Amlodipine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I was having chest pain, so I went to the ER 6 days ago. My blood pressure was 189/107 mmHg, which is very high considering I’m a 31-year-old woman. They started me on amlodipine 5 mg once a day. For the first 3 days, I had mild symptoms of headache, dizziness, and tiredness. The 4th day, I felt a rush of pressure in my head, numbness in my face and neck on my right side, anxiety, and SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS. I went back to the ER, where they said I probably slept wrong and hurt my neck, and I just need to let my body get used to the new meds. They told me to continue taking the med. The panic attack continued over the next two days along with facial numbness, muscle weakness, headache, vivid dreams, insomnia, excessive thirst, twitching in my legs, and neck pain. Thank goodness I found this page. I felt like I was going crazy. I’ve decided to stop taking this medication. I do not recommend it, even though it did help lower my blood pressure. Not worth the side effects. If I could give it a 0 out of 10, I would."

• ove...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "This is my second med for blood pressure. The first was metoprolol, which had me completely out of it. I was switched to Norvasc, along with propranolol to calm the anxiety, but it hasn't worked. I get 3-4 hours of sleep, whereas before the meds, I was sleeping 8-10 hours. I have this overwhelming feeling on a daily basis, along with anxiety and panic. I have these uncontrolled shivers in the middle of the morning like I'm cold. Now, the nausea is so bad I haven't been able to eat a full meal in over 2 weeks. I'm always tired and starting to have self-esteem issues due to the rapid weight loss of 20 lbs. I see the doctor tomorrow to get off this medicine, it has taken more from me than helped. I need my normal back!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 19, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "For most of my life, I have been walking at least two hours per day. Since being on amlodipine, I have started battling to walk, and a few weeks ago, I was told to go into a wheelchair. I never once associated the amlodipine with not walking. My new doctor told me that amlodipine weakens the lower limb muscles. I was taken off the drug over 5 weeks ago and put onto new meds. Withdrawal is the worst. My blood pressure stays at 185 over 95 even with blood pressure meds. Sleeping is a nightmare, and I heard that it carries on for 120 days after leaving the drug. Do you know that some amlodipine was recalled because of a cancer-causing ingredient found in it a while ago?"

• JW1...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I was on Amlodipine for 10 months until I figured out my stomach issues (constipation, feeling like a heartbeat in my stomach), insomnia, and increased anxiety that eventually went into full fight or flight panic attacks, body tremors, palpitations, were related to this drug. I’m 19 days off, and while I’ve seen small improvements, I think unfortunately this will take months to recover. I’m only 33 years old, and my blood pressure was only 140s/90s before the Amlodipine 5 mg and never even got to a good number, so my doctor wanted to add hydrochlorothiazide as well at the 6-month mark. I then began to exercise and watch my diet and actually have lost 40 pounds. I’m determined to keep going because I see right now these meds are poison. I’m hopeful I will get back to my old self."

• 30...
• December 30, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Today was the first day of taking the drug. It started to kick in about an hour after taking it. It seemed to do a good job of lowering my BP, however, as many of the comments above, it makes you feel zombie-like. When I attempted to go to sleep, I laid in bed for 8 hours straight without ever falling asleep. There was one moment when I almost fell asleep, however, I ended up jumping up and gasping for air. I do believe I will not be taking this drug the next day or ever again! Based on my normal sleep, I would've passed out within the first 1-2 hours of trying to sleep, and this drug just kept my mind going all night long. This is based on a 5mg dose. My blood pressure the day I went to the doctor was 150/120. Good luck all..."

• Aga...
• March 22, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "I started this med on 3/18/13. As for side effects, I've had all but swelling in hands, feet, and throat area. One item I would like to add to the list is insomnia. Three nights now but not in a row. I see the doctor next week."

• Roc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Dose of amlodipine 2.5 mg once at night. 69 female. Caused my blood pressure to go up, not down. Stopped taking it when the first morning BP went above 180/100. Also caused insomnia, making me hyper-alert for hours after the nighttime dose. Feet swelled, making it painful to walk."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Extremely dizzy, lightheaded, and bouts of vertigo. Insomnia was common, and with having all those symptoms came a kind of depression from feeling like the world was spinning 24/7. But my BP was under control! So effective, but the side effects for me were too much."

• Dr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Horrible side effects including premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), cough, insomnia, and dizziness. My PVC burden was excessive at 30 to 50% when taking amlodipine. It is effective at treating high blood pressure, but at what cost? PVC-induced cardiomyopathy??? There must be some pretty good propaganda about this drug, ignorance, carelessness, or all of the above because physicians almost invariably deny the side effects and ignore patient concerns of a LISTED SIDE EFFECT!! Wonder if this will be the subject of some late-night legal commercial someday."

• car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2016

For Coronary Artery Disease "I was prescribed 10 mg Amlodipine to treat coronary artery spasm after 2 myocardial infarctions at 35 and 37 years. First came nausea, which lasted about 2 weeks, however, the chronic insomnia and horrific, extremely vivid nightmares began almost immediately and are still persisting even though I stopped taking it about 6 days ago. Another side effect I experienced was extremely stiff and sore feet - I thought I had developed painful arthritis overnight, and walking on them was horrible. I also experienced extreme fatigue all day every day, making it near impossible to care for my three children at home, who are all under school age. I thought I was losing my mind. Feeling a bit better every day. This was a very scary experience for me."

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on 10 mg amlodipine mid-December by my cardiologist. After 4 weeks, bouts of insomnia started creeping in, nausea (to the point that my stomach wanted to really vomit), and my hands and feet started to sweat profusely. After a week, I started feeling tingling sensations in my hands and feet as well as palpitations. I fainted at work about 1.5 weeks ago, doctors couldn't find out what the problem was. I almost fainted last Sunday, and again doctors couldn't see what the problem was, though maybe it could be side effects of the amlodipine. The cardiologist shifted me over to enalapril 10 mg instead. I've been off the drug for 3 days now, but still feel side effects. When do they disappear?"

• Chr...
• October 11, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Was prescribed Amlodipine 10 mg/daily for high blood pressure. Within 2 weeks, developed panic attacks and pins and needles in the chest. In the 3rd week, developed severe insomnia - not able to sleep more than 4 hours nightly, was woken up each night by heart rate jumping to 100+ beats a minute and not being able to catch my breath. In the 4th week, developed pain in the left leg and noticed a raised vein in the same leg, developed a ganglion cyst in the wrist, and at this point, the dizziness was awful from morning to night. BP levels were good, so I didn't want to give up, but the side effects were getting worse. In the 5th week, went to the doctor, was told that the symptoms that I listed could not be caused by this pill. So wrong!"

• Kev...
• May 18, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking this medication in the 10 mg form for about a month and a half. I was having severe side effects from using Benicar over the past 5 years and asked my doctor to place me on another medication. After about three weeks, I noticed redness, dry and dark circles under my eyes, had feelings of depression, hallucinations, insomnia, irritability, and a racing heartbeat at times. My fiancé told me that on one occasion while sleeping on my back, I stopped breathing for a few seconds. I have vivid dreams and wake up with brief sleep paralysis. I also have been itching a small dry patch of skin on my back. I'm 37 and work out 2-3 times per week. My BP is usually around 120-130/90. I'm going to have my doctor switch me to another med."

• Sun...
• July 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "10 for lowering blood pressure, 2 for other side effects. I have been on amlodipine for about 10 months. I was on another medication for anxiety but got off. When I got off, I started having side effects such as hot flashes, irritability, nausea, muscle pain, dizziness, continued constipation, and not being able to sleep. I decided to look up the side effects of amlodipine and found out that the side effects were not from getting off of the anxiety medicine but from the amlodipine. I am about to wean myself off of this drug and take the one I have been on for years alone that does not give me side effects but does not lower my pressure by itself."

• Srs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Yeahhhh, no thanks. I gave this a go for 3 weeks. It’s going to get me fired from work. I have insomnia at night and then sleep till 5 pm during the day. Turns you into a zombie. The kicker is that even though it physically turns you into a zombie who can’t do anything all day, I found it actually SPEEDS you up with raving anxious thoughts. Experiencing joint pain on it as well. 10 mg dose, by the way. Getting off of it. Not sure if it lowers blood pressure, but I think I did see a mild improvement."

• new...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2023

For Raynaud's Syndrome "I had pre-existing anxiety and depression when I began taking amlodipine. Due to my smaller stature, my doctor started me on a 2.5 mg dose. However, I experienced palpitations towards the end of the first week, and my doctor recommended increasing my dosage to 5 mg. Over the next few weeks, I noticed significant changes in my behavior and well-being. I became easily irritable, had constant panic attacks, and experienced worsening insomnia and decreased appetite. Additionally, I saw minimal benefits in treating Raynaud's phenomenon, and my body's dryness intensified. All of these side effects led to more anxiety and panic attacks, which I realized only recently. I hope to recover from these symptoms quickly."

• Ada...
• January 21, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "- Insomnia. I was snorting myself awake - very scary can't sleep more than 30-40 mins - Heart rate very low my usual is about 65 this was dropping it to around 50 or maybe even lower - Nausea after dose - Freezing cold feet and hands (feet to knees!) - Anxiety 10-fold. Feel like you're in a pre-panic attack state in waves during the day - I felt like I was spaced out and was just staring off into the distance different times made errors at work struggled for words and had some shortness of breath. - Pain in back and then anywhere I usually have a bit of pain. It was 10-fold. I only made it 6 days on this drug."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 20, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was diagnosed with hypertension in June of 2019. I was given amlodipine 5 mg together with another ARB medication. No, I didn't have swollen feet and ankles, but I suffered from insomnia and anxiety because of this medication. It lowered and stabilized my BP somehow after a few months, but in the afternoon, my BP would still go up as much as 140+ over 90+. I am experimenting with herbal supplements like olive leaf extract to lower my BP, and hopefully, I can transition to herbal supplements safely and successfully. Rx meds are not for me, although I do agree and am grateful that at some point in time, this med has also helped me."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I too had similar side effects to amlodipine, though I felt more like crushing rock than any anxiety. Very angry all the time, with the shakes. I also was not sleeping at night. And my blood pressure actually went up! It was terrible. I took both 5 mg and 10 mg doses. I would never take this drug again. My female cardiologist also did not listen to me. I have recently switched cardiologists."

• 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."

• BFL...
• July 29, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "47 yo male tried Ramipril first, which was great at reducing blood pressure but also turned me into a zombie, foggy head and constantly tired, and I believe bad interaction with Lipitor. Have been taking Amlodipine for 2 months, and the side effects are way less but not totally gone. Have had trouble sleeping, some tiredness, constant numbness/tingling in left hand, and weight gain (assuming water gain?). Trying to tough it out but may end up not taking BP meds at all. (Was in the 140/90ish range when starting the drugs). The side effects do not make me feel right."

• Ber...
• March 18, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "Been using amlodipine for a month. Has not really lowered blood pressure. I'm generally in good health except for elevated blood pressure. Amlodipine has had many bad side effects. Fatigue during workouts, muscle weakness, insomnia, and complete loss of libido. Wife very disappointed. Going back to my doctor this week for different medication."

• Fai...
• February 12, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on amlodipine for almost 8 days now. I've had nausea off and on, and this is my 2nd night of insomnia (luckily, not in a row), but it really sucks. My BP is down, and I feel great other than the insomnia. I'm on 5 mg, wondering if the 2.5 mg would work? Anyone know if lessening the dosage would work?"

• Anonymous
• August 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "After starting with Amlodipine 5 mg, I was having trouble sleeping. I have tinnitus that has gotten so bad it’s overwhelming me. I have had tachycardia and palpitations, and spent three days in the hospital, as well as severe cramps in my legs, arms, and back. I also have had sharp pains in my heels like a hot poker sticking into me that has kept me awake at night. I went to the doctor about all of this more than once, and none have EVER said it might be the Amlodipine. I also had a panic attack on a highway with my grandchild in the car that really scared me. I’d never had one before, and it was three days after I had an episode of rapid heartbeat. I am breathless when walking up hills and, in general, feel like rubbish. I have even been to a rheumatologist recently due to muscle pain. I cried when I read some of these comments, as it’s like my worst nightmare is that this medication could be causing so many symptoms."

• Tim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed this drug three weeks ago by my cardiologist. 5 mg. I am already on losartan and atenolol as well. Pressure was still a little high around 130/90. Amlodipine does bring the pressure down but not for the whole day. I take it in the morning, and in the afternoon, my pressure is better, but when I take my pressure in the morning, it's still around 130/90. The biggest positive was migraine prevention. I haven't had one in three weeks, and I don't think I ever would again if I stayed on this drug, but I will not take this drug going forward. The side effects are too severe. My feet and ankles swell. I have a bad taste in my mouth. My insomnia is worse. The biggest problem is fatigue. In the afternoon, I feel like a zombie. Very hard to get my job done. I find I just sit still and zone out. Not good for productivity. No drug I have ever taken produced side effects so severe that I have discontinued its use, but this one did."