Amlodipine and Nausea: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Oh my god, this medicine is awful. I've been taking it for 3 weeks. I'm stopping it today. I'm experiencing extreme anxiety, nausea, tremors, muscle pain, I can't control my thoughts, depression, slower physical reactions, and breathlessness. It has helped my blood pressure a lot but I can't live like this. I'm making changes today to eat better and walk. I pray that everyone here experiencing these horrible symptoms gets better."

• aml...
• November 16, 2009

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "This medicine and I did not mix. I was really sick the whole time I took the medicine. I swelled up on my hands, feet, and ankles. I was nauseous, extremely weak, my extremities were either numb, burning, or painful. I heard my heartbeat constantly in my ears and had this awful crawling pain up the back of my neck. Itched, sweated, and froze constantly. Stuffy nose and so much more that I actually could not sleep. No, this is not a medication for all people. Dose changes did not help since the low dose promoted the majority of my ill effects. This medicine does well for some but, do speak up if you do not feel well on the medication."

• Ric...
• May 21, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "The first few days I took Amlodipine 5 mg, I felt like I was going to have an anxiety attack, and was a little light-headed. As I got used to the med, the feelings decreased but I still have that panic feeling once in a while. After a week, my right leg and ankle became swollen, but not my left leg. I also experience nausea with this medicine and a loss of appetite, which, in part, is good as I'm overweight. However, I could do without the nausea. I always take this medication with food and my other meds in the morning. It has dropped my high blood pressure from 200/97 to 140/83. This is the only good thing about this medicine. I can't put my finger on it, but I just don't feel right since I've been taking Amlodipine 5 mg."

• 40-...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I’ve been taking 10 mg of amlodipine for the past 3 months, and I have recently developed severe body aches and pains. I’m extremely light-headed and almost passed out at work. I’ve developed anxiety and feelings of depression for the past couple of weeks. I was prescribed this medication as a result of HBP. Don’t know why the doctor did not start me off on a lower dose. I’ve told her about my symptoms, but she has not lowered the dose. I’m a 40-year-old female that, besides the HBP, I do not have other issues, and I’m not taking any other medications. I can’t sleep at night as I am struggling to fall asleep. I wake up fretting. I’m having tremors and muscle twitching, as well as a constant headache and nausea. I have a consult again with the doctor this week, but since yesterday, I have reduced my dose to 5 mg because the symptoms got worse a few hours after taking the medication. I’ve never been so sick in my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "This drug has the worst side effects! I am 34 years of age, African American, very fit and muscular. I’ve never experienced side effects or discomfort like I’ve been feeling for the past 6 months. I’ve been trying to ride it out, thinking the side effects would fade away, like the cardiologist said, but no, this drug has been affecting my life from my 3 beautiful kids and wife. I was working a full-time job cleaning houses (would clean 3 houses by myself in a day shift), now I can barely sweep my home floors without being fatigued. The side effects ruined my 2021 past Christmas and Thanksgiving. I’m so happy I’ve read these reviews, and I thought I was all alone experiencing these episodes of severe dizziness, lightheadedness, tightness in the chest area, nausea, fatigue, tiredness, feeling faint, confusion, mood swings, dry mouth, pressure in the neck and head area, bad anxiety, anxiousness, and depression."

• CHD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 23, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Taken this drug for a year - in the last few months have had a lot of the side effects - nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, tingling sensations, feet swollen etc. I have been off 2 days now and side effects have lowered by a lot. Still got some dizziness but not that much compared. The pill didn't even lower my blood pressure, on the pill and off the pill pressures are the same. This drug is awful, don't take it! Doctors didn't believe me at first when I stated that this drug possibly causes me to have these effects."

• Mr ...
• August 26, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I am a 24-year-old male with high blood pressure. I started Amlodipine back in October 2014, and it did an excellent job of lowering my pressure. I was perfectly fine taking 5 mg each day for the first several months. Then around June 2015, I started getting pains in my upper left and right chests, headaches began to hit me, and I began to develop an anxiety problem. I am typing this review three days after I have now stopped taking Amlodipine. The past few weeks have been worse than a nightmare for me - my anxiety has reached severe levels, the pains in my upper chest, shoulders, and forearms were becoming unbearable, I've been continuously nauseous for nearly two weeks now, had high-pitched ringing in my ears, and was completely depersonalized."

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "The only side effect I really experienced was extreme drowsiness. The first night I took it, it knocked me out and I slept all night. Waking up the next morning was a challenge because I was still so drowsy. But that only lasted for one night. I experienced minor nausea after eating one meal. That's about it for the side effects. It did lower my blood pressure dramatically though. Overall, I'm having a great experience with this."

• 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."

• 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."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I’m glad I’ve read the reviews on amlodipine. I’ve been on this medication, 5 mg daily for only 4 days, and the headaches and nausea I’m experiencing are awful. Called my doctor and was told to stop taking it, as I may need a change in medicines. At this point, I’m very leery of taking anything and am seeking all-natural alternatives to lower my BP."

• Joo...
• March 20, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "My BP and heart rate went up while taking 2.5 mg amlodipine. Doc doubled my dose. Only took that (5 mg) one night. BP and HR went even higher. Horrid attack of heartburn to the point of nausea, and headache, burning eyes, insomnia, night sweats, itching like crazy. No thanks."

• ove...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "This is my second med for blood pressure. The first was metoprolol, which had me completely out of it. I was switched to Norvasc, along with propranolol to calm the anxiety, but it hasn't worked. I get 3-4 hours of sleep, whereas before the meds, I was sleeping 8-10 hours. I have this overwhelming feeling on a daily basis, along with anxiety and panic. I have these uncontrolled shivers in the middle of the morning like I'm cold. Now, the nausea is so bad I haven't been able to eat a full meal in over 2 weeks. I'm always tired and starting to have self-esteem issues due to the rapid weight loss of 20 lbs. I see the doctor tomorrow to get off this medicine, it has taken more from me than helped. I need my normal back!"

• Not...
• November 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor gave me a 10 mg amlodipine prescribed dose to take along with another blood pressure medication. Then started the headaches, which did subside. Then heart rate slowed way down after about 3-4 months from 75 beats a minute to as low as 44! Then, preceding that, I started getting excruciating leg muscle pains in my left leg, along with terrible hip joint pain, as well as knee and ankle pain. At times I was limping like an old man. My doctor noticed my swollen ankles and said it was a known side effect of the amlodipine and prescribed a diuretic, which did remove the swelling but with a cost! I was nauseated and could hardly eat, and my hip pain and joint pain remained. I decided neither was worth the cost of my comfort, so I have stopped the diuretic and reduced the amlodipine to 5 mg. The muscle and hip pain and nausea stopped after a few days, but the knee joint still slightly aches. I’m going to stop taking the amlodipine soon and after reading the terrible side effects of amlodipine."

• kat...
• November 10, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "Started amlodipine 3 months ago and blood pressure dropped from 160/90 to 135/70. After 2 weeks I noticed foot/ankle swelling, doctor prescribed diuretic, didn't work. Now bad itch and bumpy, blistery-looking rash. For the past month, I'm exhausted, dull nagging headache, general malaise, shortness of breath, lethargic, gained 5 lbs. I used to power walk with weights 3 miles 5X a week, but stopped due to shortness of breath. When I ride my bike, I get winded to the point of dizziness and nausea. Glad I found these reviews, I think it's the blood pressure medicines."

• Pre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 18, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I'm currently taking this amlodipine pill in the 10 mg tablet form, along with taking propranolol 10 mg 3 times a day. I honestly don't understand why blood pressure medications come with such awful side effects, especially the dizziness and nausea, which I am totally beyond tired of dealing with. I have forced myself to take these pills, which honestly feel like I'm poisoning my body with. There honestly isn't a major difference side effects-wise between any of the BP meds that I've tried thus far. They just don't make me feel normal while on them, and doctors don't want to hear that. They figure whatever they prescribe to you, that your body can automatically handle it. Which is why I sincerely hope that one day some pharmaceutical company invents blood pressure medication that is way more tolerable than what's already on the market today. Until then, I'm just going to do my best to continue with struggling through the symptoms that come with these pills."

• Hig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I took one 5 mg amlodipine dose last night for the first time. Woke up with the most blasting headache, nausea, heartburn. The headache is so severe, it’s caused very strong sinus pressure so that my gums and teeth ache too. No noticeable improvement in BP. Not worth these side effects no matter what. I can’t get up to do even the simplest work. It’s been 5 hours since I woke up like this. No significant improvement in my pain and discomfort."

• Met...
• March 15, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Many won't read this far into the comments, but I found Amlodipine to work well by taking it in a different way. I, too, had some strong side effects on (1) 10 mg or (2) 5 mg daily. Swollen ankles were worst, but nausea, tiredness, etc. were culprits too. I asked my doctor what the smallest pill (mg) was. It is 2.5. I started using 4 in a day, but spreading them out. In other words, a 2.5 pill at 7 am, 12 pm, 5 pm and 10 pm (or approximate times spread out). I now actually only take 3 pills (7.5 total), but still spread them out. For me, it still has the right effect of bringing down the BP, but the side effects are dispersed out so they are MUCH more manageable. I sit in a soft chair or use the recliner to reduce ankle swelling."

• rae...
• May 13, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Doc prescribed me 10 mg, which I took yesterday morning for the first time. Six hours in, I started to feel brain fog, cognitive impairment, zombielike, and couldn't function. My symptoms got worse, including vomiting, nausea, and a horrible migraine. I prayed that these symptoms would let up after a night's rest. Couldn't sleep because of the migraine and was still nauseous even in my sleep. Woke up this morning and I still feel like a zombie. I don't feel like my life is mine. It feels like I'm living in a cloud, and this is the worst feeling I've ever felt. Doc said, 'Oh, I probably should've started you off at a lower dose,' and that I'll probably feel this way for two to three more days. I am so anxious that these side effects won't go away because I've never had a medication affect my brain this horribly before. Do not take this medication. It's been 26 hours since taking my first 10 mg dose, and I still feel absolutely awful. I regret taking it and want my life back."

• Tom...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "This medication has many side effects, and I think that I had them all. Redness of the face, swelling of the ankles and hands, severe knee pain, nausea, to name a few. My left knee had so much fluid I had it aspirated three times, and not one doctor said a word. I read some posts and decided to stop taking it, and I felt better in a few days, and my knee doesn't hurt. 5 mgs of poison every morning..."

• Jer...
• May 1, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I began taking these tablets a week ago. My face and neck have been flushing red. I have been feeling uncomfortable heat in my feet, my skin has been extraordinarily dry, and I have been feeling sluggish and sick. I was prescribed Amlodipine because the Losartan I was taking gave me a chronic cough."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Started Amlodipine 10 mg the evening of 3/2/2023 and overnight into 3/3, I began to experience extreme stomach discomfort and got up to go to the bathroom. I fainted briefly and broke one toe and chipped another. Contacted my PCP, who instructed me to continue taking the medication since my BP readings were great! Although feeling fatigued and nauseous, I fought through it. Not sure what changed, but I began feeling ALL the side effects listed and was spending hours in bed feeling miserable. Afraid to stay in the house alone, I drove myself to the doctor's office where I was told to get meds for nausea. I refused it, but the doctor said to keep taking it. This Amlodipine is poison to my body! Like other comments, you must become your own advocate and decide what is best for you. I am making “serious” nutritional changes to lower my BP naturally. If you can avoid it, please do. I nearly took it a month. It affected my life and my household so completely. BEWARE!"

• Mee...
• April 25, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "FYI - I tried various high blood pressure meds, most with some serious side effects. Amlodipine was helping better than any previous, but had some nausea, swelling, dizziness, etc. Decided to try taking 2.5 pill 4 times daily instead of one 10mg pill. Made a huge difference. Seems my body can handle everything with only slight side effects by doing this. My doctor said he'd never had a patient do it this way, but due to my good effect, has now put several patients on Amlodipine in this manner. By breaking it up, the body seems to be able to tolerate it well. May not work for everyone, but for me it was such a blessing."

• dkr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I was on amlodipine for about three months, and I started to have all these side effects: joint aches, chest tightness, weakness, and chills, severe fatigue, nausea and stomach pain, and dry heaves, which led to a sore stomach. I took myself off and went to see my doctor, she was very surprised at all the side effects and said that pregnant women can take this drug, that it is safe. It is not! This is a horrible drug, and I hope my side effects will go away. Oh, another thing, my urine was yellow, which leads me to believe that my liver enzymes are out of whack."

• AJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed Amlodipine 5 mg on January 8, 2020. On January 10th, I started feeling the tingling in my arms, chest, and back. I took the medicine for 5 days. All of the other side effects have stopped, but I’m still experiencing nausea and stomach pain. Had diarrhea, but that seems to have cleared up. Anyone knows how long it’ll take for the stomach pains to go away?"