Amlodipine and calcium

[Broseley]

Hi, I'm on amlodipine for high blood pressure, have been since 2016. I was diagnosed with osteopenia T score -1.1, in 2021 and put on calcium and vitamin D. I also take Vitamin K2 to help with the calcium absorption.

I recently had an annual blood pressure review and although it's not gone up, it's still too high at 157 systolic so the nurse doubled my dose of amlodipine from 5mg to 10mg. It hasn't made any difference! I looked up drug interactions and the professional version says calcium prevents amlodipine from working properly.

Has anyone else experienced this or can you offer any advice please?

[Pol53]

hi broseley yes I had an issue with amlodapine I was on ramapril 10 mg and they gave me 2.5mg of amlodapine (stating that my Prednisolone raised my bp) which made no difference at all so they upped it to 5mg which still left me 155/100 I was talking calcichew and alendronic acid - no one linked the two and told me that they were linked but I asked to change the amlodapine because it clearly wasn’t doing anything -so they gave me indapamide 2.5mg —and that brought me down to readings around 135/85 I am still being monitored due to fluctuations in my pred - I didn’t make the link between calcium and nor did they - but if it’s not working for you - you can ask for a new tablet based on it simply not being effective

[Broseley in reply to Pol53]

Thanks, I might do that. I have to see the nurse again soon anyway. The amlodipine used to work before I started calcium then pred.

[Pol53 in reply to Broseley]

I had been given the amlodapine once before .before going in for a minor op -and it working then but as you can see for me it was an extra tablet to go with my ramapril of which I’m on the maximum - I hope they sort it out for you and get your bp stable

[Broseley in reply to Pol53]

Thank you. I have always had high blood pressure but they left treating it for years!

[Grannymiaow]

I too am on amlopidine and calcium/vit D. I take the amlopidine after breakfast (with the pred) and the calcium after lunch. It seems to work.

[Broseley in reply to Grannymiaow]

Thanks. I take the amlodipine at breakfast and the calcium at bedtime.

You need to make sure you take the calcium a few hours after your pred, as it affects the absorption of pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is pretty clear - and why hasn't the nurse checked interactions? Especially since it is obvious it is linked if your problems started after starting calcium! It isn't as if amlodipine is the only answer to raised BP!!!

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Your link says there's no effect, only with diuretics. This is the one I found: drugs.com/interactions-chec... It says "Using amLODIPine together with calcium carbonate can decrease the effects of amLODIPine. Talk with your doctor before using amLODIPine and calcium carbonate together. You may need a dose adjustment or need your blood pressure checked more often if you take both medications. "

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Sorry - I'm an idiot, I put up the wrong link!!! No idea what I was thinking of!! Maybe I'll go back to bed and try getting up again - I had a late night last night!

[Nap1]

I take amlodipine and calcium with D as well. I was not aware of the information you just gave me. I think what I will do is try taking my calcium in the middle of the day. It’s really difficult taking nutrients and medicine. This probably applies to many drugs and vitamins. I’ll bet your doctor can’t help you with that information either. I should know what you were taking and/or they should ask what you taking.

[random901 in reply to Nap1]

Same here, Nap1. I'll try dosing like that.

[Broseley in reply to Nap1]

I take my amlodipine in the morning and my calcium at night. It hasn't made any difference.

[Nap1]

some prescriptions are for 2.5 amlodipine a.m. and 2.5 amlodipine p.m. that makes a lot of sense and covers you for 24 hours. So then take calcium during the day don’t you think?

[Broseley in reply to Nap1]

I'm sorry I really don't know!

[Cjcc]

It might be worth checking with a good pharmacist. They should be able to advise on drug interactions.

[Broseley in reply to Cjcc]

Thanks, good idea.