Hello all
I have been following your posts with great interest and would like to share my story, in case it is of help.
Following a severe migraine attack in October 2013 I was found to have high bp and was immediately put on amlodipine 5mg.
Up to Christmas 2013, I didn't feel too bad, but in January 2014 I started to feel very ill: chest pains, high heart rate, dull pains on my right side radiating to my back, extreme tiredness, severe anxiety and depression.
- April 2014 - ultrasound scan of the abdomen - results normal.
- All routine blood tests - LFT, KFT, etc - normal.
- April 2014 (perescribed sertraline, but never taken)
Then, last month I was admitted as an emergency to hospital following an upper GI bleed.
Emergency gastroscopy revealed several gastric ulcers and severe duodentitis. Biposy of the stomach further revealed h.pylori infection.
Hospital stopped amlodipine immediately and my BP at hospital was monitored at 133/76 without tablets. I was in hospital for 3 days.
Since leaving hospital I have since been treated with triple action therapy for h.pylori (clarithromycin, matranidazole and PPI) to kill the bacteria. Repeat BP test at GP also had a good reading and he has now permanetly stopped the medicatron.
Following the above treatment, my resting heart rate has settled at between 60 and 72 (much lower than it was before)., I have since that h. pylori can cause raised heart rate (as well as migraines and anxiety!).
I am due for a cardiology appt. next week (booked back in March) and repeat gastroscopy in about three weeks.
I am telling my story in case anyone reading has similar symptoms. At no stage has it been suggested that amlodipine was the cause of the problem, but I am pretty sure it didn't help (and it may ultimately have been unnecessary and have exacerbated some underlying health problems). I have never felt as ill as I did over the last few months and attempts to request discontinuation of amlodipine did not work.
I believe that GPs should conduct more rigorous tests first to see if amlodipine is safe.
If you have these symptoms please don't leave it until you have a severe bleed like I did and lost a lot of blood. I would not like anyone to have to go throiugh this. Insist on an h. pylori test if you think you could be suffering from these symptoms.
Now I am starting to rebuild my life after a horrendous few months - I am still off work, but am able to think normally and to interact with others again, something I had been unable to do for some time.
I believe amlodipine is a shockingly bad drug for many people and I have reported the side effects via the yellow card system, and asked for a copy to be sent to the GP.
Thanks for listening - sorry for the rant!!!!#