Hypertension and Amlodipine

[skylark15]

Hi, community.

I have a (new) diagnosis of hypertension, which means yet another tablet to add to my cocktail.

The proposed first line treatment, apparently, is Amlodipine. However, I am wary of this drug, in case it worsens my Erythromelalgia, which is pretty bad anyway, and getting worse all by itself.

I should like to hear from others who have taken (or are currently taking) Amlodipine. Has anyone had any adverse effects, particularly concerning EM, Raynaud's and lupus? Thanks.

[Halfwayuphill]

Hi Skylark15,

Sorry to hear you’ve developed hypertension. I am on amlodipine and have been for some years but don’t have hypertension. I originally was prescribed Nifidipine for possible Raynaud’s heart spasm but it gave me worse headaches. Funnily enough I did ask my rheumatologist if I still needed to take them. Only because I’d heard Nifidipine can weaken muscles slightly and as many of my muscles seem to be giving up the ghost (gastroparisis, neurological bladder, and prolapse) wondered if amlodipine is the same. He thought I should carry on as my ankles etc are not swollen. My urologist didn’t think amlodipine would make any difference either. I have UCTD with scleroderma symptoms. I did mention I felt my Raynaud’s had worsened as at times I’m so cold and cannot tolerate changes in temperature but he felt the amlodipine may be helping as I haven’t developed ulcers etc. I was most surprised when my clinic letter mentioned I had developed Erythromelalgia which I had to look up! I’m pretty certain it can’t be the amlodipine as I’ve definitely worsened in recent years due to gut etc involvement and I’ve been on amlodipine for at least ten years. The good news for me was the amlodipine had stopped my debilitating migraines some years ago too. Hopefully the amlodipine might even help your Raynaud’s. I suspect it’s worth trying. Such a juggling act with these drugs. Good luck with it.

[skylark15 in reply to Halfwayuphill]

Hi, Halfwayuphill.

Thank you for your detailed response, it's really interesting. I'm so glad that Amlodipine helped at least in the case of the awful migraines.

Your description of the neurological bladder, gastroparesis etc really made me sit up and think. In addition to the lupus, Raynauds, EM, peripheral neuropathy etc, I also have Muscular dystrophy. However, long before that was unmasked and definitively diagnosed, I'd had problems with my bladder (stress incontinence) and bowels (worsening constipation which has now been diagnosed as "extremely slow gut transit time" and I've been offered an ileostomy, which I've declined.

Years ago, I was seen in Prof. Denton's scleroderma clinic and told that as my capillaroscopy was normal, I didn't have scleroderma. Since then, with worsening symptoms, which I manage with urinary self-catheterisation and rectal irrigation (yuck!), I've put it all down to neuropathy and the muscular dystrophy, but now I'm wondering...

I've spoken to the practice pharmacologist and we've decided that rather than add in Amlodipine, I should take another 25mg of Losartan for my BP.

BW,

Tx

[Halfwayuphill in reply to skylark15]

hello again skylark15,

Gosh that is interesting but I’m sorry you have Muscular Dystrophy as well as everything else. I don’t know a lot about MD but funnily enough I did ask the Professor if floppy bladder is likely in Scleroderma as whenever I looked it up it mentioned MS rather than systemic sclerosis. He did confirm it is. (I think this was in my mind as my brother had MS and often I see symptoms in myself he suffered from). I suppose many of these diseases cause weak muscles and it’s hard to know what’s causing it. It’s test results and other symptoms that decide the diagnosis probably. Did the clinic do blood tests? I would certainly believe implicitly in Professor Denton’s judgment. I expect your consultant could do them in case they have changed.

I do hope the losartan helps. I take 25mg of that too. Sx

[skylark15 in reply to Halfwayuphill]

Hi, Halfwayuphill.

It was a bit of a shock, in my late 60s, to be given a diagnosis of MD, but I'd long been saying "It's muscles, not joints!". Because I'd had both hips replaced (lupus-induced intractable inflammation), it was assumed that they were causing my symptoms. They're both great; I have a full range of pain-free movement in them. But you're right about it being difficult to know what's causing what, until a definitive blood test (or in my case DNA testing) and sometimes one can never be absolutely sure.

BW,

Tess x