Amlodipine / Atorvastatin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 6, 2023.

Applies to amlodipine / atorvastatin: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to make sure the medicine is working properly to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and blood pressure, and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have unusual tiredness or a fever. These may be symptoms of serious muscle problems, such as myopathy or immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM).

Call your doctor right away if you have dark-colored urine, fever, muscle cramps or spasms, muscle pain or stiffness, or unusual tiredness or weakness. These could be symptoms of a serious muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis, which can cause kidney problems.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine if you have a major surgery or injury.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may also occur if you exercise or if the weather is hot. Heavy sweating can cause loss of too much water and result in low blood pressure. Use extra care during exercise or hot weather.

This medicine may worsen the symptoms of angina (chest pain) or increase risk of heart attack in certain patients with severe heart or blood vessel disease. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain that is worse than usual, trouble breathing, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in your arms, jaw, back, or neck, feel faint, or you are sweating.

If you have been using this medicine regularly for several weeks, do not suddenly stop using it. Stopping suddenly may cause your chest pain or high blood pressure to come back or get worse. Check with your doctor for the best way to reduce gradually the amount you are taking before stopping completely.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, amlodipine/atorvastatin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking amlodipine / atorvastatin:

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking amlodipine / atorvastatin:

Symptoms of overdose

• blurred vision
• confusion
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• feeling of warmth
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• sweating

Other side effects

Some side effects of amlodipine / atorvastatin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to amlodipine / atorvastatin: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most common side effect of amlodipine was edema. The most common side effects of atorvastatin were diarrhea, nasopharyngitis, and arthralgia.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Flatulence

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, dyspepsia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysphagia, diarrhea, flatulence, pancreatitis, vomiting, gingival hyperplasia, dry mouth, flatulence, altered bowel habits
• Frequency not reported: Gastritis, loose stools

Atorvastatin:

• Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (up to 14.1%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspepsia, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal discomfort, vomiting
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Eructation^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Respiratory tract infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pharyngitis, rhinitis

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Epistaxis, respiratory tract infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea, pharyngitis, rhinitis
• Frequency not reported: Coughing

Atorvastatin:

• Very common (10% or more): Nasopharyngitis (up to 12.9%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngolaryngeal pain, respiratory tract infection, rhinitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pharyngitis, asthma
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Sinusitis
• Frequency not reported: Epistaxis, interstitial lung disease^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, arthralgia, myalgia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Leg cramps

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, myalgia, arthralgia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthrosis, muscle cramps, leg cramps
• Frequency not reported: Muscle weakness, twitching

Atorvastatin:

• Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (up to 11.7%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pain in extremity, musculoskeletal pain, muscle spasms, myalgia, back pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Creatine kinase elevations 10 times the upper limit of normal or greater, leg cramps, neck pain
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Myositis, myopathy, muscle fatigue
• Frequency not reported: Joint swelling, blood creatine phosphokinase increased
• Postmarketing reports: Rhabdomyolysis, tendon rupture, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Accidental injury, asthenia, pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vertigo

Amlodipine:

• Very common (10% or more): Edema (up to 10.8%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, accidental injury, asthenia, pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vertigo, malaise, rigors, tinnitus, gynecomastia

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Accidental injury, asthenia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pain, vertigo, deafness, malaise
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Tinnitus, pyrexia
• Postmarketing reports: Fatigue, gynecomastia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Palpitation, vasodilation, peripheral edema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypertension

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Flushing, palpitation, peripheral edema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arrhythmia, bradycardia, chest pain, peripheral ischemia, tachycardia, vasculitis, hot flushes, vasodilation, hypotension, postural hypotension
• Frequency not reported: Cardiac failure, pulse irregularity, extrasystoles, myocardial infarction

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension, palpitation
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vasodilation
• Postmarketing reports: Chest pain, peripheral edema^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): GGT increased, ALT increased, AST increased

Amlodipine:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): GGT increased, ALT increased, AST increased, pancreatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Jaundice, hepatic enzyme elevations, hepatitis

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Transaminase elevations 3 times the upper limit of normal or greater twice within 4 to 10 days
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): GGT increased, ALT increased, AST increased
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Pancreatitis, hepatitis, cholestasis
• Frequency not reported: Transaminases increased, liver function test abnormal, blood alkaline phosphatase increased
• Postmarketing reports: Fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paresthesia

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, somnolence, headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Syncope, hypoesthesia, neuropathy peripheral, paresthesia, tremor, postural dizziness
• Frequency not reported: Ataxia, hypertonia, migraine, amnesia, parosmia, taste perversion
• Postmarketing reports: Extrapyramidal disorder

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Hemorrhagic stroke, headache, dizziness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoesthesia, paresthesia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Peripheral neuropathy
• Postmarketing reports: Cognitive impairment, amnesia, dysgeusia^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Flu syndrome
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic reaction

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergic reaction
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Flu syndrome

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Flu syndrome
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic reaction, infection, influenza
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash, rash erythematous
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Angioedema, erythema multiforme, pruritus, rash maculopapular, sweating increased, purpura, alopecia
• Frequency not reported: Skin discoloration, urticaria, skin dryness, dermatitis, cold and clammy skin

Atorvastatin:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash, pruritus, urticaria
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Angioedema, alopecia
• Postmarketing reports: Angioneurotic edema, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Depression, insomnia

Amlodipine:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Insomnia, nervousness, depression, abnormal dreams, anxiety, depersonalization, mood changes
• Frequency not reported: Apathy, agitation

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Depression, nightmare^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary frequency

Amlodipine:

• Common (1% to 10%): Male sexual dysfunction, urinary frequency
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Female sexual dysfunction, micturition frequency, micturition disorder, nocturia
• Frequency not reported: Dysuria, polyuria

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction
• Rare (less than 0.1%): White blood cells urine positive^[Ref]

Metabolic

Amlodipine:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anorexia, weight gain, weight decrease, hyperglycemia, thirst
• Frequency not reported: Increased appetite

Atorvastatin:

• Common (1% to 10%): Diabetes
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anorexia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hypoglycemia
• Frequency not reported: Hyperglycemia
• Postmarketing reports: Weight increased^[Ref]

Ocular

Amlodipine:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal vision, conjunctivitis, diplopia, eye pain
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal visual accommodation, xerophthalmia

Atorvastatin:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vision blurred^[Ref]

Hematologic

Amlodipine:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia

Atorvastatin:

• Postmarketing reports: Thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Amlodipine/atorvastatin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer