi there. I got swollen ankles with amlodipine so switched to losartan a year ago and it has been fine. I get a bit of a tickly chest / throat occasionally but that’s it. 😀
mention asprin most gp will have a fit, no money in it lol, 4 is a good time for me, if i wake up then its ok, its when its 1 or 2 i dont like. you can get a lot done in the morn but not if u feel bad, did u feel well before bp pills,then docs scare u to death if its over 130 etc, then anxiety sets in etc ,i tried sleeping pills ok on zopiclone etc for sleep but you feel bad all day,well i did.
I was sent to A&E by the GP in December 2019 after having some dizzy spells and my Bp was 165/95, then on Amlodipine since then . It is always higher at GPs though much lower at home. I’m scared I’ll have a stroke if I don’t take the medication.
I was way way higher than 165 over 95 when I had a stroke and like you you scared by the doctors and taking tablets ever since, but fully aware they are having bad side effects on me. Amlopedine was particularly bad and has been binned
I have been taking both amlodipine and losartan for just over two years and had side effects from both - anxiety being one of them - for a few months after starting. What makes you think amlodipine is responsible for your current symptoms? I ask since it would seem unusual for side effects to continue for two years. Have your current symptoms been continuous since you started on them or did they start fairly recently?
I can only speak from my own experience and I don't have any side effects from either amlodipine or losartan now and have certainly not gained weight with either drug.
I hope you are able to resolve the issue with the help of your GP.
Thanks for your reply. I seemed to put on several pounds rapidly after starting the amlodipine but a few months later along came the pandemic and lockdown/working from home was definitely responsible for more weight gain . However I have never been that weight before and find it impossible to shift despite more exercise now. Yes anxiety was high due to the pandemic and I do worry a lot anyway but I have never had the depths of depression I have fallen into in the last couple of years. I don’t think amlodipine is the whole story but would like to see how it feels without that distortion in my system. Hope that makes sense.
You are very welcome! You have my sympathy. Anxiety is awful! We are all genetically different and what suits one person will not necessarily suit another. Sorry I couldn't be more help and I hope you are able to find something better suited to you without those side effects.
Weight gain and low level constant depression - I hope amlopidine is the culprit and that ditching it I will recover - I'll take my chance with the blood pressure.
Hi Bonnythecat, I've taken amlodipine for 18 months along with Bisoprolol, for high blood pressure. Prior to this I had Irbesartan for many years ( changed after OHS). I haven't noticed any side effects and they brought my BP back within safe levels quite quickly. I think I have been lucky and hope you also find something that suits you.
As is often the case there seem to be various different experiences in the replies.
My own experience is that I was experiencing many of the symptoms you describe. I accidentally ran out of Losartan and missed a couple of days and I immediately felt better. Lower anxiety, better sleep and many other benefits. Decided to stop altogether and felt so much better. My Dr and Heart consultant were happy with the change and 6 months on I am still feeling better.
So be careful not to swap one evil for another.
Whatever you decide keep your Drs informed so they can advise appropriately.
Hi janis for sharing this. It’s a bit disheartening to hear Losartan also caused heightened anxiety though. I don’t really know what else to try - maybe one of the Ace inhibitors would be better like Ramipril. I was worried about taking those during the pandemic as I heard they make you cough.
That sounds like a positive outcome for you. well done but is your blood pressure still under control or are you making lifestyle changes to control it.?
Yes BP under control with 1.25mg Ramipril twice a day and Bisoprolol which has been reduced to 2.5 to mg per day. Generally I keep a good, as recommended, lifestyle but not extreme. Still drink alcohol but in moderation. I feel pleased to have at last settled after open heart surgery for an Aortic anurism and valve replacement. Taken about 20 months to get here 😁
I was put on losartan 3 years ago but only took it for a few weeks as it caused severe nausea and vomiting to the extent that I couldn't even keep water down. I did lose weight on it though. I was switched to ramipril which I've had no issues with. My cardiologist added amlopidine as my BP wasn't coming down enough and I'm fine with that too. I think the only way to find out if you'll get side effects is by taking it.
Hi there, I think its a case of trial and error. Not everyone will get the same side effects to BP meds. And many will get no side effects at all.
From experience not one size fits all I'm afraid. But would definitely not advocate just stopping your BP meds with out talking with your GP first. Good luck and I hope you can find the right medication that suits you soon xx
Yes maybe, but since the pandemic I find it near impossible to get a GP appointment- this time I waited more than 3 weeks just for a phone appointment. I don’t feel comfortable with calls but nobody is seen in person. They have the ten minute rule and only one topic raised which is difficult as BP can be linked with other issues. Asking for a full discussion on meds’ side effects probably not welcome and then there is the suspicion about GPS pushing certain options more than others. I feel caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Wow that is quite a story and I recognise a lot of that! sorry you’ve had such a bad time with meds. It does seem that they medicate one problem in isolation then if there are adverse effects they prescribe something else to deal with these. The new med probably causes yet another issue and it all ends up impossible to disentangle! For example if high BP can be reduced by losing weight why on earth prescribe something that causes you to gain more weight? I am already overweight so I can’t risk that. The exhaustion and lack of energy caused by meds also hinder exercise. It really is a vicious circle.
I’m not sure now about trying Losartan or Ramipril given the c issues people on here have had but also the side effects described on the NHS website.
Also not keen on water pills as I already have overactive bladder issues! Where do I go from here?
Hi , I was also on amlodipine for over five years until I couldn't cope with the side effects, namely extreme anxiety and dizzy spells. I wanted to get off the medication desperately. So after some research I discovered that adopting a healthy wholefoods diet and exercise were effective to manage high blood pressure without medication. I went into it full on after discussing it with my GP who was a bit sceptical. Today I am off my medication and I feel good, my blood pressure is well under control with no pills in sight. My GP was amazed how everything had worked so well. So it is possible to manage high blood pressure without pills A complete lifestyle change worked for me and I am sure it can work for us all if we can have a mindset to change our lifestyle for the better.
That sounds great and really inspiring! I do feel that losing a stone or so would make all the difference but amlodipine seems to sap my energy and ability to do exercise too. High BP is in my family soI don’t know if I can completely control it like that but would like to try! I am now doing 3 yoga sessions a week which I feel are also very beneficial. However I am afraid to tell my GP I am going down this route as they seem so invested in medication and once you are on it it’s for life.
That's what we get told by doctors that we should be on these med for life, for certain conditions yes, but not everything. You will not be asking for permission, you just let him know that you going to try the healthy eating and excersice to see if it will make any difference to your blood pressure. Then you have to really be consistent and do it wholeheartedly. Remember it's not a diet, it's a complete lifestyle change. Eat wholefoods and excercise regularly. You will see results quickly and when you do your motivation will be increased.you will feel strong and healthy. Then you will see the look of disbelief in your GPs face when your blood pressure begins to stabilise. My grandmother died of a stroke so like you there is blood pressure in my family. I think it's all a mindset to do something to make things better for yourself. Check blood pressure UK website for some good advise .. Good luck
I suspect stress and weight gain didn’t help but the tendency is in the family. I am one of six siblings and three out of six have it, though the other two smoke.
Yes I take CoQ10. have for some years and I think it helps moods etc too. It’s expensive though.I haven’t mentioned it to the GP though as I think they’d frown on any supplements. I’m also wondering about taking small does of aspirin as advocated by some. My GP has suggested statins before but I’ve resisted so far. Anyone on those?
i hate cramp and take magnesium to help prevent it though again I’m not sure GP would approve!I think my cholesterol is OK maybe borderline, but seems our GPs put everyone in statins over certain age as a precaution which is worrying- hard to refuse if you don’t want a heart attack, but it is another medication.
There is a good website called Ask A Patient. It's a place where people can write reviews about their experiences with prescription medications. I have found it helpful when I'm not sure if the medication is causing my symptoms or not. When you see others experiencing your same symptoms, it helps to validate your own beliefs about what is really causing your new health issues. A physician who has never taken the drug may try to tell you that your symptoms can't possibly be caused by the drug they have prescribed you, when in fact it may very well be the drug. Trust that you know your own body. If you must take medication to control your health conditions, work with your physician to try different medications and lower dosing until you find something that provides relief and hopefully provides you with the quality of life you desire. And ask for your doctor's support in this effort. A caring doctor will understand and respect your right to co-partner in your healthcare.I speak passionately because I have experienced severe depression and suicidal thought for months only to find out that it was due to medication prescribed for my heart and blood pressure.
Hello Bonnythecat,I had very similar side effects when on Losertan and just had to stop them yesterday when my BP went up to 185/90. Now on Amlodipine so 🤞I don’t get any with these.
I had a number of unpleasant side effects from taking amlodopine and I made a yellow form report. I am now on a low does of Losartan and finding it easier to tolerate.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Amlodipine side effects 
heart palpitations 
Alternatives to Amlodipine
Stress from side effects 
Side effects of Candesarten
