Please can anyone tell me how long do the side effects of Amlodipine last after stopping them. I stopped them 8 days ago and each day until three days ago I felt a bit better but the last couple of days I have been feeling bad again, not as bad as before but still bad.
I keep getting a feeling of dread like I am going to die or something terrible is going to happen it's awful.
Other side effects I have but are reducing are headaches, pain in my head, like a tight band round my head, palpitations, feeling sick, spaced out and feeling like I am not here, can't think straight, fuzzy eyes and loads more.
If someone could help me it would be great.
Pat
Hi Pat
I felt better in myself within a few days of stopping Amlodipine but the worse side effect (swelling and rash on lower legs) took a few weeks to improve.
Have you taken your blood pressure to see how that is responding to the few days off Amlodipine?
Those are horrid side effects that you have listed but as long as they are reducing then it sounds as though you are going in the right direction. However, we are not medics on here and, if these side effects don't disappear in the next couple of days, if it was me I would get it all checked out with your GP to rule out anything else going on.
Hi Pat
I was interested in your email because I'm thinking of coming off amlodipine and because I'm experiencing such similar symptoms as you ie'headaches, pain in my head, like a tight band round my head, palpitations, feeling sick, spaced out and feeling like I am not here, can't think straight, fuzzy eyes and loads more'.
For myself, I've been wondering if these are just general anxiety symptoms and nothing to do with the drug - am I generally anxious about taking the drug and therefore attributing these symptoms to it? I often felt a bit like this before I went on the drug. We've had lots of people on this forum who say that they have felt instantly better after stopping the drug but it seems like the side effects build up with time so I'm sure that they can't disappear instantly.
The good thing about the drug is that it stops me worrying about my blood pressure and it is certainly better for me than Ramipril which was absolutely dreadful. I'd love it if the symptoms we are getting are side effects of the
drug because then I would feel better for stopping it - but I'm not sure. Any one else got any views?
Hey Mrs.O...YOu stated something about a rash on lower legs while you were on Amlodipine. Did this "rash" burn at all??
Mike, no, the rash didn't "burn" as such. It was red and blotchy and just felt really uncomfortably tight and stiff all around the area from the swelling, especially when going down the stairs. GP eventually diagnosed it as varicose eczema, and the skin in the area faded to a light tan colour nd the swelling disappeared soon after stopping the Amlodipine.
Hi Pat, I quit taking Amlodipine 5 days ago. Today I'm dizzy, nauseous, faint, fearful, and detached. I have a headache right now. I've been taking it for years, but thought because it was a low dose (5mg) I could just stop without problems. I was wrong. I'm learning, for me at least, that all drugs have both side-effects AND withdrawal effects if one ever dares to stop taking them. My doctors seem at a loss to comprehend why anyone would have a problem taking these "wonderful" meds they dispense like candy....no, I take that back...they are MORE conscientious about candy!
Michael, with regard to stopping Amlodipine, I stopped it in one go after being on it for several months. I'm not sure whether after taking it for so many years in your case whether it would have been preferable to taper slowly. I did get poorly after stopping another BP pill (the beta blocker, Atenolol) after being on it for 3 years, and an excellent and trusted pharmacist told me later that I should not have just stopped it. She said I should have tapered off it over 3 weeks - a week for each year I had been on it. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you. I'll take that as sound advice, and maybe just take a little - over time - to soften the blow to my system.
Hi MrsO...A pharmacist told me a person should NEVER suddenly stop taking Atenolol. It's a beta blocker, & suddenly stopping can/could cause heart palpitations. A patient truly should WEAN themselves off.
As for the Amlodipine, my very trusted pharmacist told me that weaning off Amlodipine is not necessary.
I'm seeing my family doctor this afternoon, & this is very likely when I'll be taken off the Amlodipine. The toes, & leg burning has me at wit's end now, & is progressing. I'm fearful that I may have Ethrymalalgia, but I don't want to jump to conclusions. Perhaps the Amlodipine is the cause of the Ethrymalalgia, & maybe coming off the Amlodipine may arrest the EM. Please wish me luck!
By the way, when I saw the Nurse Practitioner last week, she said she consulted with the Dr.& he still believes the burning is caused by the Amlodipine because of my sensitivity to it a year ago.I reminded her that coming off would very likely raise the bp again, but she said the doctor told her he'd give me something else. Just what that might be is a mystery 'til I see him later today. I'm nervous, yes, but can't be anxious when I go to the office.
Mike, unbelievably it was a cardiologist that wrote in a letter to my GP that I could just switch straight from the beta blocker to an Ace Inhibitor in one go as the beta blocker was a low dose. That was some years ago, and I have since learned to just put my faith in a really good pharmacist as far as medications are concerned!
I certainly didn't wean off Amlodipine as I'd only been taking it for around 6 months, and I didn't have any withdrawal effects. Just the opposite - all the side effects resolved!
Now what has put the idea of Ethrymalalgia into your mind? It's more likely that you are experiencing a side effect of Amlodipine, especially if when you read the experiences of Amlodipine from some of our friends on this forum. If the symptoms arrived shortly after starting Amlodipine then perhaps the medication is adversely affecting your blood vessels. That is exactly what happened to me except that the continuous inflamed and swollen feet/ankles and lower legs led to varicose eczema. Each of us can be susceptible in different ways.
Fingers crossed that your appointment goes well today. Losartan Potassium seems to be the best for avoiding side effects but for me not successful enough in lowering my BP.
Michael, we're not medics on here and I think rather than just "take Amlodipine a little over time", it would be best for you to speak to your GP. If you read Mike's post above, he comments that his pharmacist has said it is not necessary to wean off Amlodipine. You only stopped it a few days ago so, having been on it for a number of years, your body is probably trying to adjust to life without it. If your blood pressure is high, you will need to replace the Amlodipine with another medication. So do check with your GP.
Hi again, MrsO. I saw the Dr. this afternoon, & we had quite a discussion.
He has suggested I stop taking the Amlodipine, then see how I feel..for about 2 weeks. IF my b/p goes up (because of stopping Amlodipine), then I'm to take the new meds he has prescribed. If my b/p is down & I still feel ok, then I don't do anything (not take the new meds), but of couse stay off Amlodipine. He also said we'd have to see how it goes all in all. I just MAY have to go back on the Amlodipine, but we'll see.
As for the Ethrymalalgia..the reason I mentioned that in my posting t his morning is because I have the classic symptoms..how/when the flares start, what I do to get relief, etc,,,HOWEVER I do NOT have the classic swelling or pain My skin doesn't always flush, but sometimes it does.. Yes, you're probably thinking I still may have the reaction to the Amlodipine, but the upcoming days ahead may be a good indication.
I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks in advance!!
Mike, it sounds as though your appointment went well. What are the new meds that he prescribed in case of need? Now very much a case of 'watch and wait'. Good luck!
Yes, MrsO..the appointment went very well. The new meds are 1Mg Apo-Doxazosin which is an Alpha Blocker to be taken 1x/day. They come in 1, 2 & 3 mgs..so in my mind, if the 1mg doesn't work well...perhaps we could go up to the 2mgs, then 3mgs if necessary. It's a waiting game for sure, but I haven't filled that prescription as yet, because I feel there's no point unless the bp does indeed go up. The doctor's instructions were to stop the Amlodipine (starting this morning, which I've already done)..let's see how it goes for about 2 weeks. If the bp doesn't go up & I feel ok, then do nothing...but if the bp does go up, then I start the new medication. Good plan, I'd say. Wha'ts your opinion.?? By the way, I've forgotten how to private message you if the need be.
P.S...the doctor said also, that if we don't have much luck with this plan, I just may have to go back on the Amlodipine, but I must think positively...one step at a time.
Mike, that's interesting - when the kidney consultant stopped the diuretic he'd added to the Losartan 3 weeks earlier due to it causing several erroneous blood test results, he hinted at Doxazosin as the next med to try. However, when I went back for my next appointment he didn't mention it and instead decided to leave me on just the Losartan until my next appointment, hoping that the GP gym referral would tackle my blood pressure instead.
The Stroke Association describe Doxazosin as being particularly useful for people with diabetes, heart failure and kidney damage. In caseyou find you have to start it and your GP hasn't mentioned it, the Stroke Association recommend that the first dose should be taken at bedtime, because of the risk that the drug can cause a rapid drop in blood pressure.
Fingers crossed, your blood pressure will remain normal off the Amlodipine.
To send private messages, you click on the name of the person you wish to message the same as if you were replying to their post, and you will see a little envelope appear in the empty reply box just under the the stars on the left hand side. Just click on that and you're away!
I'm sorry that this isn't really relevant to your question but I've been taking Labetalol since I delivered my child 3 months ago and I have felt these same symptoms particularly the spaced out and feeling like I'm not there. And it has been so hard for me to express how I'm feeling to anyone because no one really understands. My doctor told me I was ready to get off this medicine and I haven't taken it in a couple days but still feel a little weird..hopefully that stops and hopefully your side effects stop as well. It doesn't seem like these side effects would really affect a person the way they do but obviously they do. I hate it for the both of us but in a sense feel slightly relieved that I'm not the only one really tortured by those side effects. I wish you luck!!
katie88357...a couple of days really isn't long enough. You were taking those meds for a couple of months...so a few days won't really make much difference. Give it a little more time...say even a few weeks, then see how it goes. If you still don't feel as you should by then, perhaps you should consult your Dr.
Hi Mike.
I see that you were online answering this question here eight days ago. I'm glad to see that as this original question was over a year ago and I have a question for you. I'm wondering if you can share how you did after you stop the amlodipine? Did the side effects you were experiencing go away after time, and if so how much time? Also did your blood pressure go up, or were you able to remain at an even keel?
I started researching the Side effects of amlodipine (from users not just what's on the pamphlet you get from the pharmacy, which I always read) as I've been on it for four weeks and am starting to have some serious side effects. From my understanding that's typically about the time with side effects start to show up. Here is a list of what I'm experiencing:
Extreme fatigue
Muscle cramps
Sore skin that burns to the touch
Horrible hot flashes
Chills
Nervous anxiety (I do actually have anxiety)
Nausea and loss of appetite
Tight band feeling around head
Mild headache
The frustrating part about this is a lot of those symptoms come along with anxiety ...but I had my anxiety pretty much under control. Now I feel as if I'm starting to be out of control again with the symptoms and wondering if you think it's the amlodipine?
Any help you can give would be appreciated. I have stop taking the med for now as I'm waiting to hear back from my doctor. My pharmacist also told me it was safe to just stop taking it, but to check my blood pressure twice a day. Thanks you.
Hi BrandyinPA...My main complaint against the Amlodipine was the skin burning sensation in my legs..it was very much like the feeling of a sunburn. My toes would turn reddish, as would the bottoms of my feet, but the legs didn't change colour. After coming off the Amlodipine, the sensations continued. Long story short...there's something going on in my spine...I've got some narrowing of neural openings near the base of my spine..& it's bi-lateral. Although the MRI didn't actually say the nerves are pinched, the Neurologist said it likely is..but of course when dealing with the spine, one has to be very careful. So, I'm currently in the midst of Chiropractic treatment, which is helping a lot.
As for the Amlodipine thing...it really didn't help much in lowering my bp..but I've known others who have no problems with it. While you may think your symptoms could be linked to the anxiety, I would strongly suggest you get back to your Dr...& you should NEVER-EVER stop bp medications withour your Dr's supervision. You could experience rebound hypertension.