I am on 5 mg amlodipine a day at present for mild hypertension. My blood pressure is now quite low and I think I am being slightly over medicated on this dose. Is it acceptable to cut the dosage by taking 5 mg on alternate days so that the effective dose would become 2. 5 mg? Is this an acceptable way of reducing the dose?
Amlodipine 5 mg on alternate days?
Question posted by p4-man on 11 July 2019
Last updated on 24 July 2019
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Answers
Since posting this, I decided to try cutting the tablets in half as a way of reducing the dose. The tablets I am given (by the NHS in UK) have a deep line through the centre and they cut in half reasonably well. So I have been taking the half tablets now for a couple of weeks and my BP has hardly gone up at all. It is usually around 120 over 75. Incidentally, most of the undesirable side effects from Amlodipine have now greatly reduced, thank goodness (i.e. tiredness, massive loss of libido, leg aches with brisk walking, and general lack of get up and go!) .
P.S.
My doctor is happy for me to continue with the half tablet dose. But it seems strange that they don't make a 2.5 mg dose!
This is a great question and I'm also wondering because my doctor recently told me to cut my Amlodipine in half but they don't split well. I've thought about taking this approach.
I take 5 mg Amlodipine... I would ask the Dr first before changing your dose. Sometimes my blood pressure goes pretty low at night but higher in the morning, so you may want to be sure you bp is pretty stable all day before lowering a dose. Even at night mine has gone up for no apparent reason just 3 hours after taking my medicine and I take a morning lisinopril too.
Related topics
high blood pressure, amlodipine, hypertension, dosage
Further information
- Amlodipine uses and safety info
- Amlodipine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Amlodipine (detailed)
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