Blood pressure meds and side effects

Years ago I took amlodipine and had major ankle and feet swelling. Tried it for months but had to stop. My dad had the same issue. I have been trying different bp meds for 20 years but never under control. Two years ago a PA at my cardiologist practice wanted me to add amlodipine to my olmesartan prescription. I told him my history and he said the problem was not the medication but the high dose. He asked me to start at 2.5 mg daily and if no improvement after 10 days increase to 5 mg daily but never higher than 5 mg. Within days of taking the 5mg dose, my blood pressure was perfect. I've stayed on daily 40 mg olmesartan with 5 mg amlodipine and never have high readings at home. Always high readings at doctor appts but I take my daily home reading history to put in my medical records. Took over 20 yrs to find the right combination of meds that finally worked for me. The PA finally solved my high blood pressure and anxiety after having no success with several primary care doctors and several cardiologists and many different prescriptions.

Very interesting! I had perfect blood pressure my whole life until last year at 85 when it was higher. Not terribly higher but enough for my cardiologist to prescribe 2.5 mg of amlodipine. I’m also still very active as that is my nature and it has come down some. I see my cardiologist next month and if it’s still high er I’ll ask him about 5mg. He knows I hate taking medicines but a high bp is scary to me.
Thanks for your story!

mw2023- I've had hight blood pressure since the age of 50 and I am now 76. To begin with one atenolol helped, but over the years I've been forced to change meds and add others. They say I'm maxed out.
I'm forced to take 10mg of amlodipine, along with losartan in the morning, atenolol twice daily and one hydralazine in over 140, two hydralazine if over 160 in the pm. Clonidine if over 180. You are so right about 5mg not causing swelling and 10mg does causing ankle swelling. I'm allergic to elastic so with elastic stockings I must wear a 100% cotton sock, plastic bag then put on the elastic sock. It's not doable in this summer heat.
I'm very tempted to cut back the amlodipine to 5 mg.

Here is a site that will provide you with some answers. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a692044.html

I was on lisinopril too but my new primary changed me to Losartan. I never had the dry cough, my sister did though, but there were other reasons he stopped it. I can't remember what they were because it's been years ago. Lol

I'll go to goodrx and see what it says.

I was on atenolol also but got switched to metoprolol because of better benefits of the two.

I've tried both. My husband has good results with metoprolol like you do.. I was forced to switch to metoprolol a few years ago when there was a shortage of atenolol, in my case it was not effective. Once atenolol became available again I resumed taking it.

Hello..My husband was switched to Losartan, because he had the same problem with Lisinopril.

He doesn't have to be dealing with a chronic cough due to medication.

I will keep you and your husband in my prayers ❤️🙏

Susan

Hello @spet02, I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled:

"Blood pressure meds and side effects"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/blood-pressure-meds-and-side-effects/

This discussion was started by @robal19 and members are sharing their experiences with various blood pressure medications and their side effects.

Good question, @spet02 and you have me thinking about amlodipine I take.

I take several prescriptions, have various sensations/symptoms that your question makes me consider. I have had swelling, and also recently dry cough @covidstinks2023 refers to.
- Some of my swelling happened prior to starting the drug
- The Medline Plus drug info link @jenatsky shared is helpful. The first side effect listed is swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, to “Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away”. Mine are annoying, and they don’t stick around.
- I started 2.5mg several years ago and take 5mg currently. The information @mw2023 and @gardeningjunkie about keeping the dosage down is encouraging.
- My dry cough is recent and I think I have worked through by paying attention to my water intake.
So, I believe whatever is going on with me has nothing to do with amlodipine. I am, however going keep this in mind when I have conversations with my providers.

Thank you so much for prompting this discussion. What type of side effects are you having?