Amlodipine (Norvasc, Katerzia, Norliqva) is a generic prescription medication used to treat certain heart conditions, including:

The drug comes as an oral tablet containing amlodipine besylate. As with other drugs, amlodipine can cause side effects (adverse effects).

Amlodipine can be used in adults and children ages 6 years to 17 years. If amlodipine works to treat your heart condition, your doctor will likely recommend that you take it long term.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of amlodipine, including details about its uses and limitations of use, refer to this article. Your doctor can also tell you more about amlodipine.

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 last longer than that, 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:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Amlodipine: Side effect specifics” below.

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

Mild side effects that have been reported with amlodipine include:

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

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking amlodipine and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Amlodipine: Side effect specifics” below.

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

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 your local emergency number.

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
  • Low blood pressure. Symptoms can include:
    • dizziness
    • blurry vision
    • confusion
    • headache
  • Bradycardia (low heart rate). Symptoms can include:
    • fatigue
    • dizziness
    • shortness of breath
  • Severe allergic reaction.*

* An allergic reaction is possible after using amlodipine. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Amlodipine: Side effect specifics” section below.

Amlodipine may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

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 may still 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, with a higher dose of the drug, your body is exposed 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 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, may depend on many factors. These include your drug dosage and the condition being treated. Also, you may 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 blood pressure or coronary artery disease drugs 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.

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

Should I expect hair loss when taking amlodipine?

No, you shouldn’t expect hair loss while taking amlodipine. 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 may also recommend treatment for your hair loss, such as minoxidil (Rogaine).

Learn more about some of the side effects amlodipine may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for amlodipine.

Weight gain or weight loss

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

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

What you can do

If you gain weight during your treatment with amlodipine, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing your weight gain 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 can still 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 treatment options, such as polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX), to help treat constipation.

Ankle and leg swelling

Ankle and leg swelling can occur with amlodipine use. 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 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 commonly reported 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 over-the-counter medications to treat your pain. These may include ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, amlodipine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

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 hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking amlodipine. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

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 will likely not 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.

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

Alcohol with amlodipine

There aren’t any known interactions between amlodipine and alcohol.

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.

If you’d like to drink alcohol while taking amlodipine, talk with your doctor to see how much, if any, is safe for you.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking amlodipine

It’s not known if it’s safe to take amlodipine during pregnancy or while you’re breastfeeding.

Currently, there isn’t enough information 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, there may be an increased risk of pregnancy loss in animals exposed to the drug. 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.

Currently, it’s not known if breastfeeding while taking amlodipine is safe. Amlodipine may pass into breast milk in small amounts. However, there haven’t been any effects reported when breastfed children were exposed to the drug.

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

Side effects with amlodipine may occur, but they’re usually mild. If you’d like to learn more about amlodipine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug. Referring to the following articles about amlodipine can provide you with additional information:

  • More details about amlodipine. For details about other aspects of amlodipine, refer to this article.
  • Cost. If you’d like to learn about amlodipine and its cost, see this article.
  • A look at your condition. For details about high blood pressure, visit our hypertension hub. You can learn more about coronary artery disease in our cardiovascular health hub.

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.