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has anyone else got depressed on Amlodipine ?

Posted , 31 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Hi,

Have been on Amitryptiline now for 6 years for M E but managing really well , back to work and staying stable, was put on Amlodipine 5mg for high bp about 3 months ago but feeling really down with the Amlodipine added in, i,ve seen everyones side effects but just wondering if anyone has had mood changes / depression ?

Jackie :?: [/b]

6 likes, 59 replies

59 Replies

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  • Flutterby_52
    Flutterby_52

    Posted

    Hi, yes, I think I know where you are coming from, although I can't be sure I feel [u:87aa8a83e2]exactly[/u:87aa8a83e2] as you do. I have felt gradually more and more detached and almost 'switched off' since I have been on amlodipine. I have suffered with severe depression in the past, and this is not the same as that. It's more, as I say, a feeling as if my brain and feelings are numb, and I could spend all day sitting staring into space. I find it hard to get up, and have to force myself to do anything. Nothing means anything. Does that sound familiar? With depression I was crippled with anxiety, woke up during the early hours, couldn't eat, and dreaded every single day. Now, I almost couldn't care less. It's horrible, and after Christmas I have to sort this out. I want to try something else. I've been trying to come off this but my doctor is reluctant to take me off it. Why don't doctors just listen? At the end of the day they can go home and forget about us and our medication....we have to go home and continue suffering :roll:
  • Max_Beck
    Max_Beck

    Posted

    I have been suffering similar experiences, has it subsided now you have hopefully changed medication.

    I changed from Amlodipine last Tuesday still waiting for to wane.

  • g00glemale
    g00glemale

    Posted

    [quote:96eeb812e3=\"Flutterby 52\"]I have felt gradually more and more detached and almost 'switched off' since I have been on amlodipine.[/quote:96eeb812e3]

    This has been my experience since the start of the year. I've been taking Amlodipine for HBP since March 09 along with Dutasteride and Tamsulosin for enlarged prostate.

    Another side effect of all three is loss of sex drive, which I have noticed and may also have added to my malaise.

    I went to my GP a week ago and said I wanted to stop taking the meds. I feel slightly better but it is early days. I'm now very anti prescription meds having had a similar experience 13 years ago with an arthritis drug (arthrotec 50).

    Anyone know of anyhting else that's good for HBP (in the way that glucosamine sulphate and cod liver oil are for arthritis?)

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I'm really glad someone has put that they have this experience as I hve experienced this as well. I would describe it as a loss of the will to livae. Previously I loved walking and pursued all sorts of interests. All the symptoms that Flutterby52 describes are the same for depression, but I have had severe depression in the past and it isn't the same at all. I have just lost interest in everything and don't get any joy out of anything. Worse still it affects my capacity to exercise so although in the short term it is controlling my BP, in the long term it isn't doing me any good as it is contriubitng to preventing me from keeping fit. Any solutions or other people's experiences would be really welcome. I really want to get off this drug.
    • karen83364
      karen83364 Guest

      Posted

      I have the same feelings. I thought it was due to the menopause but being off them for a week, my mood has elevated. I can laugh again without feeling that I'm forcing it

  • g00glemale
    g00glemale

    Posted

    I stopped taking Amlodipine 25 days ago with gruding agreement of my GP and I'm not taking any medication for anything at present (other than hedex for headaches - 2 a day) and I'm starting to feel more positive and getting engaged with my hobbies again.

    My BP has gone up but not by much and I think I can control that with exercise (like BumbleB I used to walk regularly, but the loss of interest stopped that). I go back to my GP next week so it will be interesting to hear what she thinks.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Will be very interested to hear GoogleMale's update on his BP off Amlodipine and what his GP says.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Thankyou for reassuring me about becoming severly depressed on Amlodipine. My doctor said that no such side effects existed and promptly doubled my dose to control my high BP. This medication has nearly wrecked my marriage and I will now gradually come off the tablets.
    • nancy34570
      nancy34570 Guest

      Posted

      I think you need to get another doctor, as I do.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I also have experienced very serious depression. I also couldn't care less and stared into space. but then wanted to throw myself under a truck with a letter in my pocket telling people to chuck the manufacturers of amlodipine under a truck after me. I was seriously meaning to proceed but something inside me told me that this was due to the amlodipine.So i stopped in the nick of time and junked the amlodipine. There is o mention of this in the manufacturers notes and I think it is so serious that people should at least be told that it sometimes happens. Of course the manufacturer will never do this unless required by law.Come on you politicians you are paid out of pour taxes to run the country defend us when we need you.
    • SAMMY16
      SAMMY16 Guest

      Posted

      I totally agree that amlodipine is a cause of depression. After finally getting much better after 14 years of often suicidal depression I was put on this for high blood pressure and within days felt all my symptoms returning. After a few weeks I came off this horrid drug and sure enough my mood lifted. It is dreadful that a drug used to cure one illness can create another and cause more drugs to be prescribed and paid for sad

    • Cookiepie
      Cookiepie SAMMY16

      Posted

      I know this is an older post and I happened upon this feed luckily- I've been on Amodipine for a year or so now- every day I'd wake up wishing I'd died in my sleep. I didn't care if I saw or heard from any family ever again. Several times I was going to just pick a day and end my life -many ways I could accomplish this going through my mind. Was a day away from having my daughter take me to a mental hospital . When I saw everyone commenting on these symptoms, I felt a sort of relief and revelation that it wasn't me losing it. I made an appt with my cardiologist the very next day and had me taken off this vile med. I haven't woken with these thoughts the last 2 days . What a feeling! Off BP meds totally for now so will see what happens. Thank you all for posting! I cried when I saw everyone's symptoms and again felt relief but sad we all had to go through such terrible side effects but have lived to talk about it.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    If you feel that a symptom is due to a side effect of a medicine that you have taken then you may wish to report it to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via their yellow card scheme -

    http://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

    Patient Admin Team

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hello after being prescribed amlodipine I experienced the detached from the world feeling. I would describe it as feeling drunk and sad. Feeling drunk without the slurred speech or bumping into furniture but demanding you to concentrate to function \" normally\". I also experienced joint / muscle pain mainly in shoulders,arm and hands (mostly left side). I took myself off the drug ( my doctor put into his notes that this was entirely my decision). I purchased a Respirator a electronic breathing control device claiming to help reduce blood pressure (from Lloyds pharmacy) . I took my BP 50 times over 30days prior to coming off drug and then 50 times over 30 days using just the respirator 15 minutes 4 times a week. The result without the drug- the world came back into focus. My BP was down on average nearly 20% on the results acheived with the drug.. When I started with the respirator I took my BP before and after . First time it went from 144/85 to 118/66 (after 15min session) The following morning 137/81 to 107/67. Still have muscle joint problems 6 months after stopping drug though. Not sure if the respirator thing will work for everyone but happy to share my experiences with this drug free alternative for high BP. regards Andy N.
  • zaranski
    zaranski Guest

    Posted

    Thank God I found this thread. While I'm prone to anxiety and depression, I have been feeling absolutely wretched of late and frankly losing the will to live. I've even been considering suicide, and objectively speaking, things really aren't that bad. I cannot help but suspect that this is due to taking Amlodipine. Add that to the frequently swollen ankles, constant joylessness, a total lack of interest in anything whatsoever and the constant desire to stay in bed, and I think it's high time to chuck it in the bin. Many thanks to you all. 
    • hails63112
      hails63112 zaranski

      Posted

      Hello

      Just reading through these threads and saw yours, wondering how you are now?  I have been taking amlodipine 10mg for few months, 2 months ago I started having dead leg and numbness down my left side, I am 36 and generally active and I just can't believe how I feel, I have trouble sleeping and wake up with a dead leg or foot and have just started having panic attacks and dreadful anxiety! My doctor has sent me for several tests for numbness including doppler and nerve tests but all okay, really can't carry on like this, it's taking over my life, thought it might be amlodipine

      Has anyone experience the same? 

    • Inquisitive
      Inquisitive zaranski

      Posted

      Your "constant joylesssness" is similar to how I describe my "ever present sense of foreboding" since taking Amlodipine. I have to work very hard to overcome my deep reluctance to engage in activities outside home. Since strating with Amlodipine I've weathered the cramps, rashes, headaches and overheating but still have tendonitis that affects my lower legs, wrists and hands. The Ramipril cough is present but much less so than when on the actual drug. The pervading low mood is quite a challenge and is totally unlike my normal "open" personality. I live in Scotland and also have SAD, so the lack of sunlight exacerbates the low mood. However, since taking Vit D complex (Boots own brand) I've noticed a slight improvement in my attitude. I'm anxious to stick with the Amlodipine as I've tried others to lower my BP but the side effects were much more live with.

      With regard to Zaranski's reply; I've spoken with friends who are also on Amlodipine and left sided pain/tingling/aches/cramps are common, as is low mood or anxiety. 

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