Change of brand - does that make a difference?

[Loobs39]

I have been taking Amlodopine for several years and have never had a problem with it. However, the past 2 or 3 weeks I have noticed my feet and ankles swelling in the afternoon/evening. Lord knows it's not due to hot weather as we haven't had any - but I have just remembered that the brand was changed last time I picked up my prescription - is it likely to be that??

[springcross]

It's certainly a possibility, it's happened to me in the past.

[Loobs39 in reply to springcross]

Thanks for replying - I am switching back to my original brand - let's see if that makes a difference.

[springcross in reply to Loobs39]

I hope it does, good luck.

[Happyrosie]

the person to ask would be the prescribing pharmacist, probably. Failing that, the pharmacist attached to your doc’s group of surgeries.

[Loobs39 in reply to Happyrosie]

Yes, I realise that - I was just curious to find out if other people had experienced this? As it happens, I do have some of my original 'stock' so I have switched back to see if it makes a difference.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Loobs39]

Very often it is the " excipients" that are the difference.

The main ingredient will be ok but the additives will be different -- binder, colouring etc etc.

Definitely go back to original.

[springcross in reply to Madlegs1]

Yes, definitely - not all manufacturers' excipients are the same.

[peterjones105]

My pharmacy has a habit of switching Amlodopine brands mostly with slight side effects except one brand "Crescent" that makes me feel dreadful, the pharmacist theorised it was due to a different binding agent.

[Loobs39]

So, changing back to my old brand (I had some left) made all the difference - no swelling (well a tiny bit on the leg awaiting a knee replacement but heyho) so I will notify them at the surgery to make a note to that effect. Thank you all so much for replying.

[Shetries]

Hi, I was on amlodipine for a while and had the same problem and I noticed the veins going spidery so I changed to Lercanidipine which suits me, but my blood pressure is very high at the moment so the pharmacy are contacting me next week.