Been off Amlodipine for nearly two weeks, Lower leg cramps are diminishing, nearly stopped. Very clear in my head, creative ideas are flowing again. Tiredness has gone. Moods are swinging quite a bit, but mainly upwards. finding myself getting bored if I'm not busy. Haven't felt like this for a while (didn't realise how little I was actually feeling). Blood pressure has been steady but higher today. Was 120/30 over 75/85, today 135/40 over 80/90. Hoping it's a glitch (drank a couple of glasses of Coke). I'll keep posting if anyone is interested.
Paul,
I am glad you are feeling better. What medication are you taking now for your BP?
Angela
Well, that doesn't sound too high to me. I stopped last week for four days, one reading was 176/101. Someone warned me of a BP rush if I Stopped suddenly so started again. Will see about changing. Insomnia back though
Good luck Paul, the benefits of getting off Amlodipine are so obvious. I am taking just a small dose of this foul drug, reluctant to stop it in case my BP reading goes extra high as it did earlier this year. Anyway, I am concentrating on diet and exercise at the moment, I am sure my doctor would say that my BP readings are too high and he has expressed interest in prescribing me a tablet to take at the same time as Amlo. I despair that doctors keep stating that 120/80 is the reading we should all strive for, its just not going to happen for me, even on high doses of Amlo and Irbesartan.
Oh that's great that you have managed to come off amlodopine. Weird you only realise sometimes the effects of meds once you've come off them. I'm very tired on this tablet. Only take 5mg per day. Does it get better? X
Hi PaulB1950s....
I'd say your bp readings are very good. You didn't state your age, but even 135 or 140 over 80/90 is ok. In Canada, if a person is 65+, it's quite acceptable for bp readings to be 140/90. Certainly, I would not be at all concerned with a bp reading of 120/75 or 130/85 at all..but do keep an eye on the lower reading.
Good luck!!!
Hi Andlea, I've always been on 2.5 Rampiral since the liver transplant. This is all I take now. Doc seems fine with going along with me. Bp is stable, I take it morning and night most days. Staying at 130- to 85- most of the time unlkess I drink coffee or Coke. I have a good diet and walk around twenty miles a week. All seems well and definately like being off the 10mg Amlodipine. Paul.
I really suffered with insomnia and some horrendous nightmares. Someone has said the nightmares will wear off in around 3 months. I don't have problems sleeping now I'm off the Amlodipine although still take sleeping tabs for the nightmares, should be able to come off them soon I hope. Nightmares were so bad I'm scrared to cease the sleepers until I'm sure I won't have them again. I didn't have a blood pressure rush & been without for over two weeks now.
Hi Elaine, I was tired also and kind of weary, really had to push to do things, which I did, but rewards weren't there even when I'd done something. Conversations were difficult cause I lost interest & I had little going on in my head which was weird. Even when I suffered insomnia I had nothing in my head. I doubt this would have improved if I was still taking amlodipine. Feeling very creative and love doing things again. Over two weeks off now & feeling good.
Thanks Mike.
I am very careful of my diet, lots of veg & chicken with red meat as a treat sometimes. Low fat diet mainly although not specifically low fat products. I stay clear of coffee and cafiene products and walk 20 miles or so weekly, it's very hilly round hear so 4 - 6 miles is ok. Some venings I just walk a couple of miles but this seems to clear my head. still got a bit of Amlodipine fog but it's clearing. Take care. Paul.
suezan36...Yes, there are other bp meds out there besides Amlodipine.
Irbesartan is in the class of ARB, whereas Amlodipine is a Calcium Channel Blocker. I have 2 relatives taking Amlodipine without any problems at all. At 10mgs, I had ankle & leg swelling. Went off a few months, back on it at 5mgs...then developed burning & flushing in feet & legs. Came of it back in February..still have mild burning, etc...but I honestly think I have some sort of neuropathy...but can't see a Neurologist 'til March 2016! That's right..9 monhs down the line. I was given Doxazosin when coming off the Amlodipine, so I now take that along with the other meds. It has controlled my bp. If you can persuade your Dr. to take you off the Amlodipine; do so...A friend takes Valsartan (again, an ARB), & has beautiful bp control. There are also A.C.E.'s..etc. You shouldn't be jailed into just 1 medicine when there are plenty out there. Stick up for your rights!!!
Thanks Mike, hope you are finding improvement in the legs and ankles, and waiting for 9 mths to see the Neurologist is pretty bad! yes I will talk to my doctor soon, I think the Irbesartan is fine, I just dont want the side effects I get with the Amlo, especially troubled with ankle swelling and stiffness at present and bad dreams every night or just sleeplessness. I am here in Australia, not sure where you are? Some drugs have different names in different areas, I will follow up the names that you have mentioned. Best wishes
Can I ask what dose you were taking? X
I was taking 2.5mg Rampiral & 10mg Amlodipine for two years. Ceasing the Amlodipine has made no difference to my BP but such a difference to my overall well being.
suezan36..thanks for your reply. Definitely, 9 months to see a Specialist is totally ridiculous. I'd hate to think what could go wrong during that time. I will be seeing a Cardiologist on Wednesday for an investigation into another problem, & will explain certain things to him as well. One never knows...sometimes a Specialist carries more clout than a GP & if necessary could contact the other Specialist to encourage a much earlier appointment.
PaulB1950s...I'm finding that Amlodipine either works to lower the bp, or another medication is needed to help it. I have a relative who has good success with Amlodipine, a few friends who do, but for me it was useless,
resulting in a medication that wasn't helping.
Paul that is astonishing that stopping your 10mg dose of Amlodipine has made no difference to your BP, is it really so ineffective? I am taking only 2.5mg, I just resist taking the full 10mg my doctor wants to put me on. Side effects are still unmanageble for me even on the low dose, you have inspired me to talk to my dr about stopping amlo altogether. Good luck and best wishes
suezan36..Remember, there are other medications out there apart from Amlodipine. Amlodipine isn't the be all, & end all of bp medications. Amlodipine is a Calcium Channel Blocker. You could ask your Dr. for something in the ARB class, i.e. Irbesartan., or you might enquire about an A.C.E.., i.e. Coversyl. With an A.C.E., there's always the risk of a hard dry hacking cough..but I never experienced that. Go for it.
Hi there, thanks for your interest, Please remember that I am still on Rampiral 2.5mg, which is probably being effective enough. To put this in context a bit. After being "laid up" for around nine months and then in hospital for months before the liver transplant, I was really very unfit.
I have worked really well at keeping my diet ok and also walking around twenty miles or more per week for the past two years since the transplant. I am not surprised that I don't need the amlodipine any more as my fitness & well being has increased immensley. I'm not in any way saying that anyone would have the same response to stopping Amlodipine.
I've got to say though, that I was pretty unaware of how crappy I felt on this drug untill having stopped it. (I was mainly concerned with my ghastly nightmares). It's been nearly three weeks or more now I'm keeping a track of my BP morning & night to report to my Gp and also That cramps have stopped, I'm less tired, My mind is creative again & my general mood has lifted and is stablising nicely. Hopefully the nightmares will stop and I'll be able to get oiff the sleeping tablets prescribed to combat these. The nightmares were definately linked to Amlodipine as was the insomnia and fear of sleeping.
As Mike has said there seems to be problems with a hacking cough on other meds but I seem ok on 2.5mg Rampiral. Good luck with everything & remember that Gps will respond to written information that can be put in notes. Mine was very grateful as it takes responsibility away from him & these decisions become my responsibility. (I think that's fair). I also know this was the reason he went along with me.