Candesartan and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• can...
• June 3, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "2 days after starting candesartan, I woke up with serious heart palpitations and could not breathe. My whole body was vibrating. It took several hours for things to calm down. After 6 1/2 months of only sleeping 4 hours a night, waking up every morning with heart palpitations, trouble breathing, vibrating, and spending the first two hours trying to calm breathing down, slowing down heart rate, and calming the anxiety, I decided to check the side effects list of this drug again, and I believe these are the side effects of this."

• Do...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I am taking Candesartan 4 mg for high blood pressure. While it brings my BP down, it comes with a string of terrible side effects. Headaches, unable to empty the bladder completely, difficulty breathing, severe bloating, severe water retention, blood-spotted rash on both lower legs, palpitations, and the list goes on. I'm no longer taking Candesartan, I have weaned myself off it. Not sure why my doctor prescribes medications that make you feel worse and cause so many side effects. I do not recommend this medication."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I have had a terrible time with this medication. Has not brought my blood pressure down. I have been having heart palpitations, sharp pains in my chest that are so severe I thought I was having a heart attack, also troubles breathing. I was fine on a lower dose with side effects, but it wasn't bringing my blood pressure down, so the doctor put it up to 24 mg from 8 mg. Also been coughing like crazy and troubles breathing. I hope other people have better luck with it. Just wanted to let people know if you're having these symptoms, that's what it is. Thanks."

• Kim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "For some reason, this medicine seems to give me nasty palpitations and arrhythmia. It also makes me really tired, even on an 8 mg dose. I tried switching to another medication, and these side effects went away. Sadly, I had to go back on candesartan because the other medicine caused really bad vertigo. Side effects came back after starting candesartan again, so the correlation is pretty clear. Hopefully, I will find something that works for me since I really do NOT want to take candesartan anymore. I know several people who tolerate this medicine well, but for me, it's absolutely terrible. We are all different."

• Kim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "For some reason, this medicine seems to give me nasty palpitations and arrhythmia. It also makes me really tired, even on an 8 mg dose. I tried switching to another medication, and these side effects went away. Sadly, I had to go back on candesartan because the other medicine caused really bad vertigo. Side effects came back after starting candesartan again, so the correlation is pretty clear. Hopefully, I will find something that works for me since I really do NOT want to take candesartan anymore. I know several people who tolerate this medicine well, but for me, it's absolutely terrible. We are all different."

• Moo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "For the past few months, I have noticed a fast and irregular heartbeat, which at times scared me. I stopped taking the candesartan three days ago, and I feel so much better. I will be visiting the doctor as soon as possible."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "Diagnosed with high BP (160/100) a few months ago. Tried Ramipril, then Felodipine, but neither brought BP down, and I had heart palpitation side effects. Tried Candesartan, and it reduced BP slightly with minimal side effects. Went from 8 mg to 16 mg to 20 mg with slight reductions of BP to around 140/90. Doctor suggested further increases, but after research, I persuaded him to combine drugs and have 2.5 mg amlodipine too. This is what had worked for my dad. I had to push for it, but mixing them has worked a treat. Not many side effects, and now BP down to 120/80. If you are struggling to find a med that works, keep going, and once you find something that isn't giving you bad side effects, I recommend trying two meds. For me, it worked a treat at reducing BP more effectively."

• Can...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 23, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "This pill works well but has bad side effects. Pain in the back of the neck, back, feet, legs, arms, and even fingers. Stomach issues. Anxiety every evening. Palpitations, such as a thumping heartbeat. Dizziness. Tight throat and trouble breathing. Headaches. Ear pain and head congestion. Trouble sleeping. Tinnitus. Itching. All this on just 8mg. Does lower blood pressure from 160/80 to 130/72. Blood pressure rises in the evening for some reason. I am a female aged 73."

• Mar...
• January 14, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Started at 4 mg, then increased to 8 mg for high blood pressure; it is not controlling my BP in the least, seems to be like water. However, I have to blow my nose a lot, have palpitations, sore swollen legs, great fatigue, and huge anxiety. I am stopping this useless medication."

• mud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Been taking candesartan for 4 months now, 8 mg along with low-dose moxonidine. While it has helped with BP, it has caused numerous side effects from head pressure, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, and very sore, achy joints. I will be speaking to my cardiologist within the next few weeks and getting this medication changed, I need to have some sort of life back."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I have had a terrible time with this medication. Has not brought my blood pressure down. I have been having heart palpitations, sharp pains in my chest that are so severe I thought I was having a heart attack, also trouble breathing. I was fine on a lower dose with side effects, but it wasn't bringing my blood pressure down, so the doctor increased it to 24 mg from 8 mg. I hope other people have better luck with it. Just wanted to let people know if you're having these symptoms, that's what it is. Thanks."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2022

For Heart Failure "On the very first day of taking this drug, after about eight hours, I had bad chest pain, and after 10 hours, I had severe heart palpitations. Very uncomfortable, thought my internal defibrillator was going to go off, and was lucky to not have to go into the hospital. I will never take this drug again, ever! The worst."

• hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking candesartan for approximately 2 weeks for very high blood pressure at 8 mg twice a day, in the mornings and evenings. So far, it's brought my blood pressure down nicely to normal levels that are also quite changeable throughout the day, however, my blood pressure was in the region of 180/90 to start with. I am happy with how this drug is helping. Side effects so far have been, from day one, slight tinnitus in one ear, weird feelings in my arms, shakiness and weakness, especially in the mornings, and heart palpitations occasionally. Also, some low-key anxiety and breathlessness, none of which is extreme, so I'm battling through. I have had migraines with aura for many years and am hoping this will be helped also. So far, I have had one whilst taking this drug...we will see how it continues. For me, the side effects are manageable so far, and it's better than risking a stroke or heart attack!"

• Che...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Works well at 8 mg. Brought numbers from 160/95 to 120/75. Only interaction is palpitations, especially with a couple of glasses of wine."