Hypertension 56

[Fl055]

I’ve just been prescribed Amlodipine 10 mg a day. First time I’ve ever had any medication in 56 years. Came as a shock! 3 days in and I’ve got headache and slight numbness arms and legs but other wise ok. Any one else had the same experience? Cheers.

[Madlegs1]

Welcome to the club.

Hell of a shock - isn't it?

Amlopidine is known for side effects, as are many of the various BP meds.

I was started on just 5mg, which I appreciate now, after reading so many posts here stating how bad their reactions were!!

When the 5mg wasn't enough, the Doc gave me another med- Olmersatin 10mg, rather than up the Amlopidine.

I now appreciate his perspicacity -- even though he is a youngster!!

Maybe you could have a conversation with your Doc and see if Meds can be tweaked a bit, as my set up was

I have had no effects, and my energy levels are great. (I had originally presented with chronic fatigue, and Hypertension was diagnosed)

Good luck.

[Fl055 in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks for the advice! I will see how it goes and talk to my GP. I’m hoping tge effects are simply because ive just started on them.

👍

[Madlegs1 in reply to Fl055]

That is quite probable!

[Hidden]

Hi! Many of the BP medications work that way, that they reduce HR, reduce with it the blood flow-rate, and, of course, BP goes down. But, it is payed with headaches and with poor balance (insufficient blood to the brain), and with numbness of the limbs (insufficient blood flow to the periphery of the body). I could discuss it further, but do not dare... The decision is yours!

[Ascb]

Yes they will be for life (I had to start BP meds age 35 and I'm now 62) and I'm sure you know the reasons for that. I had side effects from amlodipine which lasted a few weeks and then my body adjusted. If you find after 3 or 4 weeks that it's no better, ask the GP to try another alternative.

[Pedge]

Whenever I have needed to increase my dosage of amlodipine or ramipril I get headaches for 5 days or so then they pretty much go. I found 10mg amlodipine puffed my feet up a bit too much so back to 5 now, with 10 ramipril and a beta blocker. Hope you adjust soon but if not plenty more combinations to try so don’t worry!

[Lactosebitb]

Monitor your liver function. I was put on that drug and my liver started failing within a year - my liver numbers showed this. So make sure dr monitors your liver/blood. And if things aren't right, speak up. Keep well

[Dps007]

Hi,

I was prescribed Amlodipine 5g 1x daily (early Jan 2023) to combat my HBP. Was a shock too as I never experienced HBP in my 62 years (history of HBP in the family).

I had mild side effects for 7-10 days (numbness in feet/lower legs and hands with swollen ankles when sitting at a desk during day). These have moderated and fortunately largely gone (barring swollen ankles if sit too long).

I am in reasonable health (eg don't smoke/drink moderately/not overweight). My GP's view is that my HBP has more to do with stress of major life changes I'm dealing with (divorce/move) vs hereditary reasons.

GP's advice was to take the 5mg daily and to stop any BP monitoring for 6-8 weeks (which was causing me anxiety attacks and my BP to spike above 160/125) to let the meds do their job.

Fast forward 2 months (today 17 Feb 2023) and my stressors have diminished and I worry less about my daily BP.

Today I started measuring 3x daily from today (for next 7 days) as per GP advice. So far my BP readings ave 120/81 with HR 76 which is very positive - so the meds must be having an effect...

Everyone is different but meds need time to work and for your body to adjust. Good to chat to your GP if you have concerns / experience any severe reactions (per the medical leaflet).

Hopefully you adjust within short order. Best wishes

[Fl055 in reply to Dps007]

Thanks for the positive advice 👍

[peter999999999 in reply to Fl055]

would it not have been better to treat the cause ie anxiety to lower your bp naturally than take a pill for the symtoms not the cause, now anxiety gone are u stopping the pills

[Dps007 in reply to peter999999999]

(late reply)

After 11 months (today) I am doing fine with the 5mg dosage.

My GP advised in May-Sept that once my BP settled and I was out of the chaos I was experiencing, it was possible to review the dosage. However as we age, he said, BP will usually elevate and higher doses will be needed. Going off would simply risk return to high BP spikes and other risks.

I did go off them for 7 days while I had a hip replacement in July. During that week I felt faint / disco-ordinated several times (perhaps related to oxycodin and anaesthetic). Anyway I monitored my BP with home machine. It was very low at times (effects of operation/meds). After 7 days I was happy to return to the 5mg dose and within days was in the normal BP zone for me (130-140/80-85). I monitor every 6 months for 7days (*ignore first 3 days and take the ave of the last 4 days). So far its working for me.

Fortunately I experience limited side effects: mainly swollen ankles - only if I sit at a desk for hours. If that's the most discomfort, I'm grateful. Definitely don't want to experience the spikes I had a year ago...

Conclusion: I will stick with 5mg dose. Monitor BP every 6 months. Accept this is my lot. I may be lucky from what others say (I do have 3 joint replacements) so osteoporosis-arthritis is a bigger issue for me!

Best wishes

[Cats8019]

My experience with with amlodipine10mg was good because it finally brought down my stubborn high BP. I was warned about headaches as a side effect but never experienced any. I was alerted to the possibility of swollen ankles, though, which I seem to have during the hot summers. I would mention the numbness you're feeling to your prescribing doctor, although others have mentioned this side effect on this forum. Be patient, sometimes it just takes a little time for your body to adapt to new medication, especially when you've never been on anything before. Stay well. Cheers.

[Fl055 in reply to Cats8019]

Cheers appreciate it.

[Ruthwuth]

Hi, it is indeed a shock, and it took me several months to adjust (I was 63 and no medication before). I took 10 mg daily for two years and it gave me terrible acid reflux after about a year. The drug relaxes arteries but also relaxes the lower esophagal sphincter. I have reduced to 5 mg and although BP is up a little, it is still within acceptable range, and reflux is under control. I also had swollen ankles on 10mg but not on 5mg.

Good luck.

[ChrissiG in reply to Ruthwuth]

I tried amlodipine 10ths and got terrible reflux. Had to stop taking it. I don’t seem to get on with any BP drugs! At the moment reducing my losartan (From 100mgs now down to 12.5mgs) with a view to stopping and trying a different Med - if I can find one I can tolerate! Maybe a lower dose of Amlodipine.

[ChrissiG in reply to ChrissiG]

* that should say 10mgs

[Ruthwuth in reply to ChrissiG]

Hi, I was shocked that neither doctor nor pharmacist knew about the acid reflux but when I had an endoscopy the first thing the consultant said when he saw I was on Amlodipine was “that’s your reason”. Reducing the dosage to 5mg had worked for me and my blood pressure is OK (not that I take it particularly regularly). Good luck.

[ChrissiG in reply to Ruthwuth]

Thanks Ruth 😊 My BP hasn’t gone up even though I’ve cut down to 1/8 of the dose I was on so I’m hoping I might be able to manage without anything. My BP was 143/84 today which I think is ok (I’m 72) although the doctors always want it lower. If I can’t manage without then I’ll try 5mg Amlodipine and hope the reflux doesn’t come back 😊

[Boberto101]

I started on 5mg Amlodipine and had some hives but disappeared in a week. My BP was still spiking so I got on low dosage of Ramipril and that combined has been the sweet spot for me for years now and a very healthy BP and no side effects. I get liver function and cholesterol checked annually and all fine. My Dr said low doses of dual therapy always works better and negates side effects. Speak to your Dr if still getting sides and try a combination

[Lordsnooty05]

I have only started that drug and I’m experiencing the same as you numbness and tingling down both arms. Thankfully, it doesn’t last long (in my experience) but when I first took the tingling I thought I was taking a stroke (as my Dad had numerous strokes and TIAs and eventually died at the grand old age of 58)

I have also experienced a hot flush with this drug …..I don’t know if anyone else has experienced this side effect. Thankfully, my BP is coming down so at least the drug is doing its work. Unfortunately, our surgery has lost its GPs and we are in the hands of locomes, so I can’t go and see anyone to talk to about these side effects. In fact when the nurse took my BP see couldn’t get a doctor and ended up getting the pharmacist to prescribe me this drug. It’s really scary times here in Northern Ireland as I belong to a very large GP practice servicing thousands of people and not one GP. The National Health Service is not only broken it is defunct here in Northern Ireland and still our politicians (who are getting paid) can’t agree on Brexit and refuse to go back into parliament to work for the people……just disgraceful