Side effects of amlodipine oral tablets

Amlodipine: More common side effects

Amlodipine can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects persist, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took amlodipine in clinical trials:

• fatigue (low energy)
• nausea
• abdominal pain
• sleepiness
• ankle and leg swelling

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Amlodipine: Managing side effects” section.

Amlodipine: Mild side effects

Mild side effects can occur with amlodipine treatment. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to amlodipine’s prescribing information.

The mild side effects include:

• ankle and leg swelling
• fatigue
• nausea
• abdominal pain
• sleepiness
• anxiety
• dizziness
• erectile dysfunction
• flushing
• heart palpitations
• muscle stiffness or unusual movement
• weight gain and weight loss
• constipation
• joint pain
• mild allergic reaction

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects continue, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Amlodipine: Managing side effects” section.

Amlodipine: Serious side effects

Amlodipine may cause serious side effects, but they’re not common. The list here may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to amlodipine’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

• Peripheral neuropathy. With peripheral neuropathy, you have damage to the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include:
  • numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
  • muscle weakness or cramping
  • loss of balance
• Angina (a type of chest pain). Symptoms can include:
  • pressure or pain in your chest
  • dizziness
  • fatigue
• Low blood pressure. Symptoms can include:
  • dizziness
  • blurry vision
  • confusion
  • headache
• Bradycardia (low heart rate). Symptoms can include:
  • fatigue
  • dizziness
  • shortness of breath

If you develop serious side effects while taking amlodipine, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911. Or call your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone. It gives doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking amlodipine and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, amlodipine can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

• skin rash
• itching
• flushing
• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it difficult to breathe

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911. Or call your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to amlodipine, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Amlodipine: Managing side effects

While taking amlodipine, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.

If you have problems with side effects that do not go away or they become worse, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.

Weight gain and weight loss

Amlodipine can cause weight gain or loss. This side effect was not reported commonly in clinical trials of amlodipine, but it can occur.

It’s important to note that amlodipine can cause ankle or leg swelling, which is a common side effect of the drug. This swelling can cause weight gain. (To learn more, see the “Ankle and leg swelling” section.)

What you can do

If you have weight change during your treatment with amlodipine, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing the weight change and the best ways to manage it.

Constipation

Some people may experience constipation from taking amlodipine. This side effect was not commonly reported in clinical trials of amlodipine, but it still can occur.

What you can do

If you experience constipation during your treatment with amlodipine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. In some cases, they may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) treatment options, such as polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX), to help treat constipation.

Ankle and leg swelling

Ankle and leg swelling can occur with amlodipine treatment. It’s also possible to have swelling in other areas, such as your arms or hands. This was the most commonly reported side effect in clinical trials of amlodipine.

Also, if you’re taking a higher dose of amlodipine, you may have an increased risk of ankle or leg swelling. (To learn more about amlodipine’s dosage, see this amlodipine overview article.)

What you can do

If you notice swelling of your ankles or legs while taking amlodipine, tell your doctor. If your swelling is mild, your doctor may monitor you more often to be sure it doesn’t worsen.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend decreasing your amlodipine dosage to treat the swelling. Or they may recommend switching to a different treatment option.

Your doctor may also recommend other ways to decrease the swelling in your ankles and legs. These include elevating your legs or wearing compression stockings. Talk with your doctor about the best ways to manage ankle and leg swelling.

Joint pain

It’s possible to experience joint pain from taking amlodipine. This side effect was not reported commonly in clinical trials of amlodipine, but it can still occur.

What you can do

If you notice joint pain from taking amlodipine, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend taking OTC medications to treat your pain. These may include ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Amlodipine: FAQ about side effects

Are amlodipine’s side effects the same as those of its drug class?

Amlodipine’s side effects can be similar to those of other drugs in its class.

For example, both amlodipine and nifedipine (Procardia) belong to the calcium channel blocker drug class. And both drugs may cause dizziness, flushing, nausea, and swelling. However, it’s important to note that medications in the same drug class still may cause different side effects in certain people.

If you’re taking a calcium channel blocker and experiencing side effects that bother you, tell your doctor. In some cases, they may recommend treating your side effects. Or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Do side effects of 2.5-mg, 5-mg, and 10-mg amlodipine tablets differ?

It’s possible to have an increased risk of side effects if you’re taking a higher dose of amlodipine. This is because a higher dose of the drug exposes your body to more medication.

For example, if you’re taking a 2.5-milligram (mg) dose of amlodipine, you may have fewer side effects than someone taking the 10-mg dose.

If you experience severe or bothersome side effects with any dose of amlodipine, talk with your doctor.

To learn more about amlodipine’s dosage, see this amlodipine overview article.

What are the side effects when amlodipine is taken with benazepril, valsartan, or lisinopril?

The side effects of taking amlodipine with other drugs, such as benazepril, valsartan, or lisinopril, depend on many factors. These include your drug dosage and the condition being treated.

You could have an increased risk of side effects if you take the drugs together. For example, if you take amlodipine with lisinopril, you may have an increased risk of nausea or fatigue. This is because both drugs can cause these side effects. So, taking them together may increase your risk further.

Also, it’s possible that taking any combination of drugs for blood pressure or coronary artery disease may cause low blood pressure.

If you notice side effects during your treatment for high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, tell your doctor. They can help determine the cause of your side effects and the best way to treat them.

Does stopping amlodipine treatment cause any side effects?

No, stopping amlodipine treatment isn’t known to cause any side effects. However, since the drug works to treat high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, stopping treatment can worsen your condition.

You may experience symptoms of high blood pressure or coronary artery disease after stopping amlodipine treatment. It’s even possible to experience this after missing a dose of amlodipine.

Before you stop taking amlodipine, talk with your doctor first. They’ll check your blood pressure or heart to see if stopping treatment is right for you. They can also recommend a different treatment option.

Should I expect hair loss when taking amlodipine?

No, you shouldn’t expect hair loss as a side effect of amlodipine treatment. Hair loss was not reported by people taking amlodipine.

If you notice hair loss during your treatment with amlodipine, tell your doctor. They can help determine what’s causing your hair loss. They also may recommend treatment for your hair loss, such as minoxidil (Rogaine).

Amlodipine: Precautions

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take amlodipine. This drug may not be the right treatment if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Heart disease: Before taking amlodipine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease. Certain heart conditions, such as aortic stenosis or obstructive coronary artery disease, can increase your risk of side effects from amlodipine. These may include low blood pressure or worsening of your angina (a type of chest pain). So, your doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring of your heart during your treatment with amlodipine.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to amlodipine or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe amlodipine. Taking amlodipine could cause you to have another allergic reaction. Ask your doctor about other medications that may be better options for you.

Liver problems: Tell your doctor if you have any liver problems before taking amlodipine. Your liver removes this medication from your body. And if you have liver problems, your body may not be able to remove the drug as it should. This can increase your risk of side effects from amlodipine. In this case, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of amlodipine for you.

Alcohol consumption: Amlodipine and alcohol don’t have any known interactions. However, it’s possible that drinking alcohol while taking amlodipine may increase your risk of certain side effects. For example, both amlodipine and alcohol may cause nausea. So, drinking alcohol while taking amlodipine can increase your risk of this side effect.

Talk with your doctor to see how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to consume during amlodipine treatment.

Pregnancy: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take amlodipine during pregnancy. Currently, not enough information is available to determine whether amlodipine increases the risk of congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects). It’s also unknown whether it causes pregnancy loss.

In animal studies, the risk of congenital anomalies wasn’t increased in fetuses exposed to amlodipine during pregnancy. However, the risk of pregnancy loss in animals exposed to the drug may be increased. It’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans.

In addition, untreated high blood pressure can be harmful to a developing fetus. So, your doctor can help recommend the best treatment plan for your condition during pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting amlodipine.

Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take amlodipine while breastfeeding. Amlodipine may pass into breast milk in small amounts. However, effects haven’t been reported in breastfed children exposed to the drug.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before starting amlodipine.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.