Amlodipine.

[KateR]

I've just been put on this by my GP to help with a rise in my BP. Does anyone else have experience of this and have you had any side effects? Thanks.

 

[Caroline]

I need stuff to lower mine (like not commuting), so can't be of any help. Was there a patient information leaflet with the medication? I also find the site www.patient.co.uk helpful.

One friend was advised to have more salt but I know this wont work for everyone and would ask the doctor before going down this route.

 

[cherrypie]

I take them Kate.
They did make my ankles swell at first but after about six weeks this stopped.

There is a list of side effects but that doesn't mean that you will get any or all of them.
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Medicines/Medicinetypes/Calciumblockers

 

[Jill]

I believe Amlodipine is a very cheap generic from India and I have several friends who have suffered swollen ankles and needed to return to their original prescriptions. However, my husband has been taking Amlodipine and, so far, has experienced no side effects whatsoever. Personally I wouldn't take them on principle.

 

[slipper]

I took them for a few months, but BP went too low so was taken off them. I had no apparent side affects.

 

[KateR]

Thanks everyone.🙂

 

[novorapidboi26]

A bit late in the conversation, but I have been on these for a few weeks, and the effects were instant, dropped my BP right down to normal levels, even after salty food, or after stressful times with the kids........

So far I have no side effects, or at least ones that I have noticed.....

I am also on Lisinopril for BP, and all is well........

 

[KateR]

Thanks boi. you've all been very helpful.

 

[Phil65]

...I stopped taking amlodipine after a short period as my ankles really swelled up and they made me feel very unwell.

 

[RachelT]

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker drug that is used to lower blood pressure or in treatment for some heart conditions. It relaxes the walls of the blood vessels around the heart making it easier for blood to flow. It's used fairly commonly as are other drugs in the same family, Diltiazem, Nifedipine and Verapamil. What you're prescribed will depend on your PCT, how well you respond to the treatment and weither side effects stop you from taking it, a switch to another drug in the same family may have a different effect on you.
Swollen ankles are the most common side effect, along with headaches and red flushing of the face.

I'm not aware of exactly where the drugs are made, but i do know that to sell medicines like Amlodipine in this country a company needs a product licence from the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority) , which requires stringent quality checks and inspections of the premises where the product was made. Imports from abroad are also scrutinised and require and import licence.

There was a problem in 2009 where several companies recalled batches of the drug, but this was part of the procedure for dealing with problems when they're spotted in an attempt to keep patients safe and maintain good quality of supply. Unfortunately no manufacturing or inspection process is perfect, and there's a couple of recalls of medicines or medical devices each week. Last week it was paracetamol, this week it's water...Yes, water. We're having to send people around the hospital checking to see if they can find any bottles from a certain batch of water.

Sorry if that got a bit intense but i read Jill's post and my Pharmacy QA spidey-sense tingled...I just wanted to reassure people that we're not trying to fob people off with unsafe medicines.🙂

RachelT (now trying to leave work at work...😱)

 

[Jill]

I'm no expert and there is plenty of info. on the internet so people can decide for themselves. As I said, my husband seems to be perfectly OK taking Amlodipine. I believe the following company produce them:

Mass Pharma Private Limited
Company Profile: Dealer of all kinds of amlodipine besylate, zolpidem hemitartrate, doxycycline hyclate, azelaic acid and cephradine.

Contact Details:

17-Km, Ferozepur Road
Lahore - ., Punjab

 

[KateR]

Thank you everyone. You have put my mind at rest and as I don't seem to have suffered any side effects so far (just a week in) I'm hoping they work. Will be seeing doc in another couple of weeks.