Amlodipine and Swelling: What Users Say (Page 2)

• jay...
• November 11, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking amlodipine besylate about 6 months ago, started at 5mg, now on 10mg. My feet, ankles, and hands swell. My top number has gone down from 210-220 to upper 130s to 140s, but bottom number has increased to mid 90s to 100s. I have severe back problems and kidney disease, doctor doesn't want to change medication because kidneys stop working when he does. Lisinopril doesn't work. Does anyone have any suggestions? My body just hurts all the time, some days can't even move."

• Anonymous
• October 2, 2010

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure went up to 220/150, and I was placed on Norvasc 10mg and Diovan 80mg. Been on this for over a year now, and my blood pressure is currently 120/80, and I have had no side effects other than swelling on the lower leg, which steady brisk walking has handled. The combination worked very well for me."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 19, 2020

Amlodipine for Raynaud's Syndrome "I was taking amlodipine 5 mg/day for high blood pressure when I was diagnosed with Raynaud's. My Dr. increased the dose to 10 mg/day, and I had great results...for a few months. My feet and ankles started to swell badly. This is a known side effect of this type of drug, so be aware that it may happen. I had to discontinue using it."

• Den...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "This drug has caused me 6 months of hell. Lost my job because I just couldn’t function. Became tired, fatigued, and had unbelievable swelling in my legs and ankles, nausea and dizziness, and weight gain. My PCP took so many tests to determine what was wrong. Couldn’t find anything. My blood pressure was always normal until I became anxious, then elevated. Now I’m too numb to feel anxious. It’s this medication. I’m taking amlodipine besylate 5 mg. I need to get off of this medication. Should I gradually stop taking it? Every other day? What is the best way to get off? I want my life back."

• KJa...
• August 11, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I am 59 and have been taking amlodipine for a few years. I never realized that the pain in my ankles, feet, hands, and wrists was related. I thought it was just a matter of getting older. I also have gained weight on this medication. I've been dieting and I'm active, but the weight would not go down. I would get very tired in the afternoon. My doctor increased the medication and I wound up not being able to stand when I got out of bed. I decided to stop taking it for a few days. Almost all the pain went away and the swelling in my feet became less. I'm changing meds ASAP."

• Kmc...
• August 25, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking this drug after Lisinopril caused me to cough 24/7. Started with 5mg for HBP 140/90. Instantly gained about 20lbs. Exercise became more difficult, hands fall asleep at night, every night, unless I wear arm braces, swelling in ankles, general feeling of being in a 'fog' and also very easily irritated. Nodding off around 6pm after work, but force myself to stay awake. When I go to bed, I have insomnia. I decided to cut the pill in half, take it at night and now I have joint pains along with other symptoms. My worst day yet, I just didn't feel right all day, felt confused, anxious to drive to work. Stopped taking the drug that day and one day later I feel like myself again. Symptoms fading, will ask doc for different drug."

• god...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 5, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "33 male who has been on amlodipine for almost 4 years for high blood pressure. My BP was really high because of family history. I started with 5 mg, and the doctor increased it to 10 mg. While on it, it actually works and lowers my BP. But the side effects were very bad: face swelling, loss of concentration, leg swelling, fatigue, and drowsiness. I have decided to come off of it. It's been almost two weeks now, and I have never felt better. I have always been active and doing cardio in the gym. I look and feel really great. People started seeing the difference and telling me that I have lost weight. So a possible side effect is weight gain. My BP is still a bit high, but I decided to live a healthy life to reduce my BP if possible."

• god...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 5, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "33 male who has been on amlodipine for almost 4 years for high blood pressure. My BP was really high because of family history. I started with 5 mg, and the doctor increased it to 10 mg. While on it, it actually works and lowers my BP. But the side effects were very bad: face swelling, loss of concentration, leg swelling, fatigue, and drowsiness. I have decided to come off of it. It's been almost two weeks now, and I have never felt better. I have always been active and doing cardio in the gym. I look and feel really great. People started seeing the difference and telling me that I have lost weight. So a possible side effect is weight gain. My BP is still a bit high, but I decided to live a healthy life to reduce my BP if possible."

• ger...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on this drug for 8 months, and my lower legs were swollen. I thought it was the same for all. Anyway, as time went on, I was getting out of breath, and my ankles were getting more swollen. I went to the hospital for further tests, and I've been given a different drug. My blood pressure did come down with Amlodipine, but not as much as expected. I feel you have to also do exercise and eat better. I believe it works for lots of people, if not, go try another brand."

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Amlodipine causes me to get up 5 times per night to pass urine. It causes my hands to swell to the point where I now have a trigger finger for the first time in my life. Here's the amazing thing. I tell now two cardiologists this story, and they look at me blankly, followed by 'Norvasc does not have a diuretic effect.' Rubbish. Read the forums. This is why PRO (Patient Reported Outcomes) must take over from doctor reported outcomes."

• Mia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "50-year-old male. Highly stressful position as a trial attorney. Blood pressure has been consistently in the 150/100 range; sometimes higher. Finally recognized I needed to be put on something. Incidentally, I also have psoriasis and learned that I cannot take a beta blocker as allegedly this makes psoriasis worse. I was then put on this calcium channel blocker, amlodipine. In short, it brought my BP down to the range of 140/95 for 2 weeks consistently. So that part worked. However, and consistent with the other reviews, I literally had swelling of both ankles after the 5th day of taking it. I also felt very, very anxious and just not there, so to speak. In light of the severe ankle swelling, I was told to get off of it immediately. I did so, and the swelling went down, and I feel normal again. Downside, BP is up again. So I guess we really need to use trial and error and figure out what works best for us individually and what has the least amount of side effects. Will try something else."

• Bos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I got a horrible petechial rash on my lower legs. I've had it for a couple of years, along with foot numbness and tingling and edema of the ankles. Severe hip and lower back pain. I recently connected the dots and realized it all started when I began taking amlodipine. I weaned myself off of it, and the rash is already going away, and my body pains have disappeared."

• B i...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Amlodipine 5 mg twice a day for about 9 months now. Right away, I developed pretty serious edema in my ankles, feet, and calves. This was annoying, but I just dealt with it, because my BP was coming down. About 2 weeks ago, I developed severe hives and eczema from my knees down on both legs. The backs of my knees were so inflamed and sore I could hardly bend my legs. The itching was otherworldly. I had huge welts on both legs and feet, and the biggest blisters I have ever seen develop on the tops of both feet. The blisters were constantly oozing clear liquid, so I had to bandage my feet. I haven't been able to fit into my shoes in months, so I have to wear slippers everywhere. I am thankful that I have not developed some of the more extreme and serious side effects from this drug, but the ones I have are very annoying. I still would probably recommend somebody trying this med to see how they do, but if the swelling gets out of control, to try something else."

• B i...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Amlodipine 5 mg twice a day for about 9 months now. Right away, I developed pretty serious edema in my ankles, feet, and calves. This was annoying, but I just dealt with it, because my BP was coming down. About 2 weeks ago, I developed severe hives and eczema from my knees down on both legs. The backs of my knees were so inflamed and sore I could hardly bend my legs. The itching was otherworldly. I had huge welts on both legs and feet, and the biggest blisters I have ever seen develop on the tops of both feet. The blisters were constantly oozing clear liquid, so I had to bandage my feet. I haven't been able to fit into my shoes in months, so I have to wear slippers everywhere. I am thankful that I have not developed some of the more extreme and serious side effects from this drug, but the ones I have are very annoying. I still would probably recommend somebody trying this med to see how they do, but if the swelling gets out of control, to try something else."

• Sil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 14, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "Lots of painful swelling of lower legs and feet months into taking. I have had tingling and numbness in hands and feet as well as joint pain. My doctor is pleased with the BP numbers, but for me it’s getting too hard to function with the edema starting earlier in the day and lasting long into the night."

• Sil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 14, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "Lots of painful swelling of lower legs and feet months into taking. I have had tingling and numbness in hands and feet as well as joint pain. My doctor is pleased with the BP numbers, but for me it’s getting too hard to function with the edema starting earlier in the day and lasting long into the night."

• Ser...
• April 13, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I used amlodipine for 6 months, during which I developed “football feet,” swollen ankles, lower legs. Since onset was gradual, I did not realize how much edema I had accrued. I stopped taking amlodipine - swelling in my lower limbs was rapidly back to almost normal, almost because of 3 varicosities on my left ankle, for which I now must use an ankle brace. I told my doctor that I had quit because I was unhappy, and he said that he was very happy and that I needed help for moderately high blood pressure. I then suggested that he try amlodipine. He once had me use ezetrol, and I stupidly continued for almost a year before realizing I had become severely affected. I now give new meds a trial period and tell the doc if I am not amused."

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2011

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "After taking Norvasc 10mg for 3 months, I found my feet, ankles, and hands were swelling up. I also gained weight even though I walk every day. My doctor has put me on Avapro, and I will monitor it for the next 3 months."

• Sco...
• August 8, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been using Amlodipine for about 5 months. I have terrible side effects with this drug. My ankles and legs swell up and I retain water. At one stage, I gained 5 kilograms as I retained water. I just don't know what to do. I would rather not be taking any drugs, but I feel I have no choice. I go to the gym 3 times a day and made lifestyle changes to lower my blood pressure, but when this did not work, I was put on the drug by my doctor. I am looking at other options."

• Aml...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "67 yo female diagnosed with (freakishly) high blood pressure. 266/177. 10 mg amlodipine was prescribed along with Losartan and a few others. Pressure has been under control, but the side effects have been horrendous: swollen gums, pain in calves, dizziness, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, unusual weakness, belching, gas, cracked, dry, and itchy skin, changes in my vision. Swollen feet and ankles... I could go on. My cardiologist discontinued it today, and what a difference! Much, much better! Whew!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "On it for two years now, was lightheaded at first but that went away quickly and have had only swelling in my feet every now and then. I just put my legs up a little, then it goes away, this doesn't cause me any pain. Other than that, no side effects, not even having any problems getting an erection, wife likes that. She was worried about that at first. No problem with other meds either so far. Also, it works best with exercise."

• Gar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 26, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "This drug, amlodipine, causes leg swelling. It can be so painful that you do not want to walk, which is counterproductive to the desired effect of reducing blood pressure. My legs ache and have swelled to the point I have to use compression socks. Alcohol use (or abuse) will negatively affect this as well."

• RJP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I was on this for about 2 years, 10 mg/day. It was clearly causing my legs to swell, but nevertheless, I persisted. Eventually, the elephant legs were too much for me to take, so I stopped the amlodipine, cold turkey. I lost 8 pounds of water over the next few days, and lo and behold, blood pressure went way, way down! I hit as low as 109/59, which prompted me to stop another BP med, losartan, which turned out to have been causing my chronic leg pain! I am now only on chlorthalidone, with a BP a bit high at 135/82, not sure which way to go next. Maybe try cutting salt. If you get the elephant legs from amlodipine, maybe cut the dose or cut out the drug, try a different way to lower BP."

• que...
• July 8, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on amlodipine for about ten years. For the past few years, I have experienced increasing swelling of my feet and ankles, and it made walking uncomfortable. I tried coming off the medicine, and all swelling in my feet has completely gone. My feet have gone down two sizes back to my original size 4. All the pain is gone in my feet, and I walk like a twenty-year-old."

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

Amlodipine 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."