I began taking 10mg amlodipine two weeks ago after an on-again-off-again relationship with another medication that made me throw up every day I took it. They started me on 5mg amlodipine a month ago, but there was a large spike in my blood pressure. Since starting 10mg amlodipine , my ears are hot to the touch, red, and painful. The whites of my eyes are splotchy, bloodshot, and painful. My blood pressure is also higher than it ever was BEFORE taking anything for blood pressure. My usual since middle school / high school has been 130/80ish, and I'm nearing 40 years old now. Until I started taking amlodipine , I never got much above that even under duress. Now I'm in the 160/120 or worse... but only since starting amlodipine. Thoughts?
Can amlodipine raise blood pressure?
Question posted by ThatTeacherGuy on 29 March 2018
Last updated on 15 January 2025 by MattCrowe
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15 Answers
Yes. Hard YES. Amlodipine can raise blood pressure. I was taking Chlorthalidone, 25 mg, 1X daily and Losartan 50mg, 2X daily. Blood pressure was well controlled, usually under 120/80. I was taken off of Chlorthalidone because it is suspected to be elevating my blood sugar. Chlorthalidone was replaced with Amlodipine and my blood pressure rocket shipped from under 120 / 80 to over 170 / 95. Back on Chlorthalidone. Amlodipine is dangerous. I am sure it works for most people, but for me it is a death sentence.
I was on 5mg amlodipine and 12.5mg metoprolol ( tablet cut in half ). The doctor increased the amlodipine to 10mg. I noticed the following :
- Increase in blood pressure
- Insomnia
- I have essential tremor, mostly in my left hand - shaking became very bad in my left hand and
started in my right
I stopped taking both amlodipine and metoprolol and started 10mg lisinopril with the following effects :
- Blood pressure normal
- Sleeping pattern restored
- Essential tremor improved, right hand is fine now
Lisinopril is not without its side effects but at least it does what it's supposed to do i.e. Reduce your blood pressure. Amlodipine appears to have negatively affected my nervous system resulting in an increase in BP and worsening essential tremor.
I will not be taking Amlodipine again.
130/80? And why in the world are you even on high blood pressure medication???
But yes, I get VERY hot on amlodipine. If I try to walk or clean the house, it’s like I’ve stuck my face in hot coals. I feel like it’s not helping me at all. My face has been hot all day today. Right now it’s kind of tapering off. Still hot to the touch though. It makes my blood pressure rise it seems to over 30 points; especially the top number. My typical without pills, is 140-150/80 maybe… and on pills, it’s 180!
I am finding significant spikes as well. It worked at the start(about one year ago) but no,even when taking half of the 5mg.BP remains elevated. After taking a full 5mg last night my reading this morning is 192/105.I have none of the other listed side effects...
I’m taking nitroglycerin, a beta blocker and Lipitor. I have an internal infection caused by a doctor using a dirty tool infecting my for moral artery. Bacteria spread to my body like wildfire internally not visually. dirty blood started enveloping my body and it took four years to get to my face in the end it causes bacterial meningitis of the brain and then you die. The doctor covered it up even the ceiling when he penetrated the artery where the blood shot up. Even closed up shop. So it’s been differentTo be prescribed meds that work because even with a blood test MRSA doctors like to deny it because one of their own may be sued. So it reached the heart and surrounding the lungs and I’m a walking balloon full of water. The blood pressure 120 over is now 190 over with Norco prescribed by a doctor who thinks it’s okay. this is Long with Donovan. I suggest if you’re going to take it you take it first if it goes up don’t take it.
Take the Diovan first which is a calcium channel blocker both are. The Norca or amloidipine widens the arteries. The doc above is tpright. It’s like a storm trooper and some of our conditions do not take this well. I told my Doctor and he thought it was all in my head. So right after I take it I do a screenshot of the blood pressure machine which is a higher quality than his and two others 199/170 over/65. The lower number is not OK. The higher number could cause a heart attackWhich is supposed to prevent. Check the dial then if you take it see if it goes up. That means beta blockers are better or calcium channel blockers are not safe for the individual. Speak to your doctor may be a lesser amount. Some underlying conditions cannot cope with. Amloidipine. Still number One Have your doctor takes tests relating to your issue. He’ll get it right. More tests are necessary sometimes.
Hi , I`m an internist doctor ,
Amlodipine is manufactured to lower your blood oressure by dilating your blood vessels OK
but in some people if there is more than accepted blood vessel dilatation by amlodipine , your sympathetic nerve is excited through pressure receptors in your carotid arteries called baroreceptors to send electric impulses to your dilated artery to stop dilatation and even to constrict leading to reverse amlodipine effect.
This of course is in small percentage of the treated patients whose their sympathetic drive is overactive , and this may be the only explanation to the reverse response happened in your blood pressure.
I was prescribed 2.5mg of Amlodipine and within 3 hours my BP went from 145/80 to 199/121!! I was also taking losartan. I reached out to my doctor and she said that was impossible and instructed me to double the dose immediately! Now I don’t know about anyone here but there’s no way I will double down on a drug that spiked my BP to 199/121. Instead I took my evening dose (5 hours early) of 50mg of Losartan and It took another 5 hours for my BP to come down to 145/82. To the person who found the study that discussed an increase in BP as a result of taking Amlodipine (within this thread), it would be great if you can post that link somewhere. Doctors need to do a better job listening to their patients instead of thinking we’re making this stuff up! I lost my grandmother and great grandmother of a stroke at the same age I am now. I can’t imagine the outcome had I blindly followed her advice. Be your own advocate!
I share your experience. Amlodipine can definitely be poison. Doctor gave me a prescription of this drug and my blood pressure rose 40 points after the first pill and the feeling was awful. My doctor didn't believe me. Checking similar cases by Google I found only one study telling about this problem with amlodipine, so I couldn't do anything but throw those pills away.
Can you please post this study?
This site might save my life. I, too, started taking Amlodipine just 1 week ago. Since then, my blood pressure has been higher than it has ever been, and the day after I started on it, spiked to 163/84. I feel weak, dizzy, jittery, and my heart pounds. These are symptoms I've never had before. My GP of 12 years said my BP was normal. I'd been assigned to a cardiology PA with 2 years experience, never saw a cardiologist, and she's been calling all the shots--while my health declines. I'm going off Amlodipine immediately and plan to find a certified cardiologist for some actual "care."
I have used amlodipine in the past but it never raised my BP.
Anyway your BP is not really high enough to be on meds. You should try to lower it with diet and lifestyle changes and some supplements to keep your BP in check. Try garlic supplements or Hawthorne berry.
I have never taken blood pressure medicine before now. I am 41 years old and I just started taking a daily dose of 2.5mg of amlodipine besylate (this is actually the second dose). Before taking amlodipine besylate my blood pressure was 137/84 with heartrate at 53bpm. I took the drug and waited 30 minutes and rechecked my blood pressure. I was shocked to see that it increased to 168/97 with heartrate at 58bpm. I did some breathing exercises and rechecked in 30 minutes and I could not get it lower than 129/86. Usually, when I do the breathing exercises I can get my blood pressure down to 115/75. I don't think I will be using this drug anymore.
Care to share your breathing tips? Maybe we could help benefit from them.
Wow Dr put me on this medication a month ago 5 mgs went for bp check 2 weeks later bp 172/93. She said take 10 mg check today 186/114. Wanted me to pay her 100 dollars for an office visit to change my medicine. Think I will just go back to my lisinopril
I went online to research the same situation and thanks teacher. I started amlodipine in addition to bisoprolol, which I have been on for some time, four weeks ago. Almost immediately my BP went from 125-130 to 145-150. I stuck with it for three weeks and took myself off. Four days later I am back down to 125. I restarted taking Ameal Peptide 3.5mg which has had a good stabilizing affect on my BP. I should have not stopped taking it. I am waiting to talk to my doctor. I hope this helps
I just joined here and I guess my first message became lost.
My doctor prescribed amlodipine for poor peripheral blood circulation because I suffer from a drug damage in my feet. I got from another doctor 7 years ago Quinolone antibiotics for sinusitis and it damaged my lower arm nerves and blood circulation. Being such a history I am cautious of taking any new medicines. I took only a half pill, 2 mg, and my blood pressure raised from my normal 75-80/125-130 to 100-110/150-170, keeping this level several hours. I contacted my doctor, but he told me that it is not possible, this drug decreases BP and I could continue taking it. I can't do it, because I felt myself really sick after taking it, like dying and I made a call to local hospital. They said that if the diastolic BP comes over 110 for a longer period you have to call help.
I think that amlodipine could kill me if I follow my doctor's advice, so I don't take it, because I don't need it to high BP, but on the other hand I have got no help to my feet problems. I live in Finland and English is not my native language.
I too experienced a noticeable spike in my bp after adding Amlodipine 5mg to Losartan 100mg. While taking Losartan alone, my bp would hang between 115/75-140/85. I guess this wasn't accept to my doctor, who then added the 5mg of Amlodipine. After only 1 week, my bp is hanging around 160/86. I was also almost unable to stay awake during the day. I stopped taking it today and went back to just the Losartan. IMMEDIATELY, my bp was back down to about 125/80. I like that bp and will never take Amlodipine again. I hope you will at least talk to your doctor about discontinuing Amlodipine. Your side effects are off the chart. I'll say a pray for you, ThatTeacherGuy.
Hi ThatTeacherGuy. This medication is taken to help lower your blood pressure. Am I right? Wow the side effects are crazy eh? Other medications; even some vitamins; can have an interaction with Amlodipine. Does your doctor know everything you’re taking? Are you in any pain? I know from experience that pain can make your blood pressure go up. I know I probably didn’t help you any; but I hope you find out what’s going on. Take care and best wishes.
Cindy59
Related topics
high blood pressure, amlodipine, hypertension, medication, blood pressure, blood, pressure
Further information
- Amlodipine uses and safety info
- Amlodipine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Amlodipine (detailed)
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