Amlodipine and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Currently going through torture. 3 ER visits, 2 urgent care visits, and 1 PCP visit all in the month of June. My symptoms are getting worse and no one will listen to me. I’m having heart palpitations, muscle cramps, anxiety, upper left back ache/sharp pain. I’ve been on amlodipine for 4 months and my blood pressure has been lowered, but I can’t function like this. 3 EKGs and the last 2 are now showing PVCs, I’m being told the premature heartbeat is harmless but it feels like I’m going to have a heart attack. Each doctor I’ve seen and spoken with has said Amlodipine wouldn’t cause any of this. I don't think they know, my only reason for starting this medication was high blood pressure. Pray for me, I need a doctor who will listen."

• Mik...
• December 26, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking amlodipine on November 6, 2020. My normal blood pressure is around 140/84. Dr. Prescribed amlodipine. I had headaches, nightmares, and crazy anxiety from this medication. I stopped cold turkey, and my BP went up to 150/100. I have been off of it for 5 days, and I am having heart palpitations bad. I can feel my blood pumping in the back of my neck. I read it takes 11.5 days to get this medication out of the system. I saw an emergency Dr. on December 26, 2020, and he said he never heard of those side effects. Guess he should read this page and see what that medicine is doing to people."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking Amlodipine 4 days ago. The first 2 days I had a slight headache, but I knew it was a side effect and was fine with it. But my symptoms gradually got worse. Day 3 - chest pain and heart palpitations, extreme dry mouth, flushing (feeling warm like a fever was coming), fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain/bloating/gas, yeast discharge, and this weird stinging sensation in my thigh like I was being stung by a bee over and over again. I also had insomnia even though I was exhausted! I stopped taking it today but I’m still feeling the chest pains and palpitations, although they aren’t as intense. I’m going to work out and eat healthy! I can’t deal with these side effects! It lowered my blood pressure, I think. I’m not sure, it kinda jumped all over the place."

• Anonymous
• October 29, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was started on Amlodipine 5mg for my blood pressure. I initially had a headache from it and then it turned into a weird feeling. I felt like a hamster on a wheel that could not get off it. Crazy vivid dreams and really bad insomnia. Normally, I fall asleep in 10 minutes. I’d be up until 1 am. When I did sleep, it was crazy vivid dreams. Also, skin flushing and red spots on my face. Took 5 days of it and quit mainly because of the crazy anxiety it gave me (when I don’t normally have it) and the bad insomnia. I took myself off it and now I’m trying another med. Oh, and I had heart palpitations and a racing pulse as well. Not for me."

• rui...
• June 10, 2019

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "Stay away from this horrible drug Norvasc!! I've been taking this garbage for 35 years and have had a multitude of effects from it, not realizing this whole time it was this prescription causing it. I've seen so many doctors about my side effects. They all knew I was taking Norvasc, but not one ever mentioned that it could be a side effect of this drug. I've had peripheral neuropathy (feels like someone has poured hot lava down my thighs and is dripping to my feet). I've had tinnitus, itchy rashes breaking out on my body, headaches galore, and at 62 years old, I now have TMJ. Yes, I'm blaming my TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) on this drug. It has caused my leg muscles to tighten up and I imagine it's doing the same thing to my jaw. It did control my blood pressure well, but I'd rather not take any meds if this is how I have to live the rest of my life. I took myself off of it 2 years ago, but I could not get through the withdrawals. It caused my heart to feel like it was beating out of my chest and nonstop migraines."

• Abt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "This drug amlodipine is awful. I took it for a month and a half. It gave me dizziness, hot flashes in my face, more sensitivity to cold, numb fingers at night. It took away my hunger, changed my bathroom habits, diminished my sexual appetite, made me look more pale, and gave me atrial flutter fibrillation. I have been off it for over 2 months and I'm still feeling the side effects, except my heart. The cardiologist said my heart is back to sinus rhythm, but I still get palpitations at night. So, I don't know if it's really back to sinus rhythm or if there was no detection of abnormal rhythm at that moment. My doctors think I have bad anxiety, but no, it was the medication that caused this. It's frustrating."

• Dol...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 1, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Female, 59 years old, 100 kg. I suffer from hypertension. I was prescribed 10mg Amlodipine daily a few years ago. I was always so tired and didn't feel like I wanted to do anything. Six months ago, I did a little research and found that it can make you extremely fatigued, so I went off it. Other side effects include vivid dreams, facial flushing, extreme lethargy, palpitations at night, and disrupted sleep. I went off this medication about 6 months ago. Since I started back on the Amlodipine 2 days ago and am already feeling extremely fatigued once again. Just today, I slept from 2:30 pm to 4:45 pm and again from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. The medication may be effective to bring down my blood pressure, but at what cost to my everyday life. I am going off this drug once again and will try to lose the excess weight to lower my blood pressure."

• MsD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 15, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "While this medication, amlodipine, is very effective in lowering blood pressure, it is the drug with hideous side effects! Side effects are horrible, and I wonder if some can be lifelong even after coming off this drug. Loss of concentration, feeling like I'm in a fog or drugged. Cannot concentrate and do simple tasks. Loss of energy and movement, I can't do what I used to do. Not even walk up or down a small hill. Palpitations - some very scary. I hate amlodipine. Weaning off as I write this. If doctor prescribes it for you, please try an alternate medication, this is horrible. I've read that it's going to be off the market because it is straight-up poison."

• Nia...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "This medication has more or less destroyed my life for the past year. Been to see two different doctors regarding side effects and they told me I was imagining it. Severe chest pain, palpitations, anxiety and panic attacks, blurry vision, muscular aches and pains, fatigue, sleepless nights and some days find it hard to climb the stairs. Borderline depressed from feeling miserable all of the time. Diagnosed with mild hypertension at the age of 29. Very young. Gave up Amlodipine 5 days ago (without instruction from my GP) and started taking magnesium citrate and more exercise. My blood pressure is the best it has ever been. Nearly all the horrible symptoms are gone and I have so much more energy. Continuing to monitor BP daily just to be safe. Blood pressure medication can be awful. I believe we can all cure this naturally!"

• Emc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2020

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "Took Norvasc for about 6 weeks. For about four weeks, it very effectively lowered my BP to normal rates, and I was feeling well. For the past 2 weeks, I’ve started feeling lightheaded, experiencing heart palpitations, and arrhythmia. Will be contacting my doctor to change medications."

• Emc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2020

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "Took Norvasc for about 6 weeks. For about four weeks, it very effectively lowered my BP to normal rates, and I was feeling well. For the past 2 weeks, I’ve started feeling lightheaded, experiencing heart palpitations, and arrhythmia. Will be contacting my doctor to change medications."

• JHB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2012

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "Within a few days of starting this medicine, I became very aware of my heartbeat and my heart seemed to be racing. I attended a pre-operative assessment where I was given a routine ECG, and this confirmed that I had become tachycardic while taking amlodipine. My pulse was racing at over 100 BPM, and my blood pressure actually went up while I was taking this medicine. I had to discontinue use to stop the adverse effects."

• Des...
• August 31, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I'm a 56-year-old female. Started using Amlodipine 6 months ago, prescribed 5mg after a hypertensive crisis. It controls my BP well but the side effects are horrendous. Headaches, sweating, flushing, eye pain, facial numbness, tingling extremities, backache, weight gain, increased urination at night, palpitations, right heel pain, muscle aches, insomnia, brain fog, neck ache etc. I've observed that the side effects decrease over time but sometimes they reappear with a surge. Propranolol 40 mg brought relief when I experienced these scary surges. I'm giving it some time, but may revert to Co-Aprovel."

• Rob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 31, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "Diagnosed with high blood pressure. Started taking 5 mg Amlodipine daily, I’m experiencing ringing in the ears, palpitations, gas buildup, groin pain, and vision changes. Been on this medication for 3 years. I would advise anyone who has high blood pressure to reduce your weight, get on a healthy diet, and exercise daily. Over time, you can eliminate this medication."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 2, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on amlodipine for over 3 years, and the side effects are still horrible: dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, heart palpitations, numbness and pain in my ankles, swelling of my ankles, frequent urination, memory loss, and blurry vision. I need to diet and exercise so I can get off this medication. It does help my blood pressure, but I don’t have quality of life and am suffering."

• Jun...
• November 18, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Amlodipine Besylate 10 mg for over 6 years now and the worst side effects have been: heart pounding/palpitations, fatigue, and increased anxiety. I also noticed that my problems were noted when the manufacturer changed to Teva. When the manufacturer was Camber, problems were not noticed. For several years, I take Metoprolol XR and Hydrochlorothiazide with no problems. I stopped taking the Amlodipine Besylate 10 mg over 3 weeks ago and have noticed that my energy level has increased, anxiety lessened, and heart pounding decreased. My blood pressure has been about the same as when I was taking the Amlodipine Besylate, so I plan to discuss this with my GP. I feel there are problems with this medication and hope that with numerous complaints/concerns it will be further investigated."

• Mai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was diagnosed pre-hypertensive with some spikes, so we put me on 5mg amlodipine. For the first 6 months, it was great. Then the anxiety started to pick up after year 1. Then by about 18 months in, I was REALLY anxious. Couldn't sleep, couldn't concentrate. I noticed muscle tics all the time, heart palpitations, more joint pains, memory loss, and more. Dr. Google helped feed this obsession, and I had myself convinced I had contracted some fatal condition (ALS, MS, etc...). After every specialist I could find, we decided it was anxiety. Then one day I read someone's account of anxiety and amlodipine. I asked my cardiologist, and we decided to try a switch. Today I am back to my old self. Even better because I added those other coping habits in. I write this not because amlodipine is bad. BUT, if you're like me and a few years in and dealing with anxiety, switch it out. Don't wait as long as I did. It's not a hard drug to move off of and onto something else."

• KMG...
• December 9, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I had been taking 10 mg of Amlodipine for close to 3 years. I had a lot of familial issues going on so the side effects I was initially experiencing I chalked them up to my body being overly stressed. Fast forward to October 2018 after several ER visits for chest pain and left arm weakness, I realized it was the medicine. I have been having horrible nightmares for the past 3 years as well where I am woken up out of my sleep and usually my teen comes running in my room to check on me because I wake them up as well. I have experienced severe anxiety which I never had anxiety issues before, heart palpitations (that had me thinking maybe I had A-Fib), leg swelling and left leg weakness/discomfort especially when I try to lay on my left side at night. I stopped taking Amlodipine at the end of October and switched back to HCTZ. Some side effects have lessened and I'm hoping they eventually completely go away. This drug was HORRIBLE for me!"

• Anonymous
• June 25, 2009

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Norvasc 5mg for 6 months. It makes me tired, have had weight gain, and now have palpitations when I take it. It hasn't lowered my blood pressure by much. I exercise daily and take vitamins."

• Evi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed this drug and after just a few days experienced dreadful nausea, headaches and general lethargy. I was told to persevere with the medication but I also had terrible palpitations. After a month, I could take these side effects no longer. After coming off these pills, I felt wonderful."

• Dar...
• November 27, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I recently got off Amlodipine 10 mg, and let me tell you -- best decision of my life. The garbage landed me in the hospital three times for tightness, A-fib, and blockage (or seemingly blockage). All three times, tests came back normal. It was the damn medication, and somehow two different cardiologists couldn't figure it out. I'm now on 50 mg of atenolol and a nitric oxide supplement. The atenolol is next to go. All blood pressure medications are bad for me, I think. Plant-based diet and exercise is the answer."

• BP ...
• March 3, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I'm currently on Amlodipine 5 mg tab. The first 72-96 hours on this medication were very rough - very severe headaches, palpitations, dizziness, etc. After the 3rd day, the headaches subsided, and by the 5th day they were gone. BP had been elevated due to non-tolerance from the previous medication combination. By the end of the 1st week, BP was down into the 120s over 80s. So far, I have been using this medication for just over one month without any major side effects other than slight water retention, leading to slight swelling of hands and ankles. My weight has remained steady. The medication worked for me, and I am glad as I had been trying so many different types of medications to control BP that I was starting to lose hope."

• Pat...
• September 10, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking amlodipine for 4 months. Started to experience extreme lethargy, palpitations, depression, anxiety, and tinnitus. So bad I packed my job up. Started reading reviews on the drug. I stopped taking the drug 4 days ago, symptoms have almost disappeared. It got to the stage I felt I would rather risk a stroke, etc., than carry on feeling the way I did. I am now monitoring my BP myself, up to now, it's been perfect."

• Lue...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 9, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking this medicine for two years and a half. I know this might sound crazy, I thought I was dying every day. This medicine is horrible. I had extreme fatigue, was tired all the time, was dizzy, and had headaches, confusion, and brain fog. I thought I was losing my mind. I also experienced heart palpitations that sent me to the ER more than once. I also had extreme anxiety. I stopped taking this medicine four days ago and feel so much better. Though I am still having really bad headaches now."

• Ron...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 30, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "This is a bad drug. My health went downhill from the point that I took this drug. My ankles swollen and legs, feet, etc. I had blurry vision, irregular heartbeat, and just couldn't get a good night's sleep for the life of me. Sometimes nightmares. These all went away once I stopped taking this medicine - please stay away from it."