Amlodipine and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Con...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I started having menstrual migraines monthly in my mid-thirties. They had gotten to the point of lasting upwards of 18 hours with uncontrollable vomiting and moderate pain for a day or two before and after the migraine. I started taking Treximet and an anti-nausea medicine, which did work when the migraine started, but was still living my life around avoiding triggers. I also developed mild hypertension during these years. My doctor prescribed 2.5 mg amlodipine, and the migraines decreased in intensity. He upped the dosage over time to control the hypertension, and my migraine intensity decreased proportionally each time. By the time I got to 10 mg, the migraines were gone. I still get a little headachy each month, but it's just that, a mild headache."

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

Amlodipine 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!"

• Yav...
• April 27, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I took Amlodipine for one year for BP (2.5 mg a day) without side effects. I was able to keep the BP under 140/88. When my doctor increased it to 5 mg in combination with HCTZ, all hell broke loose. Terrible coughing 24/7, along with severe headaches. I dropped HCTZ and reduced Amlodipine back to 2.5 mg. Two weeks after the reduction, I am still coughing uncontrollably. Do not eat salt and take minimal BP medicine. I do not touch salt, and my BP is 120/80."

• Moa...
• November 25, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have been prehypertensive for 5 years. Once my BP started to be in the hypertensive range, I started taking 5 mg of Amlodipine. It caused severe dizziness, headache, fatigue, and drowsiness. I had to go to the hospital to rule out MI or other conditions related to the brain. Running drastically reduced my BP to a range of 70/40 mm of Hg. This medicine has a long half-life. I stopped Amlodipine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Put on 5 mg Amlodipine 3 weeks ago. Side effects are dizziness, headaches, and pulsing ringing in ears. Taken to A&E and taken off the drug. Doc read out every side effect of this horrible drug, and it seems I had all! Been off them now for 4 days and feel better, but my ears are still ringing and burning. Never again and am not in a hurry to try a different drug."

• Anonymous
• June 23, 2008

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on this medication for a few months, and the results have been great for me. I also work out 5-7 days a week. I feel much better, and I no longer have those nagging headaches. You should exercise to get the total benefit."

• Nel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 14, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on amlodipine for at least 5 years. For about 3 years, I took 5mg, and I was seriously tired all the time. My ankles were swollen and ugly too. Eventually, 5mg wasn't working so well, so the GP increased it to 10mg. I realize now that things worsened at this point. I couldn't be touched, pushed my partner away as it felt bad. Sex went off the table; I was itchy, irritable, my tongue felt swollen, my memory terrible. Pain everywhere: back, shoulders, knees, weird pins and needles in my left thigh, pancreatitis when taking painkillers! I'm now on day 5 of halving my dose because my hair loss is so extreme. My tinnitus already seems to have decreased. My ankles are no better. I'm in a lot of pain. Is it withdrawal? In the last 6 weeks, I've gained 16 lb, and it feels out of control. Plus, I've had a headache for 4 days and feel sick and exhausted. BP is 140/82. Can't wait to kick this drug."

• Drs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Prescribed March 19, 2021. Had 3 attempts at starting this medication as such extreme headaches felt like head in a vice. Several calls later had a better outcome taking at night per pharmacy, but now feel tightness in chest, which is raising my stress levels, which I believe is where the high BP originates. Also struggle with depression, and these low feelings do not help me manage. Prescribed simvastatin at the same time. Going to stop the amlodipine."

• Gow...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Have high blood pressure, it went up, so was given amlodipine. Nightmare, 1 year. Burning legs and neck, face, fast heart rate, numbness, headaches. Not gonna take anymore, on ramipril, hopefully feel better soon."

• Eme...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Glad I found this site. Stopped taking it after 1 pill - face is on fire and cheeks are bright red. Headache and tinnitus. Unable to remember what I was working on. Dry mouth. Just about fell asleep at the keyboard and could not keep my eyes open. All this on a 5 mg tablet, which my doc told me was a small amount and well tolerated. Took this when Lisinopril gave me a bad dry cough and numb tongue. While the Lisinopril worked within half an hour, my pressure actually went up with this drug. Thank you all for your stories - I am not taking any more. This drug has a really long half-life of up to 50 hours and can take 11 days to get totally out of your system. Since so much is already in your body, you are just adding more in when the rest hasn't left yet? It's done this way to make 'convenient dosing'."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on amlodipine 5 mg for high BP. The first time I was on them, I only lasted a week. Side effects: itchy skin, dizziness, and headaches. This time, I've been on them for a month: dizziness, headaches, not sleeping, itchy skin, and fatigue."

• Cli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I had taken it for about 20 days. I have the most painful headache I have ever had, and I quit taking it 3 days ago. I had other side effect responses as well: swelling, blue toes, and dizziness, but this headache is unbearable! I don't know what to do."

• THE...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 1, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "It reduces blood pressure quite rapidly, but it has some side effects, particularly flushing, blushing, and above all, night urination, rather frequent urination. In case of a small headache, you simply need to cut down a part of a dosage."

• PAB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed Norvasc 5 mg for hypertension, and within a very short time, I knew immediately that it was toxic to my system. The side effects are horrendous! Prescribing this drug to a person who already has anxiety issues is pure torture. The headaches, chest pain, muscle twitches, and groin pain, to name a few, were frightening. I am glad for the people who have claimed great results, but I think that it will only be a matter of time before Norvasc rears its ugly head. Ask my friend who, after 10+ years on Norvasc, out of nowhere developed degenerative hip issues and had to have bilateral hip replacements."

• Muf...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Where do I begin! I have been taking 5 mg for about a year and a half now. My BP readings have been around 135/80 to 140/85. At first, I only experienced the flushing, slight headaches, then came the dizziness. A year later, my knees started hurting, shortness of breath for no reason, my hip started killing me, numbness in my limbs. I tried to stop taking it, but my BP shot right up. It's like, what do you do?! All BP medicines cause some sort of side effects. My Dr. put me on Atenolol, and that seems to be working so far, but we'll see."

• UK...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 25, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I had severe headaches often accompanied by nausea and vomiting my whole life. I have been on migraine tablets for over 20 years, but the only relief in terms of prevention came from being prescribed Amlodipine for moderately elevated blood pressure. I take one 10 mg a day and have reduced my painkiller use to once every 1-2 weeks, with no further episode of vomiting ever since starting these tablets 5 years ago. It has been life-changing for me."

• Tec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "For the past two years, I’ve been having heart palpitations and high blood pressure (average is 150/101). I went to the ER and had an EKG done, which showed some abnormalities. I was referred to a cardiologist who prescribed amlodipine for the hypertension. I was told to get off my propranolol (used for my aura migraines) and to start amlodipine 10 mg. Unfortunately, I was on it for only 3 days and developed a headache that felt like a migraine, had fatigue, nausea, and a resting heart rate of 132 (my normal heart rate is 70-80). I went to the ER and was diagnosed with sinus tachycardia due to medication complications. I was told to go back on propranolol while taking amlodipine to lower my heart rate and to help with the headache. I’m on day 7 now, and my ankles/feet are swollen. I am 24 and feel like I should not be having all these problems from one medication. I will be asking my primary to get off of it immediately."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I'm sorry so many seem to have issues with this medication. It's helped me. My BP went down about 25%. There were/are some side effects I experienced. Some flushing in the first few hours first week I took it, now I get a little flushed an hour or so. A little anxiety the first few days, I'm fine with that now. Minor headaches first week, do not get them anymore. Had to pee a lot when I started taking them. I do seem more tired taking them, that has eased somewhat. Had some minor joint aches at first. I do get a little bit lightheaded, flighty, after taking them the first hour or two. Sounds like a lot of complaints, but most have gone away, and the rest do not last long and are not that intense. Positive: obviously lower BP, vision has improved, no more headaches, no more swelling. Only been taking it a month, any changes and I will update. Every day I could see my BP lowering a bit the first few weeks, now it's stable."

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed 5 mg on 9/16/21. Had side effects within a week. Dizziness, confusion, anxiety, headache, weakness, etc. Stopped taking on Sept. 20th. It is now Nov. 18th, and I am still having episodes of all the symptoms about twice a week that last 12 to 24 hours. An episode on Nov. 1st brought me to the ER. They said to consider getting another job as it is high stress and call your doctor. He prescribed a two-week medical leave from work. No good. He is hesitant to consider that I may still be having side effects from the amlodipine. He has ordered an MRI but feels quite certain that it will come back normal. Can anyone relate to this? I am concerned that I may have to quit my job."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Been on it for a while. Caused irregular heartbeat and pulse. Very scary. Went back on 2.5 mgs/day, no issues. Switched the medicine from morning to nighttime and titrated up to 5 mgs/day. Then things changed for the worse: throbbing on the left side of head, legs were heavy and cramping. Could not walk. Scary stuff. Please do not use."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 1, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "The worst medication. Heart palpitations, flushing, panic attacks, anxiety, pressure headache, tingling in hands and legs, chest pains, lightheadedness, dizziness. This is what I’ve experienced after taking for 5 months. Felt like I was going to die. Finally stopping this medication. This stuff is awful!"

• pmb...
• February 14, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I've taken both Norvasc and its generic, amlodipine. I am taking amlodipine 10 mg now. No side effects, just does what it does, and I love it. Just wish it did all of it. It only brings it down to around 160/90 - down from 230/150. Too bad I can't just take more. Everything we've tried to add, headaches and aches and pains. I don't get symptoms from my BP. More like a rush, if anything. Why would I take something that makes me feel that way? Quality of life, you know? I'm a 50-year-old woman in reasonably decent health but for this."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Just started on 5 mg Amlodipine yesterday after 2 weeks with diastolic at 90 and then spiked up to over 100. I am 68, have coronary artery disease, anxiety, and recently developed hypertension, which started with a spike back in July before shoulder surgery. With increased Metoprolol and Xanax, my BP went back to normal (range of 128/77). Then, 3 weeks ago, quit caffeine and white wine. Four days later, waking up with a headache every day, BP spiked to 159/105. The next day woke with chills/shaking at 3 a.m., BP 160/100. BP spiked to 174/113, very scary. Went to ER; after all testing, told I was not having a heart attack or stroke, but acute hypertension. Amlodipine did bring my BP down to 130/87 yesterday, but had a slight headache all day; today BP 128/87. Woke 1 a.m. today, felt a little shaky with a slight headache — could be from lack of proper sleep. I am very drug sensitive, so I am praying I don’t get bad side effects."

• Est...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I have been put on amlodipine 6 weeks ago. I have terrible side effects: heart palpitations, facial flushing, headaches, night sweats, dry mouth, insomnia, and when I do manage to get some sleep, I get terrible dreams. This med is not for me. I stopped taking amlodipine two days ago, still waiting to feel normal again. This drug is awful, the risk is not worth the benefits for me... I'm done!"

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor told me that my BP and cholesterol were high. He prescribed Amlodipine Besylate 5 mg and a statin. I did research on the drugs and found some horrible reviews. I put the drugs somewhere and started a lifestyle change through dieting and going to the gym. After a week, I did a BP check at a pharmacy and my BP was very high, so I went home and started the Amlodipine. I started feeling dizzy, had headaches, back pain, and was weak. I stopped using it when a friend mentioned Moringa Bitters. I tried it for three days and went for a BP check, I found out that my BP was very high. However, I noticed that all the symptoms associated with the Amlodipine stopped when I was taking the Moringa. I am confused though."