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Amlodipine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

Brand names: Norvasc, Katerzia, Norliqva, Sdamlo

Amlodipine has an average rating of 4.4 out of 10 from a total of 845 reviews on Drugs.com. 28% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 52% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Amlodipine

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • She...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 22, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on amlodipine, and I despise it! I also take losartan and have diabetes. I was started at 2.5 mg of amlodipine and gradually moved up to 5 mg. Now, I have been on 10 mg for roughly 2 weeks. I have experienced every side effect possible during the transition, starting with chest and back pain, exhaustion but can't sleep. Now, I'm experiencing the worst! My blood pressure isn't much different, I'm lightheaded, I have horrible swelling in legs and feet, I have tingling throughout my body. I have cold sweats and cannot stay warm, even shaking and shivering. I am calling my doctor tomorrow to get off of it. It's too much!"

1 / 10
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  • ech...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 3, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Initial BP 211/100. Dose taken: 10mg amlodipine + 10mg Ramipril. BP now 140/80 and dropping, still after 3 weeks. Side effects: lightheaded and tiredness, but dissipated after a week or so. Noticeable benefits for me are less anxiety, no sweating, a kind of calmness. More focused, less irritated. I do not care what they say...having a lower blood pressure does physically and mentally make you feel better."

10 / 10
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131 Report
  • All...
  • March 14, 2016

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "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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Frequently asked questions

  • Jay...
  • November 2, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "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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  • lyn...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • July 22, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "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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  • Mic...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 4, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "Amlodipine has effectively reduced my blood pressure but almost instantly also lifted my mood and cured my depression. I’m amazed and just hope that it is long-lasting. I tried Ramipril (gave me a cough) and Losartan (BP was still 140/97). Then I randomly spoke to a pharmacist who advised me she had been in a trial where amlodipine gave the best results, so I asked my doctor if I could try it and I am literally amazed at the side effect it has had on my mood 10/10 for me. No negative side effects at all."

10 / 10
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  • Mcn...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 22, 2015

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "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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More FAQ

  • Anonymous
  • March 1, 2012

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "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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  • Ant...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 10, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was on metoprolol for about 8 years. I am 50. I have a long history of heart disease. However, I am extremely active and eat healthy. I was experiencing ED (erectile dysfunction) and asked the doctor to switch medications. Well, it's been two weeks, the ED is gone, blood pressure is good, and the only side effects I am aware of so far are very vivid dreams. I have stood up fast a couple of times and gotten dizzy once to the point I had to lay down. I have read a lot of reviews, I am concerned and will be monitoring myself. Thank you to everyone for your feedback. It is wonderful to have, the pharmaceutical companies certainly won't tell us."

8 / 10
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  • Lil...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 23, 2016

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "- Not a very good one. Complained to doctors about dry mouth, diarrhea, and numbness in toes. Tingling at the 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 lose my balance and have fallen many times."

1 / 10
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  • Mai...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "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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  • Dav...
  • December 4, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Doctor put me on 5mg amlodipine once daily. I was on it for 10 days, and by the fourth day, I noticed no energy, fatigue, extreme lightheadedness, and a sensation like everything around me was moving. I stopped it over 10 days ago, and I am still experiencing major side effects."

1 / 10
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  • KMG...
  • December 9, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I had been taking 10 mg of Amlodipine 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 Amlodipine at 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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  • sus...
  • May 11, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "After a 24-hour blood pressure test, it turns out I have mild hypertension. I was afraid to take it, but started taking 2.5mg before bed. I can't get over how amazing I feel now! I had no idea a small rise in blood pressure can make a person feel so bad. I practically leap out of bed in the morning. I have so much energy now. I did have some swelling in my ankles before, but it is completely gone! I read this was good for migraines. I don't get them that often and hope this medicine prevents them too."

10 / 10
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  • Mr ...
  • August 26, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "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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  • pam...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 10, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "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."

2 / 10
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  • Jit...
  • July 4, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "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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  • Leg...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 30, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "After reading a lot about the side effects of Amlodipine, I have serious concerns. I have foot issues and joint and neck pain, sweating, and flushing. Recently, I have felt very upset and anxious, I feel I have brain fog and have been feeling angry often. I started on these about a year ago at 5 mg, which then went to 10 mg. 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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  • Nil...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 24, 2016

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "The medicine works rapidly, and the 5mg daily dosage is still effective for me after several years of treatment. There have 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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  • Alo...
  • February 16, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "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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  • lor...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • March 18, 2024

For Migraine Prevention "I started having headaches when I was 7 years old. They progressed to full migraine attacks when I was 16. The intense paroxysm of one-sided headache lasted for hours with nausea, vomiting, and feeling like it would be better to die, not even being dramatic. Zomig would help (only if taken with analgesics), but I was limited to taking 4 Zomig a month, which was a challenge due to my headache frequency. I was still having at least two debilitating migraines weekly up until a year ago, at age 60, when I fortunately had a hypertensive crisis where my home BP readings rose to 190/110+ and would not come down. I saw a cardiologist who he said he would try amlodipine 5 mg after I mentioned migraine. Wow, life changing. Not only is my BP normal (average 120's/70's) with no side effects, but I haven't had a single migraine since the day after I took my first dose of amlodipine one year ago. I'm a totally different person and wonder who I would have been if I had been given this drug sooner."

10 / 10
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  • PTB...
  • December 26, 2014

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "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."

8 / 10
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  • mms...
  • December 9, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was only on Amlodipine (lowest dose) for a couple of weeks and began fighting severe constipation. Stool softeners and 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, feet, legs, and stomach from water retention, something I had controlled with a low salt diet, but could not control it on this medicine. Also, I started having foot and leg cramps after 3 weeks on it. At the 6-week mark, I had such terrible foot and leg cramps that 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 now, and all the symptoms above are gone. I will never take it again for any reason. I have never been more miserable than on this medication."

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

For High Blood Pressure "53-year-old female taking 5mg amlodipine at bedtime. 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 the 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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  • tsb...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 22, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "This is my 2nd review of this drug. I've been taking it for 11 months now. I'm a retired professional in my 70s. What I have noticed is I did seem to have some arrhythmias and a feeling of anxiety. So instead of completely quitting, I decided to do a little trial and error. I wanted to know the half-life, how long it takes to take effect, and how long it takes for it to wear off. That would give me some information that I thought was useful. For me: 1) It took about 4 hours to take effect (including side effects). 2) The half-life seems to me (senior) about 48 hours. 3) It took me about 4 days to clean it out of my system. As a result of the above, I figured I was taking too much, too often, and so I cut my dose in half, and find that I can take the half dose every 48 hours without a problem. Seems to work for me. (Just sayin')"

8 / 10
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19 Report

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