Amlodipine and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Don...
• March 1, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was on amlodipine for 3 months after discovering I had high blood pressure. Before that, I was on lisinopril. Both medications were terrible. From vision changes to hearing a heartbeat sound in my ear, rapid heart rate, and feeling tired, both meds lowered my blood pressure, but it was ruining my life. So I bought a treadmill for about 300 bucks, walked a mile a day, lost 20 pounds, took 400mg of magnesium citrate a day, ate fruits and vegetables, and cut down on fatty and unhealthy foods. I weaned off the blood pressure meds myself over a month's time and I no longer take them. Exercising, losing weight, and changing your diet will do the trick."

• Gar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2020

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "My BP was 150/85, so Dr. started me on 2.5mg Norvasc. Three months later, no improvement, so my Norvasc dose was doubled to 5 mg. Three months later and my BP is still 150/85. I have side effects, I am extremely tired, have stomach issues, and just not feeling like myself, so I have made the decision to stop taking it as it wasn't helping at all. Three weeks later, BP is 135/72. Another four weeks passed, BP is 115/58."

• Fud...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 14, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Amlodipine was foisted upon me by a doctor with no greater motivation than his pharmaceutical company incentives (read: kickbacks). Not one word of dietary or activity changes to treat my borderline high blood pressure. I have been useless since. Total lethargy, bringing my physical activity level from moderate to full stop. Constant acid indigestion, clay-colored stool, stomach pain, absolutely unpredictable bowels, itchy, flaky skin and, wonder of wonders - increased blood pressure. Imagine that, prescribing a drug that then makes you dependent on yet more drugs. Currently weaning myself off, changed my diet and forced myself to exercise daily. I'm 55 and once trusted doctors to uphold the Hippocratic oath. Now, I firmly believe they're nothing more than government-sponsored drug pushers that I only visit if there's a bone showing. Amlodipine is nothing more than a disease-creating poison."

• Cas...
• August 23, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Female age 77. I started on Amlodipine 5mg 6 weeks ago. My BP when checked by GP had improved, so I was delighted. 4 weeks on, the side effects increased with tinnitus (ringing ears), intense stomach cramps, and the trots (especially during the night), tiredness, dizzy spells, weight gain, and fluid retention in legs and feet. My skin was tightly stretched and shiny, and became bright red with blotches and swelling spreading from both feet and ankles, extending up to calves. I rang the pharmacist who advised I should contact GP. Two phone calls later, my GP advised I should stop taking the tablets, and an appointment was given for a review. The huge swelling and severe inflammation have subsided but not completely gone. I've read that it will take 11.5 days for the drug to be eliminated from my system, so I'm hoping I will be back to feeling more normal without these horrid side effects. My quality of life was badly affected by this drug, and I feel I'd rather have no treatment than suffer the last few weeks of a living nightmare."

• Sue...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2019

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "Horrible med. I started to have swollen tongue, lips, and face. Also, hands and feet were swollen. I stopped taking it and slept the night sitting up. I felt depressed, anxious, irritable, and had no energy. I almost died on lisinopril, having to rush to the hospital with a terribly swollen tongue, even uvula. They gave me every shot they had, which I thought I might die from. An adrenaline shot is the worst. After a few months on Norvasc, at night laying down each night, it got harder to breathe, especially through my nose. This is my second day off, and I bought four natural remedies, and I finally feel like myself. I had no desire to do anything. I think these medicines are like poison. I can’t take them, and I won’t, no matter what. I will do whatever I need to. I almost choked to death trying to swallow scrambled eggs. I am totally done with BP meds unless they are natural. My throat is still bothering me but getting better."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Ok, so original BP was about 158/98 roughly, went on this drug and it brought this down to 135/88 roughly. I took the drug for about 3-4 months and the drug works (why I am giving this a score 2). There was one large issue for me, the anxiety I felt was off the scale and I almost thought I was going insane at times and I still think this now. I had a weird dream last night that kept me awake and I have started to be always exhausted. I have stopped taking the drug today just because I could not bear the anxiety this gave me and I've never had these anxiety issues before. I did have other symptoms such as hot face, back ache, twitching finger and thumb, and tingles in my right hand. I am going to stop taking this for some time to see if the anxiety gets 'less' and if it does, I will not be using this again."

• Ann...
• September 6, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Taken this drug Amlodipine for 4 months, caused me lots of side effects, extreme tiredness, swelling of feet and legs, and more serious was breathing problems. I wish I had done some research on this bad drug. I have been off this drug for 5 weeks and still have all the side effects. Hopefully, the side effects will disappear soon."

• Fit...
• June 14, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "AMLODIPINE MISERY!!! I was started on this poison on May 5. I went to the ER due to left-sided chest heaviness that went down my left arm. I have had a ton of stress over the past year. My blood pressure prior to the ER was 170/102. All tests normal. Given 5mg of Amlodipine. I only took half for 1.5 weeks then had a phone appointment with a cardiologist who advised me to increase which lasted 2 days. Side effects were pulsating feeling in my head, increased chest heaviness, neck heaviness, extreme tiredness, bones clicking, muscle spasms, blurred vision, numbness in hands, legs, and feet, brain fog, weight loss due to loss of appetite, balance is off. Stopped it a week ago. I get electrical impulses in my right arm, my whole body feels so heavy, hard to walk at times. I have insane hunger, cannot sleep, and when I do have a good night's sleep, it is literally impossible to get out of bed. Stress test/echo/24hr BP monitor this week. Drinking organic hibiscus tea for blood pressure."

• Can...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I am 69 years old and in all those years never had a prescription for anything. My BP was 150/90, and a visit to a walk-in clinic landed me with a prescription for 5mg amlodipine. First week, I was so dizzy and shaky, I had to hang onto furniture to walk around. Then for 3 weeks, I was cold, tired, and shaky, but my BP was 117/77. Dr. wasn't available to consult, so I asked the pharmacist who said my BP was now perfect, and my body would adjust. Another week, no change. So for 2 weeks, I cut the pill in half and took 2.5mg. Legs became so weak I could no longer go for walks, tend to my garden, play tennis - all things I did before. My scalp tingles and burns. I'm having trouble controlling bladder muscles, and I pee several times each night. So today, I stopped taking this awful stuff. Since I was just on 2.5mg, I hope I weaned off enough. So my BP will go up, but I'd rather have higher BP and a happy active life than sitting on the couch, shaking, and sleeping."

• Dob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2017

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "Dentist took my blood pressure at 218/105, a total shock to me since it has always been low except for white coat usually around 150/90. She sent me to the ER. EKG was normal, and I felt shaky but otherwise okay. 10 mg Norvasc was prescribed and within 2 days BP was down in the 130/70 range in the morning. 6 weeks later it is often 115-125/70 and is rarely above 135/75. I had a strongly pounding heartbeat for a few days the first week, which went away. I was also tired the first couple of days and my legs felt heavy on my daily 2-mile walk -- that also resolved by the second week. It's working for me though my goal is to lose enough weight and exercise enough to eventually get off it. I'm a 62-year-old female."

• gar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Have been on this drug for 4 months, 5 mg. The first month was okay, but now I feel dizzy, anxious, lightheaded, fatigued, and tired. I have been to the hospital twice for blood tests. I have been off work on sick leave due to no energy and brain fog. You name it, I've had it. I'm now off it. Avoid this medication at all costs, it will change your life, but not for good."

• gar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Have been on this drug for 4 months, 5 mg. The first month was okay, but now I feel dizzy, anxious, lightheaded, fatigued, and tired. I have been to the hospital twice for blood tests. I have been off work on sick leave due to no energy and brain fog. You name it, I've had it. I'm now off it. Avoid this medication at all costs, it will change your life, but not for good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 23, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on amlodipine 5 mg since February. Ever since then, I have been on and off of work, panic attacks, stomach pains, and terrible back pain, feeling tired and anxious all the time. My heart is also paining. All good things it has done is to lower my blood pressure. I want to try a new pill, but my doctor says there is nothing wrong with this pill. I am scared of not taking the pill and ending up getting sick more from withdrawal."

• 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."

• Sup...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 24, 2015

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "This medication is cheap, which is why they recommend it so much since it saves the insurance companies a bundle. My BP didn't move at all. Side effects include left shoulder pain, loss of hair, eyesight going bad due to inflammation of the cornea, weakness, tiredness to the point of delusion. The doctor had me go from 5 to 10 mg, and that made everything worse. Three days after stopping it, my shoulder pain went away, and so much energy returned. My mother was put on it by her doctor and had similar results. After she stopped taking it, she no longer needs her walker. I'm 63, and she is 88 going on 29."

• 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."

• bob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I am on Amlodipine 10mg for almost 3 years. My BP before I started taking it was 150/100, and white coat effect can spike up to 190/110. I am a 40-year-old male, ex-military, etc. Also using Ramipril 10mg and diuretics (for edema, usual amlodipine side effect). The first 2 years all works well, my BP ranged from 110/60 to 130/80 with white coat effect at 140/90. However, after two years, side effects showed up: anxiety, tremors, headaches, pressure in the head, constipation causing spikes in BP, tiredness, etc. Anyway, I am fighting with these side effects every day now, they usually come after 6 hours of taking amlodipine, which is the peak time of this medication. It is difficult to stop taking it without causing any 'damage.' I tried taking it at half the dose, but the side effects are still there. I am trying natural remedies like black seeds, turmeric, coq10 enzymes, but this will take some time to see changes. I exercise cardio daily, follow strict diet with no salt, sugar, or fat, and avoid stress, these changes must stay as a permanent lifetime change."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 13, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I was placed on amlodipine 5 mg and used this for 6 months+, and my BP was fine until I relocated and my GP decided to raise it to 10 mg; at this point, everything went south! The pain in my right knee increased, and my ankles and arms started feeling pain too. Now I have pain in my upper back and am extremely easily tired. It's gradually affecting my sex life, and I'm deciding to stop this medicine and try natural options. I thought it was only me, but after seeing other comments, then I know this medicine will slowly cause havoc. Though my BP stabilized and I have had readings around 120/80 for some days now, I can't live with the side effects. I'm really not sure why the doctors say the drug shouldn't be giving these side effects when there are several complaints from people. Anyway, good to learn from everyone."

• TOa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on amlodipine besylate for hypertension about 2 years ago. I immediately felt lethargic, dizzy, tired, and anxious. I used to walk and hike, but could not anymore as my legs and feet got severely swollen, and I had pains in my legs. I also got bouts of vertigo and was very short of breath when walking up a mild incline. It felt like I was having a heart attack with chest pain. I gained about 20 lbs and struggled to get a good night's sleep. I went off it about a month ago, and my blood pressure is normal, my symptoms are gone, I have more energy, and can now hike as before. I cannot believe this is allowed to be prescribed."

• TOa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on amlodipine besylate for hypertension about 2 years ago. I immediately felt lethargic, dizzy, tired, and anxious. I used to walk and hike, but could not anymore as my legs and feet got severely swollen, and I had pains in my legs. I also got bouts of vertigo and was very short of breath when walking up a mild incline. It felt like I was having a heart attack with chest pain. I gained about 20 lbs and struggled to get a good night's sleep. I went off it about a month ago, and my blood pressure is normal, my symptoms are gone, I have more energy, and can now hike as before. I cannot believe this is allowed to be prescribed."

• Rea...
• March 18, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "It has lowered my blood pressure, which was crazy high (upper number 210 once and otherwise always in the 190s). Everything was fine at first. But now I'm so tired, it hurts. I am actually so fatigued that I am close to not being able to function. I have also noticed some double vision (comes and goes)."

• pat...
• November 29, 2011

Amlodipine for High Blood Pressure "I have been on Norvasc 5mg for about 4 months. It doesn't control my blood pressure for the 24 hours, and my pulse constantly stays elevated. I have swelling in my feet and ankles, and I'm tired all the time. I get flushing sensations and ringing in my ears sometimes. I also feel dizzy at times and have dry mouth. All these medications are horrible. We have no choice but to suffer if we take them or not take them."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on amlodipine, and I despise it! I also take losartan and have diabetes. I was started at 2.5 mg of amlodipine and gradually moved up to 5 mg. Now, I have been on 10 mg for roughly 2 weeks. I have experienced every side effect possible during the transition, starting with chest and back pain, exhaustion but can't sleep. Now, I'm experiencing the worst! My blood pressure isn't much different, I'm lightheaded, I have horrible swelling in legs and feet, I have tingling throughout my body. I have cold sweats and cannot stay warm, even shaking and shivering. I am calling my doctor tomorrow to get off of it. It's too much!"

• ech...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Initial BP 211/100. Dose taken: 10mg amlodipine + 10mg Ramipril. BP now 140/80 and dropping, still after 3 weeks. Side effects: lightheaded and tiredness, but dissipated after a week or so. Noticeable benefits for me are less anxiety, no sweating, a kind of calmness. More focused, less irritated. I do not care what they say...having a lower blood pressure does physically and mentally make you feel better."

• Dav...
• December 4, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Doctor put me on 5mg amlodipine once daily. I was on it for 10 days, and by the fourth day, I noticed no energy, fatigue, extreme lightheadedness, and a sensation like everything around me was moving. I stopped it over 10 days ago, and I am still experiencing major side effects."