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Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure User Reviews (Page 5)

Brand names: Norvasc, Katerzia, Norliqva

Amlodipine has an average rating of 3.7 out of 10 from a total of 638 reviews for the treatment of High Blood Pressure. 20% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 61% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Amlodipine

  • Nille
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 24, 2016

Norvasc (amlodipine) "The medicine works rapidly and the 5mg daily dosage is still effective for me after several years of treatment. There's only been a few occasions that I've experienced any side effects after the first few initial doses of medicine. The one I experienced most was sleepiness. Otherwise, I take one pill every evening at bedtime and I'm fine until the next dose."

8 / 10
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116 Report
  • Mcna
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 22, 2015

Norvasc (amlodipine) "Norvasc caused extreme leg and ankle edema and did not improve hypertension much. After 6 weeks of use, I was put on lisinopril, and within 2 days had no more leg swelling and blood pressure lowered greatly. So far so good on new medication."

2 / 10
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  • Jaymeds
  • November 2, 2014

"I have been taking the 2.5mg dosage of amlodipine for 4 months. The first month, I experienced no side effects, and pressure went from 140/80 to 124/70. By month 2, my vision became a little blurry, and my osteoarthritis worsened in my back and fingers. I am still trying to work through this with exercise and massage. My doctor thinks I should stay with it a little longer. I actually felt better with the high blood pressure!"

7 / 10
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138 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Jitte...
  • July 4, 2014

"My wise and cautious doctor tried 4 different blood pressure medicines in the past 2 years. Finally, amlodipine worked; it brings my blood pressure down quickly. I decided to write this review because I read others that said their BP went down but did not stay down. My doc fixed that by giving me 2 doses a day. I take one at bedtime and one after breakfast. It's working great."

9 / 10
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141 Report
  • Allie
  • March 14, 2016

Norvasc (amlodipine) "I recently went up to 10mg once a day of Norvasc. Still does NOT help BP. I have other medical conditions, so I am not sure what side effects are from what conditions and other meds. What I do know is, now I have crazy swelling in my hands, legs, and feet. It got so bad in my feet that I could barely walk anymore. Even though it's not listed as a side effect, it feels like my whole body is swollen. I am done with Norvasc forever."

1 / 10
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Are you taking this medicine?

  • Anonymous
  • March 1, 2012

Norvasc (amlodipine) "Norvasc worked fantastic for about a year then I started experiencing muscle twitching and cramps that got worse and worse. I have been trying to switch to another medicine and haven't had much luck. I pray I can find a medicine as good as Norvasc. I can tell you that numerous blood tests have been run and while this medicine MAY cause cramps, my blood sugar, cholesterol, liver panel, metabolic panel, CBC, creatinine, etc. are all perfect! I have a lot of faith in the fact that this medicine will not harm you other than possibly muscle cramps or fluid retention. I experienced no fluid retention BUT I exercise."

7 / 10
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  • Legs
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 30, 2020

"After reading a lot of these side effects for Amlodipine I have serious concerns . I have foot issues and joint and neck pain, sweating and flushing. Recently felt very upset and anxious, feel I have brain fog and recently feel angry often. I started on these about a year ago 5mg which then went to 10mg , I have asked to try something else. But worry that another medication will also have side effects. For my anxiety I am offered another tablet. For my pain I’m offered another tablet it goes on and on. It concerns me how doctors keep giving me more and more medication"

2 / 10
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60 Report

More FAQ

  • Mailb...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 8, 2019

"I was diagnosed pre-hypertensive with some spikes so we put me on 5mg amlodipine . For the first 6 months it was great. Then the anxiety started to pick up after year 1. Then by about 18 months in, I was REALLY anxious. Couldn't sleep, couldn't concentrate. I noticed muscle tics all the time, heart palpitations, more joint pains, memory loss and more. Dr. Google helped feed this obsession and I had myself convinced I had contracted some fatal condition (ALS, MS, etc...). After every specialist I could find, we decided it was anxiety. Then one day I read someone's account of anxiety and amlodipine. I asked my cardiologist and we decided to try a switch. Today I am back to my old self. Even better because I added those other coping habits in. I write this not because amlodipine is bad. BUT, if you're like me and a few years in and dealing with anxiety, switch it out. Don't wait as long as I did. It's not a hard drug to move off of and onto something else."

5 / 10
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  • PTBad...
  • December 26, 2014

Norvasc (amlodipine) "I've only been on Norvasc for a week, and so far, the only side effect is difficulty falling asleep and waking up periodically through the night. I know it's the Norvasc since I work a very early shift and am generally exhausted by the time it's ready for bed. If it continues, I'll look into switching medications. However, the first blood pressure medication I was on has a worse side effect: uncontrollable coughing. I had to stop taking it after about a month."

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  • lyn
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • July 22, 2023

"I had been taking amlodipine for about 3 years but had been taking calcium channel blockers for about 10 years. I started having serious acid issues and gastric regurgitation. I researched calcium channel blockers and found evidence that they can affect the lower esophageal sphincter from working properly, particularly in the over 65 age group. I gradually tapered off this drug in discussion with my GP as my blood pressure had improved after losing weight and exercising. I am convinced that these calcium channel blockers had been gradually affecting reflux issues and the problem has almost gone away now that I have been off them for several weeks. I would just urge people to consider the possible gastric effects of calcium channel blockers. I will never take them again unless it is a matter of life and death. My voice was going hoarse and now it is back to normal. The acid reflux was seriously affecting my throat and ability to swallow food. It does lower blood pressure, but it has too many side effects."

5 / 10
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  • Lilgr...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 23, 2016

Norvasc (amlodipine) "-Not a very good one. Complained to Drs . About dry mouth,diarrhea, and numbness in toes. Tingling at tip of fingers. They dismissed it as nothing. The numbness has progressed to my foot,legs,hands,arms. Have trouble walking without a cane because I loose my balance and have fallen many times."

1 / 10
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110 Report
  • Dave
  • December 4, 2019

"Doctor put me on 5mg amlodipine one time daily I was on it for 10 days and about the forth day I was noticing no energy fatigue extremely light headed and like everything around you was moving I stopped it over 10 days ago and still are having major side effects this drug is poison stay away"

1 / 10
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71 Report
  • Aloul...
  • February 16, 2014

"Have been on Amlodipine for about 2 years. At first it worked wonderful. Now experiencing rapid heart beat, headache, tingling in upper body, some weakness. Also, elevated pressure at times. Will have to try something else. Tried many before this one."

8 / 10
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132 Report
  • pamb
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 10, 2012

"I have used this medicine for 3 months. I started with 5mg. It did nothing for me. Doctor put me on 10mg and I am having side effects. I can't concentrate, severe backache, depressed all the time. They say it is not the medicine doing this to me but 2-3 hours after taking this, my back is hurting very bad. I also have swelling in my feet and ankles. I don't want to keep trying different medicine for high blood pressure."

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  • Mr To...
  • August 26, 2015

"I am a 24-year-old male with high blood pressure. I started Amlodipine back in October 2014, and it did an excellent job of lowering my pressure. I was perfectly fine taking 5 mg each day for the first several months. Then around June 2015, I started getting pains in my upper left and right chests, headaches began to hit me, and I began to develop an anxiety problem. I am typing this review three days after I have now stopped taking Amlodipine. The past few weeks have been worse than a nightmare for me - my anxiety has reached severe levels, the pains in my upper chest, shoulders, and forearms were becoming unbearable, I've been continuously nauseous for nearly two weeks now, had high-pitched ringing in my ears, and was completely depersonalized."

1 / 10
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  • Sly
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 9, 2019

"I am 33 yrs old and I have been taking this medication for 4 mths now it works great! I also have been exercising 2x a week doing this period. My bp went from 180/110 to 120/80. I have not experienced any negative side effects."

8 / 10
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70 Report
  • Steve...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 12, 2017

"I've had high bp, in the 140-160/90-100 range for a number of years, stubbornly refusing to take medication, as I eat a healthy, low-salt diet, and exercise regularly. However, the high numbers persisted, and my current doctor told me I need to take something. She gave me this, at 10mg a day, and I reluctantly tried it. Well, to my amazement, my numbers were down to the 120/80 range almost immediately, with zero side effects! And that I get it free at the local Public, only makes it better. I also found that my chronic shortness of breath vanished, except occasionally, and I felt "normal" again! Like I had been living at far less than at optimal level, and now I was back...."

10 / 10
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  • Watts
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 15, 2019

"53 year old female taking 5mg amlodipine at bed time. Experienced many side effects which were increasing and getting worse. Tiredness, Lethargy, Weakness Edema, bad swelling of right leg Muscle aches especially back and calf. Legs felt squished like in a vice. Joint pain especially Hips had to use heat packs at night. Left heel pain hard to walk. Upset stomach, constipation, and gas. Heartburn after taking drug. Blurred vision, itchy eyes Itchy skin Headache Bruised easily Insomnia Drug made me feel terrible so I quit using it and going to see my GP Monday. Been off it only 48 hours almost all symptoms gone but still very achy. It was like poison to my body and would not recommend this drug."

1 / 10
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  • mudda
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 25, 2021

"I have been on 2.5mg of this tablet for 4 months only of a night and take perindoperil in the morning, last week the amlodopine has been upped to 5mg. It has not helped bp at all and so many side effects from this tablet and perindoperil, I get ringing in ears, anxiety which doctors just want to keep prescribing more meds for instead of changing bp meds, dizziness, light headed, muscle weakness. I've been on bp meds for a year and now feeling like my life is ruined, these drugs have taken over my life. I can see that I am not the only one, so will be going to doctors on Saturday asking for a complete change once again, still trying to find one that works, so frustrating."

1 / 10
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50 Report
  • KMG
  • December 9, 2018

"I had been taking 10 mg of Amlodopine for close to 3 years. I had a lot of familial issues going on so the side effects I was initially experiencing I chalked them up to my body being overly stressed. Fast forward to October 2018 after several ER visits for chest pain and left arm weakness I realized it was the medicine. I have been having horrible nightmares for the past 3 years as well where I am woken up out of my sleep and usually my teen comes running in my room to check on me because I wake them up as well. I have experienced severe anxiety which I never had anxiety issues before, heart palpitations (that had me thinking maybe I had A-Fib), leg swelling and left leg weakness/discomfort especially when I try to lay on my left side at night. I stopped taking Amlodopine the end of October and switched back to Hctz. Some side effects have lessened and I'm hoping they eventually completely go away. This drug was HORRIBLE for me!!!!"

1 / 10
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78 Report
  • mms
  • December 9, 2019

"I was only on Amlodipine (lowest dose)for a couple of weeks and began fighting severe constipation. Stool softeners, enemas could not keep me from finally getting a blocked bowel after a week without any of the above helping. I also had swelling in my ankles and feet and legs and stomach from water retention, something I had controlled with a low salt diet, but could not control it on this medicine. Also, started having foot and leg cramps after 3 weeks on it. At the 6 weeks date, I had such terrible foot and leg cramps, I was yelling with pain for probably 20 minutes and my feet were curled to one side so I could not stand to walk it out. I am off it and all the above symptoms are gone. I will never take it again for any reason. I have never been more miserable than on this medication."

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67 Report
  • Saddi...
  • December 6, 2015

Norvasc (amlodipine) "I have BP problems. Having hard time finding a med to control it. Was given a beta blocker that caused a heart attack put me in hospital. Put me on Norvacs 5mg twice a day. Was on 1 and 1/2 weeks I had severe headaches. Tremors,blurred vision, stomach pains, burning in my legs, had red burning spots form on my lower abdomen then blisters. Off med and will never take Norvasc again. Now on Losartin and Clondine,doing fair with BP. & no side effects."

1 / 10
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  • Sky
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 11, 2013

Norvasc (amlodipine) "I am 27 years old and I had blood pressure of 150/100, around the high range for a few days at the very least but within 2 hours of taking Norvasc 5g my BP dropped to around 128/86. I have just taken this once in my life."

9 / 10
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  • p4-man
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 30, 2019

"I started taking this drug amlodipine at 5mg for moderate hypertension. (72 year old male). It has certainly brought my BP down and now it is consistently in the 120/75 range. However there are side effects. It massively reduced my libido and made me feel tired. My tendency to have ectopic heart beats (palpitations) has dramatically and disturbingly increased. I have some leg muscle pain and very rapid tiredness in the legs on brisk walking and climbing. For the last month I have been taking a half dose (2.5 mg by cutting pill in half) and the side effects are considerably reduced (but not absent). My blood pressure remains in the same low range. I have also experimented taking a quarter dose of 1.25 mg but noticed my BP creeping up again. On the high dose (5mg) it significantly reduced my migraine headache problem but much less so on 2.5 mg."

6 / 10
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67 Report
  • Annie...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 2, 2019

"I have only been on this at 5mg for a week and the side effects are terrible. You feel like your walking around with sun burn your face is so hot, also my whole body was really hot. For the last 3 nights suffered greatly with leg cramps and lower back pain day and night. I have also been up through the night with a feeling of uneasy breathing and food coming back up in my throat, and heart burn resulting in having to take extra nexium which is an unprescribed extra dose and feeling really very unwell. This medication may work for some people but it most definitely is not for me. I decided to stop taking it as from today to get my life back."

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66 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.