Amlodipine and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Fre...
• February 21, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "From day one, I experienced lightheadedness and once fainted. After one and a half years, the constant dizziness was crushing me, I couldn't concentrate, do anything physical, walk far, ride my bike. My work was suffering, and I was beginning to feel depressed and hopeless. My doctor finally (why so long?) took me off the amlodipine, and within 48 hours, my dizziness had gone. Also, I realized that the serious back pain that had been torturous for over a year faded away. Over the time I took this medicine, my gripes included painful urination, serious muscular pain in my leg and in my back. The worst thing was that my doctor was leaning more and more towards psychosomatic causes and trying to convince me I was provoking the symptoms due to depression. He wanted to put me on medication for this. It disgusts me that he didn't listen to me, that he didn't take me seriously, that he didn't take the amlodipine side effects into consideration until I argued with him for nearly an hour about it."

• Flo...
• June 16, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I don’t usually write reviews but felt had to with this. Only took two 5mg tablets and awful side effects and experience. Day 1 severe dizziness, headache, and very bad chest pain, and a wired feeling. Day 2 anxiety through the roof, could not think straight, dizzy, breathless. And blood pressure going up not down. Stopped it and next two days still very high anxiety, breathless, and chest tightness. Really wanted this to work and bring down blood pressure and I’m happy to ride out side effects, but this drug is scary, thought I’d have to go to A&E but rode it out. Day 3 now since I took the tablets and all improved but now bad stomach pains, diarrhea, and back pains. Think it’s all the end of this drug coming out of the system. First time I’ve taken a blood pressure med and really scared me. Disappointed. I stopped it myself as the doctor would probably say try longer, nope! Maybe more exercise. Not in a hurry to try an alternative one."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "I was terrified to take this med after reading the reviews on here. Of course, I was more terrified of my crazy high blood pressure, so I took the meds. (After changing diet/exercise did not help much.) I had one day where I felt a little 'off,' maybe dizzy/light-headed, but the next day that was gone, and I have had no big side effects at all, other than my BP is in the normal range now. I only reviewed it to give others who are nervous a positive perspective."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed Amlodipine a month ago, and let me say it's been the worst month of my life, and I have been through some hard things in my life. I've had every side effect you could think of, but the worst for me was the dizziness, lack of appetite, headaches, and rapid heartbeat. It causes severe anxiety, all I can do is lay and worry because I can't function normally from being so dizzy. I hate this drug with a passion. Please, if you're reading this and experiencing any side effects, it only gets worse. Tell your doctor to switch you. I'm back on Metoprolol as of 3 days ago, and very slowly feeling better, and hoping it continues."

• Cas...
• August 23, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Female age 77. I started on Amlodipine 5mg 6 weeks ago. My BP when checked by GP had improved, so I was delighted. 4 weeks on, the side effects increased with tinnitus (ringing ears), intense stomach cramps, and the trots (especially during the night), tiredness, dizzy spells, weight gain, and fluid retention in legs and feet. My skin was tightly stretched and shiny, and became bright red with blotches and swelling spreading from both feet and ankles, extending up to calves. I rang the pharmacist who advised I should contact GP. Two phone calls later, my GP advised I should stop taking the tablets, and an appointment was given for a review. The huge swelling and severe inflammation have subsided but not completely gone. I've read that it will take 11.5 days for the drug to be eliminated from my system, so I'm hoping I will be back to feeling more normal without these horrid side effects. My quality of life was badly affected by this drug, and I feel I'd rather have no treatment than suffer the last few weeks of a living nightmare."

• Fit...
• June 14, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "AMLODIPINE MISERY!!! I was started on this poison on May 5. I went to the ER due to left-sided chest heaviness that went down my left arm. I have had a ton of stress over the past year. My blood pressure prior to the ER was 170/102. All tests normal. Given 5mg of Amlodipine. I only took half for 1.5 weeks then had a phone appointment with a cardiologist who advised me to increase which lasted 2 days. Side effects were pulsating feeling in my head, increased chest heaviness, neck heaviness, extreme tiredness, bones clicking, muscle spasms, blurred vision, numbness in hands, legs, and feet, brain fog, weight loss due to loss of appetite, balance is off. Stopped it a week ago. I get electrical impulses in my right arm, my whole body feels so heavy, hard to walk at times. I have insane hunger, cannot sleep, and when I do have a good night's sleep, it is literally impossible to get out of bed. Stress test/echo/24hr BP monitor this week. Drinking organic hibiscus tea for blood pressure."

• Fri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2019

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "Run, don't walk from this one! I was on it for 3 weeks. I had vertigo, muscle weakness, shakiness, unusual sweating, extreme flushing, one ear would turn purple, uncontrollable shaking at night, frequent urination, and extra eye floaters. Doctors and nurses couldn't figure out what was wrong until I looked it up and figured out I was having severe reactions to it! I feel better, but now I am left with a shower of floaters from the experience. Do your homework on any new meds!"

• Can...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I am 69 years old and in all those years never had a prescription for anything. My BP was 150/90, and a visit to a walk-in clinic landed me with a prescription for 5mg amlodipine. First week, I was so dizzy and shaky, I had to hang onto furniture to walk around. Then for 3 weeks, I was cold, tired, and shaky, but my BP was 117/77. Dr. wasn't available to consult, so I asked the pharmacist who said my BP was now perfect, and my body would adjust. Another week, no change. So for 2 weeks, I cut the pill in half and took 2.5mg. Legs became so weak I could no longer go for walks, tend to my garden, play tennis - all things I did before. My scalp tingles and burns. I'm having trouble controlling bladder muscles, and I pee several times each night. So today, I stopped taking this awful stuff. Since I was just on 2.5mg, I hope I weaned off enough. So my BP will go up, but I'd rather have higher BP and a happy active life than sitting on the couch, shaking, and sleeping."

• gar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Have been on this drug for 4 months, 5 mg. The first month was okay, but now I feel dizzy, anxious, lightheaded, fatigued, and tired. I have been to the hospital twice for blood tests. I have been off work on sick leave due to no energy and brain fog. You name it, I've had it. I'm now off it. Avoid this medication at all costs, it will change your life, but not for good."

• Abt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "This drug amlodipine is awful. I took it for a month and a half. It gave me dizziness, hot flashes in my face, more sensitivity to cold, numb fingers at night. It took away my hunger, changed my bathroom habits, diminished my sexual appetite, made me look more pale, and gave me atrial flutter fibrillation. I have been off it for over 2 months and I'm still feeling the side effects, except my heart. The cardiologist said my heart is back to sinus rhythm, but I still get palpitations at night. So, I don't know if it's really back to sinus rhythm or if there was no detection of abnormal rhythm at that moment. My doctors think I have bad anxiety, but no, it was the medication that caused this. It's frustrating."

• JoB...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 25, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on amlodipine for about a year now. I was feeling okay. At first, I started to have headaches, and those were fine, until April of 2020, when I started feeling not myself. My ears hurt, and it was like I had a head change. I was dizzy, and that lasted for two months. I stopped it for a while, like a week, then got back on it. I started having a vibration in my head. The doctor thought I had vertigo caused by my ears, probably was, but I felt like doing nothing and feeling spaced out. I kept telling my doctor, but they were not listening. So now, I have been off of my meds for four days, and I feel a lot better. This is not a good medicine to take."

• TMi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2013

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "I'm 32 years old, and at first Amlodipine made me feel depressed, dizzy, and anxious. Now I am used to this medication. I have so much energy. Before this medication, I was on the verge of a heart attack and stroke. My blood pressure is 110/70."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I took amlodipine 5 mg for about 2 weeks. I was fine, but just a few days ago I was sitting, looking at the computer, suddenly I felt dizziness. I went to the ER, they admitted me to the heart hospital. I was told I needed a pacemaker. I declined. Discharged from the hospital after 1 and a half days. On Saturday, I was told by a doctor to cut the pill in half, so I did. The next day I took it, 35 minutes later I felt the dizziness and headache. I did not take the pill the next day, and no dizziness or headache. I called my PCP about my symptoms, he told me to completely stop taking it. Be careful taking this medicine, understand the side effects before taking. I don't recommend it, don't take it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "This drug has the worst side effects! I am 34 years of age, African American, very fit and muscular. I’ve never experienced side effects or discomfort like I’ve been feeling for the past 6 months. I’ve been trying to ride it out, thinking the side effects would fade away, like the cardiologist said, but no, this drug has been affecting my life from my 3 beautiful kids and wife. I was working a full-time job cleaning houses (would clean 3 houses by myself in a day shift), now I can barely sweep my home floors without being fatigued. The side effects ruined my 2021 past Christmas and Thanksgiving. I’m so happy I’ve read these reviews, and I thought I was all alone experiencing these episodes of severe dizziness, lightheadedness, tightness in the chest area, nausea, fatigue, tiredness, feeling faint, confusion, mood swings, dry mouth, pressure in the neck and head area, bad anxiety, anxiousness, and depression."

• TOa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on amlodipine besylate for hypertension about 2 years ago. I immediately felt lethargic, dizzy, tired, and anxious. I used to walk and hike, but could not anymore as my legs and feet got severely swollen, and I had pains in my legs. I also got bouts of vertigo and was very short of breath when walking up a mild incline. It felt like I was having a heart attack with chest pain. I gained about 20 lbs and struggled to get a good night's sleep. I went off it about a month ago, and my blood pressure is normal, my symptoms are gone, I have more energy, and can now hike as before. I cannot believe this is allowed to be prescribed."

• TOa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on amlodipine besylate for hypertension about 2 years ago. I immediately felt lethargic, dizzy, tired, and anxious. I used to walk and hike, but could not anymore as my legs and feet got severely swollen, and I had pains in my legs. I also got bouts of vertigo and was very short of breath when walking up a mild incline. It felt like I was having a heart attack with chest pain. I gained about 20 lbs and struggled to get a good night's sleep. I went off it about a month ago, and my blood pressure is normal, my symptoms are gone, I have more energy, and can now hike as before. I cannot believe this is allowed to be prescribed."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 2, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on amlodipine for over 3 years, and the side effects are still horrible: dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, heart palpitations, numbness and pain in my ankles, swelling of my ankles, frequent urination, memory loss, and blurry vision. I need to diet and exercise so I can get off this medication. It does help my blood pressure, but I don’t have quality of life and am suffering."

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Daily resting BP readings for the week prior to taking the drug were all normal, in the 100s-130s over 60s to the 80s. I was told I had 'exercise-induced hypertension.' I was prescribed 2.5 mg amlodipine. After 1 day on amlodipine, my BP was up to 163/86, and my husband and I both thought I was going to have a stroke. I couldn't breathe, my heart would pound, skip, flutter, had horrible headaches, bloodshot eyes, dizzy, and faint-all symptoms I'd never had previously. The entire week, my BP readings were 10-20 points higher than my normal average. Terrifying. I've been off it for 4 days and already feel so much better, although the half-life of this medicine is outrageous and can take 10 days before it leaves your system. This drug was recalled in 22 countries."

• CHD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 23, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Taken this drug for a year - in the last few months have had a lot of the side effects - nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, tingling sensations, feet swollen etc. I have been off 2 days now and side effects have lowered by a lot. Still got some dizziness but not that much compared. The pill didn't even lower my blood pressure, on the pill and off the pill pressures are the same. This drug is awful, don't take it! Doctors didn't believe me at first when I stated that this drug possibly causes me to have these effects."

• pat...
• November 29, 2011

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "I have been on Norvasc 5mg for about 4 months. It doesn't control my blood pressure for the 24 hours, and my pulse constantly stays elevated. I have swelling in my feet and ankles, and I'm tired all the time. I get flushing sensations and ringing in my ears sometimes. I also feel dizzy at times and have dry mouth. All these medications are horrible. We have no choice but to suffer if we take them or not take them."

• 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."

• 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."

• mud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on 2.5 mg of this tablet for 4 months only at night and take perindopril in the morning. Last week, the amlodipine has been upped to 5 mg. It has not helped blood pressure at all and so many side effects from this tablet and perindopril, I get ringing in my ears, anxiety, which doctors just want to keep prescribing more meds for instead of changing blood pressure meds, dizziness, lightheadedness, muscle weakness. I've been on blood pressure meds for a year and now feeling like my life is ruined, these drugs have taken over my life. I can see that I am not the only one, so I will be going to the doctors on Saturday asking for a complete change once again, still trying to find one that works, so frustrating."

• Aml...
• August 4, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Wow. Doc gave me 5mg to be taken daily. Took it for one month - a month that shall live in infamy. Extreme eye pressure, dizziness, affected my gait while walking, and I've never been so tired in my life. I'm a 63-year-old athlete who cross-country skis, skates, and roller skis. I knew something was drastically wrong and stopped it cold turkey. Within 24 hours, I had no dizziness, my energy was better. By day 2, no pressure behind the eyes. I'm sure experiences vary depending on your body chemistry, but this stuff was killing me a day at a time. Hope your experience is better than mine, but I'd encourage you to listen to your body."

• Zeg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have had high blood pressure for over five years and this includes treatment with numerous medications and supplements. Two months ago, I was prescribed Amlodipine for high blood pressure. I had headaches and dizziness, along with being physically tired. Today, I do not have the headaches, but occasionally experience dizziness if I move fast, or get up from sitting, or lying down. This usually only lasts a few minutes at a time. I must sincerely and happily let those who read these comments know that this medication works. My blood pressure, even on other medications such as Atenolol, did not work as well. It was normally between 140 and 150 every day. Today, it is consistently below 120/70 and usually in the low 100s/60 or lower."