I was on amlodipine 5 mg and lisinopril 10 mg and then my heart doctor doubled both of these meds. After about 5 days my legs started to ache and pain until I could hardly walk. I stopped the amlodipine for three days and the leg pain stopped. I went back on it at the 5 mg and now I have only mild pain on and off. I don't know if this is the med for me or not but my blood pressure goes up some when I don't take it. What should I do. I told the doc I went back to 5 mg and he said that it was okay but he didn't say I should try something else. So confused. Take medicine for one thing and it causes something else. What to do--what to do?
Does amlopine cause anyones legs to ache something terrible?
Question posted by twinsgranny on 6 Jan 2014
Last updated on 29 April 2023 by mommaharry
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
13 Answers
mommaharry
28 April 2023
I have never had a problem with my legs ever. Over the past two years, I have noticed ankle pain, hip pain, and thigh pain. For some unknown reason, I did not make the connection with amlodipine until joining this forum. I've been taking amlodipine 5 for three years. It messes with my mood and makes me feel like s*** and my heart can beat so fast, I feel I'm going to pass out. The leg pain was gradual so I put it down to me getting older. I am 64.
I was prescribed amlodipine after going through a stressful time, I take no other medication. I really want to stop taking this drug as I don't want my legs to get worse.
ilovecraig
11 Jan 2023
YES i have taken this for a little over a month and my legs feel so weak and hurt its so weird
lesliemangus-attnet
12 Nov 2022
I have the same problem. I take amlodipine, terazosin, and montelukast. I too have leg pains, sometimes severe, but I can always walk.
jjustjudy
25 Oct 2022
I was on amlodipine 5 mg twice a day for 2 years and had problems with my legs the entire time. It worked on lowering my blood pressure but my legs were so weak that walking for more than a city block was impossible. I finally looked up the side effects and read that it could cause leg fatigue. I told my doctor that I had to be put on a different med and the problems with my legs stopped but now I have to build my strength in my legs because I now have weak legs.
raetowest
29 April 2022
Like (I think) all the others here, I was given amlodipine 5mg. About 30 days ago. I have an armcuff blood pressure meter (includes pulse). It worked very effectively, bringing down my BP to what seemed low levels, which however appear to be what to aim for.
.
But I developed pains after about 3 weeks, only in my right leg. I thought this might be diagnostically significant. It's intermittent, which in some ways is a nuisance, as it looks as though I may be malingering. I get occasional stabbing pains (though not that sharp, so to speak - it's difficult to describe these things!). I'm pleased it's not just me, to be honest; the lists of 'side effects' barely mention it.
.
But what next?
Kaahuff
13 March 2021
I was put on amlodipine beslyate 2.5 about a month or so ago and have noticed aches in my arm, shoulder, back and legs. The doc keeps telling me this isn’t something he usually hears of, but when I google it, it does come up in the rare side effects. I was diagnosed with Raynaud's Syndrome and this medication is supposed to helped with swelling. It also makes me dizzy if I get up too fast, but I just don’t get up too fast anymore. The aches have become persistent now the last 2 weeks, especially on my right side, and it’s so frustrating. Doc said we could switch to a sister medication, so I’m thinking of trying that. Anytime I google these symptoms it tells me I have a blood clot or heart attack, and I know that’s not it. So frustrating!
Vocrinthedes
6 Sep 2020
Thank you for posting this! Off and on for the past few years, for some reason, I've been having "night leg cramps" (not "restless legs" - it's described in another site as often just continuous aching of unknown cause, most troublesome at night). This is despite my always taking plenty of D, calcium, and magnesium. It usually hurts the worst in my calves, but can spread to my entire legs. I've just searched for some connection in my med spreadsheets (OCD habit, but it helps me keep track and single out culprits... like this!), and YES, it seems that whenever I've had amlodipine 5mg two or more days in a row, I have invariably had aching calves!!! I usually use benazepril for BP with no side effects, and take amlodipine only for occasional spikes in BP (too much salty food, too much wine, or upsetting times). It DOES work to bring BP way down.
But then NOTHING stops the aching--not pain killers, not a hot bath, not deep massage, nor extensive stretching!! Now that I've read your post, I'm going to only take extra benazepril (I okayed it with my Dr.), watching my diet and exercise more, and avoid amlodipine. The pain ruins my sleep. I've taken amlodipine for three days in a row now and my legs are hurting badly for no reason (other than that) as I type this.
carolbrothe
14 May 2020
I was started on amlodipine in March. It’s mid May now, and I am in terrible pain all over my body. It moves around and my legs are usually the worst.
Like another post states, I definitely have the sensation that my knees are swollen, even though they are not. It’s hard to get up from a squat. I get cramps along the shin that keep me from falling asleep at night.
Additionally, my elbows are weak and painful. My shoulders, wrists, hips and ankles hurt at random times.
I’d love to hear more of other people’s experiences.
keli449
25 April 2020
I was started on this in February and I too could not crouch down all the way nor get up!
Ny legs were so swollen especially behind my knees like a bad tight sunburn. I stopped this march 13 and though the symptoms have lessened it's still hard to squat down as well as get up.
Dianemp
27 Sep 2018
I started taking Norvasc 2.5 mg June 1. After that I noticed I had trouble getting up from a squat position. July my left leg got swollen and Naprosyn worked. Last week I would wake in the morning with sore calves. Then my right leg got swollen. Asked Dr to stop Norvasc and use another. 36 hours after I last took Norvasc my leg is getting better. Interested to see if I can squat again and get up,unassisted.
GMaddalu1
30 Sep 2017
Yes I started 5 mg one week ago and both of my legs became heavy and painful not swollen. They feel very heavy especially thighs and find difficult to continue my exercise classes which I used to enjoy
MareL
2 Feb 2014
My mum was on amlopine for years. She complained to the drs about the following symptoms for years. She was experiencing bad pain in her ankle joints, constant headache. She said her legs felt like wood, were very painful when she placed them on the floor. They became very swollen, the skin became itchy and burned. Her stomach also swelled up. Occasionally her left arm swelled. She felt fatigued all the time, and kept falling asleep in the afternoon (Has even fell asleep on the loo)! And she kept reporting this sensation of a wave of shiver, that from time to time ran through her body; starting from the feet upwards ( she did not actually shake)
! She had pain in other joints which seemed to have got better since she came off the drug. Since then, we have heard of other people having similar problems with the drug. My mothers friend came and said she had been given a drug by the dr and since she had been taking it her feet felt like wood. Mum asked her what the drug was called, and yes, it was amlodipine.
However, my mother went back to the drs to have her BP checked and unfortunately the increase in other medication has not lowered her BP. The dr gave her another tablet and she is experiencing head aches and has trouble keeping awake in the day. If your symptoms get worse, maybe it would be a good idea discussing other options with you dr.
Lagrossa
2 Feb 2014
I have been taking amlodipine 5mg for more than 6 months my legs ache and my knees feel swollen although they do not look swollen Until I read this posting I put it down to age and weather
kaismama
7 Jan 2014
I take amlodipine 10 mg but my legs ache all the time so I don't notice. Keep a diary of your bp and show your dr next time. If it keeps up ask him to change your med.
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high blood pressure, pain, amlodipine, lisinopril
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