What are the dangers of taking amlodipine?

Amlodipine is a widely used and generally well-tolerated medication, but it carries potential dangers ranging from common, manageable side effects to rare, serious adverse events. It also presents risks if stopped suddenly, used with certain existing health conditions, or taken in overdose.

What is the most serious side effect of amlodipine?

Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, fast or irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, or sweating.

What organ is amlodipine hard on?

Outcome and Management. The severity of liver injury from amlodipine ranges from mild and transient serum enzyme elevations to self-limited jaundice. Complete recovery is expected after stopping the drug and recovery is usually rapid (4 to 8 weeks).

How long can you safely take amlodipine?

Usually, treatment with amlodipine is long term, even for the rest of your life. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking amlodipine.

What patients should not take amlodipine?

Who may not be able to take amlodipine

• have ever had an allergic reaction to amlodipine or any other medicine.
• have liver or kidney disease.
• have heart failure or you have recently had a heart attack.

Amlodipine Side Effects (Why They Occur & How To Reduce Risk)

Is amlodipine safe for seniors?

Amlodipine is effective as single-drug therapy in the treatment of both systolic and diastolic hypertension in the elderly and diastolic hypertension in younger patients.

Can amlodipine cause tongue swelling?

Immediate action required: Call 999 now if: your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen. you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air) your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow.

Can I stop amlodipine if my BP is normal?

Can I stop taking amlodipine now my blood pressure is lower? Even if amlodipine lowers your blood pressure, it's best to carry on taking it. If you stop taking it, your blood pressure could go back up again. If you need blood pressure-lowering medicines, you'll probably need to take them for the rest of your life.

What is a good replacement for amlodipine?

Amlodipine alternatives

• Beta-Blockers: Atenolol and Nadolol. Efficacy in Hypertension and Angina. ...
• Calcium Channel Blockers: Verapamil and Diltiazem. Efficacy in Hypertension and Angina. ...
• ACE Inhibitors: Captopril. Efficacy in Hypertension. ...
• Thiazide Diuretics: Hydrochlorothiazide. Efficacy in Hypertension.

Can you ever get off blood pressure medication?

Most blood pressure medications should be stopped in a slow, gradual manner. They shouldn't be stopped abruptly. Always talk to your healthcare provider before stopping or changing how you take any blood pressure medications.

Does amlodipine make you pee more at night?

These results suggest that the anti-hypertensive effect itself does not affect nocturia, and there are likely to be specific mechanisms through which CCBs promote nocturia. The CCBs including amlodipine and nifedipine promote not only nocturia, but also peripheral edema [23,24,27].

How much will 10 mg amlodipine lower blood pressure?

42 Amlodipine 10 mg lowered systolic blood pressure by −13.3 mm Hg (95% CI: −15.5 to −11.0) and diastolic blood pressure by −9.2 mm Hg (95% CI: −10.6 to −7.8) at the final visit (P < 0.0001 for both).

Can amlodipine affect your eyes?

This drug can cause certain eye problems. If left untreated, this can lead to lasting eyesight loss. If eye problems happen, signs like change in eyesight or eye pain most often happen within hours to weeks of starting this drug. Call your doctor right away if you have these signs.

Why is amlodipine being investigated?

Conclusion. This study provides compelling evidence that amlodipine poses risks of peripheral edema, shock, and dyspnea, among others. Additionally, it identified previously unreported ADRs such as abnormal full blood count and personality disorder.

Why should amlodipine be taken at night?

Some studies have found that taking medications like amlodipine in the evening helped lower blood pressure better than morning doses. Other studies have found that nighttime doses cause blood pressure to drop too low overnight.

Who should not use amlodipine?

Heart disease. Liver disease. An unusual or allergic reaction to amlodipine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives. Pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

How to lower blood pressure without amlodipine?

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication

1. Lose extra weight and watch your waistline. Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. ...
2. Exercise regularly. ...
3. Eat a healthy diet. ...
4. Reduce salt and sodium in your diet. ...
5. Limit alcohol. ...
6. Quit smoking. ...
7. Get a good night's sleep. ...
8. Ease stress.

Which is safer, lisinopril or amlodipine?

Key Takeaways

Both amlodipine and lisinopril are first-choice medications for lowering blood pressure. Amlodipine is often a good choice for older adults and people with salt-sensitive high blood pressure. Lisinopril may be better for people with diabetes, kidney disease, or heart issues.

How long does it take for 5mg of amlodipine to get out of your system?

With regular daily use, amlodipine's effects typically last about 24 hours. The effects of amlodipine should last as long as you continue taking it as prescribed. If your doctor recommends stopping amlodipine, the drug will typically stay in your system for around 10 days after your last dose.

What is the biggest side effect of amlodipine?

Swelling, fatigue, palpitations, and flushing are the most common side effects of amlodipine. Several amlodipine side effects are more common with higher doses. And some have been reported more frequently in women than men. Contact your prescriber if side effects you're experiencing become bothersome or don't go away.

How do you know when you don't need blood pressure medicine anymore?

120 to 129/less than 80 (Elevated): You probably don't need medication. Your blood pressure is higher than you want, but it's not full-on high blood pressure. Unless you also have another health condition -- like kidney disease or heart problems -- your doctor will likely say you don't need drugs for now.

Should I stop taking amlodipine if my legs swell?

Swelling from amlodipine is a common, but often troublesome side effect of amlodipine with 5% to 9% of people stopping amlodipine because of it. If you develop swelling with amlodipine, tell your doctor right away because they may be able to change your blood pressure medications slightly to help reduce the swelling.

What are the dental issues with amlodipine?

The most significant risk factor for developing gum overgrowth while taking amlodipine is gingivitis. Gingivitis is prevented with a rigorous home dental hygiene routine and regular professional teeth cleaning.

Can exercise help lower blood pressure?

10 minutes of brisk or moderate walking three times a day

Exercise lowers blood pressure by reducing blood vessel stiffness so blood can flow more easily. The effects of exercise are most noticeable during and immediately after a workout. Lowered blood pressure can be most significant right after you work out.