Norvasc and Headaches: What Users Say

• Mig...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 11, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking amlodipine in 2006 for moderate blood pressure. Most of my BP readings are 145/85. I told my primary physician that my ankles swell now, I have a chronic headache after I take it, and an earache. I went to an ENT and took a battery of tests, the ENT then referred me for a brain scan. I am debating on that referral. I stopped taking amlodipine on 9/6 and went to my rheumatologist on 9/11, without taking BP, my reading was 143/84. I have come to the conclusion that I want something other than amlodipine. The reward is not worth the risk."

• 11G...
• February 28, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "With the DASH diet and exercise, my BP was still high, and the doctor increased my daily 5mg of Norvasc to 10mg. It helps decrease my usual 170/104 to approx 150/70, but only for a few hours. I am fatigued, have headaches, and super cold feet and hands constantly. I also have muscle cramps. I feel as if I had a heart attack a few days ago, but my doctor says it's gastritis. The side effects are worse than hypertension itself! Maybe I need a new medicine and/or a new physician. Good health to you!"

• rui...
• June 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Stay away from this horrible drug Norvasc!! I've been taking this garbage for 35 years and have had a multitude of effects from it, not realizing this whole time it was this prescription causing it. I've seen so many doctors about my side effects. They all knew I was taking Norvasc, but not one ever mentioned that it could be a side effect of this drug. I've had peripheral neuropathy (feels like someone has poured hot lava down my thighs and is dripping to my feet). I've had tinnitus, itchy rashes breaking out on my body, headaches galore, and at 62 years old, I now have TMJ. Yes, I'm blaming my TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) on this drug. It has caused my leg muscles to tighten up and I imagine it's doing the same thing to my jaw. It did control my blood pressure well, but I'd rather not take any meds if this is how I have to live the rest of my life. I took myself off of it 2 years ago, but I could not get through the withdrawals. It caused my heart to feel like it was beating out of my chest and nonstop migraines."

• ple...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 19, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Norvasc for probably 30 years. The first 20, the drug worked to lower my blood pressure well. In the last ten years, I've been plagued with scorching legs. It has literally ruined my life. Doctors never even had a clue, and I never thought it was Norvasc that was hurting me until I had trouble a week ago getting the prescription filled. I was out of it for 4 days. On the 4th day without taking it, my legs were feeling pretty good. I got my prescription refilled, took the pill, and the next day, I was back to debilitating pain. I haven't taken it since. I am now feeling pressure in my head as I've always been prone to migraine headaches. I never got one after I started taking Norvasc. I think I'll take the migraines."

• col...
• July 25, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I hate Norvasc! It made my blood pressure worse. I was always borderline with my blood pressure. It didn't help that I work nights and my diet isn't the greatest. My doctor wanted me to try this medication for a month to see if my blood pressure would lower. Within a week, my blood pressure, which usually hovers at 140/80 with a pulse of 80, shot to a ridiculous 200/98 with a pulse of 98. My blood pressure always spikes around the evening. My anxiety worsened, and I got headaches. This medication does not work for me, and I am not going to be tricked into staying on it longer."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking Norvasc after trying many other meds, including Topamax, which had too many bad side effects for me. So far, since starting about a month ago, I have only had one headache, and that was at the very beginning. No side effects. I was having headaches which were affected by weather pressure, about one a week. So nice not to have them and to feel good on this medication."

• Sad...
• December 6, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I have BP problems. Having a hard time finding a med to control it. Was given a beta blocker that caused a heart attack and put me in the hospital. Put me on Norvasc 5mg twice a day. Was on it for 1 and 1/2 weeks. I had severe headaches, tremors, blurred vision, stomach pains, burning in my legs. I had red burning spots form on my lower abdomen then blisters. I'm off the med and will never take Norvasc again. Now on Losartan and Clonidine, doing fair with BP. & no side effects."

• Roc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I took exactly one pill and woke up the next day with the worst headache: the top of my head hurt, temples were squeezing, had pressure in my eyes, and couldn't tolerate sounds. How ironic that people take this to prevent migraines! I was done after one day. This came after four days on metoprolol, which had left me exhausted and short of breath, so I wasn't exactly 100%. Blood pressure went up somewhat the day I was on this. Headache left as soon as I went off it. (Was put on valsartan right after, and had terrible back/spine pain from that.) I think I am done with meds. Maybe I'll do yoga."

• Coc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 10, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Have been taking Norvasc 5 mg (started with 2.5 mg but had to go to 5 mg) since 1997/98 to prevent migraines. My internist at the time had read about it being used to prevent migraines, so he had me try it! WHAT a relief! I don’t get migraines any longer and rarely have even mild headaches! I tried to stop it once to see if I still needed it... not a good idea! Got back on it! Also, discovered generic isn’t effective on me, so I have to use brand Norvasc."

• Hom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have been off and on blood pressure meds for years now. My blood pressure is borderline high from anxiety, 135/86 usually, but when I get really anxious, it goes way up to about 150/110. I have tried lisinopril in the past with the best results. This time around, my doctor tried me on Norvasc 5 mg. As soon as I started taking it, my blood pressure went up, my feet and ankles swelled, and I got headaches. I also had a bad panic attack, and my blood pressure went sky high. It didn’t control it whatsoever. I haven’t taken it today or yesterday, so I went to the grocery to take my BP to see what it was. My kids were fighting, so I assumed it was going to be high, and it was actually better than it's been in a few weeks. Don’t recommend this medication. I also get migraines, and this is supposed to prevent them as well, and it made my head hurt."

• Shi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I started Norvasc 10mg in the hospital for severe hypertension. Five days after starting it, it slayed my butt! Stayed on for another week until follow-up Dr. appointment. During that time, I was so exhausted I didn’t move, I stayed in my recliner! Constant headache, my ankles swelled twice their size and only brought my blood pressure down very little! How horrible because I’m usually pretty active! Dr. put me on another class of drug and it's working great!"

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "I was on Norvasc for 2 weeks. I felt dizzy, tired, cold, and got headaches every night. Switched medicines now, still trying to get it out of my system."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Was given this as a third add-on BP management drug in ER. It caused severe headache and projectile vomiting for 12 hours. Never again!!"