I had been on Amlodipine 5mg for some years,during this time I had begun to notice my hair thinning and becmoing fine and lifeless.After regular checks earlier this year my b/p was unacceptably high consistently and the dose was increased to 10mg.My b/p was still not within normal limits after 4-6 weeks and I was prescribed in addition 5mg Ramiprimil..it was then that I started to notice a drastic increase in HAIR LOSS (I have read on the leaflet inside my medication that it's a possible side effect).I would like to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience,as I would like to change to a medication that doesn't have this devastating side effect!
Hi Yvonne...while I have not experienced what you describe, anything I've read about bp medication has said that doubling the dose usually isn't the answer to getting the bp down. All this seems to accomplish is to magnify whatever side effects the person may be experiencing. At 10mgs, I'm surprised you haven't mentioned feet/leg swelling, but not all people experience this. So, now you're on a Calcium Channel Blocker & an ACE Inhibitor. You didn't say if your bp has started to come down since being on both. The hair loss could very well be blamed on the Amlodipine, but you said yoiu noticed this since being on the Rampiril. I would suggest you get back to your doctor about this. I'm sure you've read a lot of horrible stories about what people are experiencing with Amlodipine.
Hi Mike,thanks for your suggestions.Yes my blood pressure responded well to a combination of Ramiprimil 10mg and 1.5mg of indipamide (diuretic) and readings are eg.134/79.However,it has been at the cost of my much reduced hair density,which for a woman is very demoralising.Therefore I'm eager to find a combination of medication that's still effective and desperately hope and pray that my hair will recover!
Ok..Are you still taking the Amlodipine along with the Rampiril & Idapamide????? The cause of your hair thinning COULD be the Amlodipine, but be sure to check with your doctor first.
I too have been on high blood pressure for a number of years. Amlodipine has been one of them. I had very thick and long hair and over the last few years I notice that the top especially has thinned out considerably. I met someone that new me and when I mentioned the state of my hair thinning loss , she asked if I was on blood pressure meds , she confirmed that she also had the same hair loss problem.I had also had an allergic reaction to the med and had stopped for a while. When I restarted a couple months after the reaction resurfaced. This included dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea.But definitely the hair loss has become an issue.
Hi Yvonne
I had side effects from Amlodipine which included hair thinning. I really noticed my hair on the shower floor whenever I had a shampoo. I dont take Amlo these days, the effects made life very difficult.
Best wishes
Sue
Hi Yvone,
Amlodipine seem be to the cause of the hair loss. My mum is actually going through the sameside effeect with the blood pressure medication she is taking . 20 mg of Olmetec (olmesartan medoxomil) and 10 mg Amlodipine daily.
You ladies have all the problems - I lost most of my hair pre meds so can't comment as to Amlodipine effecting me! Been on 5 mg for over 15 years without any side effects and BP is just below borderline now.
Hi, I have been experiencing the same thing! When I shampoo my hair I loose about a handful! I have such bad hair loss it is completely bald on the temples and around the edges it is so thin all you can see is my scalp! I recently have quit taking the medicine and I am still loosing hair. I was wondering has your hair grew back? The doctor seems to think my hair loss has nothing to do with the medicine but after reading all of this I am convinced!
Hi Yvonne,
. Every time I wash my hair there is loads of hair in the plug hole, and hairdressers always comment on my thin hair, which is very upsetting for me because i previously had a thick head of hair. I was on amlodipine for about seven years but recently decided to come off it to see if my bowel problems improved (they didn't) but amazingly my blood pressure is now almost normal! My GP was astonished to find it was 130/70 last time he took it. I have a BP monitor and I plan to use it once a month as I don't want to become obsessive about measuring my BP. ( I am eating lots of vegetables but I am unable to exercise or walk any distance due to my bowel triggering severe vaginal/urethral pain ) I wouldn't recommend that anyone should stop taking their BP medication, and I did so with my GP's full approval. I just hope that my hair loss was caused by the amlodipine and that it will recover and start to thicken up again,
Good luck! Let's hope that your hair thickens very soon, because I know just how you feel.
Yes Yvonne this medication has caused your hair to thin and fall out. The dr's know this even b4 they prescribe it bit they wont admit because they know of us will refuse to take it. I used it and stopped just last month. I will no longer take anything that will cause baldness. My dr. finally admitted that he did not tll me because he knew I would refuse. He said vanity of health should not be! stop lying to people . my hair went from thing and long to thin and I have many bald patches..
Hello, I have experienced the same thing! All of my edges are gone! I can't even wear a ponytail which was my go to hair style especially for work! I have a mixture of completely bald spots and thin edges. It looks awful and I hope and pray it grow back! I am now using biotin and keratin hoping it will help with my re growth!
I have been on Amlodipine 10mg since February 2016. Slowly over time, I have noticed a lot of hair coming out in my hand when combing my hair or shampooing in the shower. Last Thursday, I checked closely with two mirrors and could see my scalp. I used to have very thick hair and now I look like a cancer patient. I decided to look up side effects for the three medications that I am on. Guess what hair loss and thinning of hair is a side effect of amlodipine. I called Pfizer, Cambor and Cipla. spent a totally frustrating afternoon on the phone. No one owns up to the side effect and each drug company gives me another number to call. Is there anyone else out there who is going through this? All I want to know is if my hair will grow back?????
Hello, I experienced the same thing. I was on 2 meds that cause hair loss (norvasc & metformin). I stopped them about a month ago and I am still experiencing hair loss by the handful! Nobody can tell me why.
Hi Christine I have taken amilodipine for five years and due to welling ankles and feet decided to stop taking it. I take ramipril and bisoperol and have invested in a blood pressure montor. My blood pressure in normal now with no increase from stopping this medication. My hair had thinned considerably at the front and now after three weeks I notice it growing back at the temples with fine hair about 8mm long. So I am sure this is down to stopping the amilodipine plus I have no more swelling. Hope your hair comes back too I am confident it will. This medication is banned in some countries probably for good reasons. Kind regards Debbie
So my Dr. said after I shared that I've noticed hair loss since starting Cartia nearly a year ago, another calcium blocker, "Yeah, that can happen." When I pressed her to change my med, despite having a bottom number below 100, yep, I said 100, for the first time ever - nothing had been working, she switched tones, became almost defensive insisting the hair loss was most likely due to age. WHAT THE HECK! Like some of you, I began to see handfuls of hair in the drain. I was afraid to wash my hair. My comb became my worst enemy. I had always had a massive amount of hair. My stylists had made comments such as I should start charging extra... and my goodness, you've got a lot of hair. Now I get, Joan, you are losing a lot of hair.
My doctor did agreed to switch my med... To guess what? Yep! Amlodpine 10 mg. Sneaky B word. That is stopping today! There has to be another way to get my BP down Bald is not an option. And yes! I am that vain! Joan is not joining the hair club for men or resorting to Rogain for Women! Argh!
I have been on Amlodopine for about 7 years and have experienced quite a bit of hair loss too. I am 73 and previously have been on Calcium Channel Blockers and other types of BP drugs and had no hair loss but did have loss of libido. So, don't want that side effect either. My doctor says hair loss is not from Amlodopine, but I don't think he is correct. After stopping taking this durg has anyone's hair grown back? On the top and back of my head the hair is really thin with scalp showing. I always had very fine hair but a lot of it, and my mom lived to 95 and never went bald like this. The doctor just wants to say it is old age, even my dermatologist says that.
Hi, Victoria,
I stopped taking the drug 3 months ago, and I am very happy to report that the hair loss has recently slowed considerably. Still seeing more than I like in my comb, but I don't see that mass in the drain anymore. My biggest complaint, if you want to call it that, is now I have a bad case of the fuzzies. That is, there is a lot of new growth - so much so, that I have to spray my hair to control all the short hairs standing up all over my head. Ha!
I am now using Benicar. That in combination with a gluten-free diet (which has resulted in the loss of 70 pounds since Feb, 2016), I have bottom numbers in the 70s. Whoop! Who knows, if I add in some exercise, I may be able to drop the Benicar, too. Joan
Yes yvonne, I have been on amlodipine for 2.5 years and the hair loss has accelerated in the last year. I had to see a cardiologist for another problem so my bp med has been switched to something else (Procardia 60mg ER) Don't know yet if this med will cause more to fall out but am praying it does not. I am changing my diet and my lifestyle and hoping for the best.. Warm regards, anne
Hi Yvonne I too took this drug for 4 years it did the job for its intent but I suffered hair loss and eventually bad ankle swelling i am 55 and noticed my memory was really bad. i stopped taking the amilodipine after reading it was banned in some countries and all the bad reviews which seemed to conclude hair loss was a side effect. Within a month my hair was growing back I had to go on another medication for the swelling which also went away and my memory came back very noticeably much much better, so I can only conclude it was the amilodipine although my doctor did not think that it was the cause but she changed my meds immediately. So far so good so I would advise anyone experiencing problems on amilodipine to see their GP there are other alternatives and women of any age don't want to loose their hair if it can be helped. All these comments about bad side effects from amilodipine are coming fast and furious so we can't all be wrong hope everyone gets sorted medically with another kinder drug regards Debbbie