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Overview
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved amlodipine oral tablet to treat the following conditions in adults and some children:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease, including angina (chest pain)
This article describes possible side effects of amlodipine oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for amlodipine. You can explore this overview article to learn more about amlodipine oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Amlodipine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Norvasc. Amlodipine also comes in an oral liquid solution and oral liquid suspension (a type of liquid mixture). But this article doesn’t describe these forms. To learn more, talk with your doctor.
More common side effects of amlodipine
Amlodipine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects.
Commonly reported side effects of amlodipine oral tablet include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of amlodipine in detail” section later in this article.
Mild side effects of amlodipine
Amlodipine may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and easily manageable. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or bother you.
Mild side effects of amlodipine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- fatigue
- nausea
- decreased heart rate
- muscle tremor (shaking) or stiffness
- peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that causes numbness and pain in the hands and feet)
- abdominal pain
- anxiety
- erectile dysfunction (inability to get or maintain an erection)
- flushing (temporary warmth, changes in skin color)
- sleepiness
- constipation
- palpitations (a feeling of skipped or extra heartbeats)
- edema, which may cause weight gain*
- dizziness*
- joint pain*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of amlodipine in detail” section later in this article.
Amlodipine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of amlodipine
Amlodipine may cause certain serious side effects. Although most side effects are mild, serious side effects are possible.
If you have any serious side effects from amlodipine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with amlodipine.
Serious side effects of amlodipine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
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Get free cardAllergic reaction
Amlodipine oral tablets can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
But this side effect was rare in the drug’s studies.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.
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 trouble breathing, call 911 or 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 oral tablets, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Common questions about side effects of amlodipine
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of amlodipine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is it safe to eat bananas while taking amlodipine?
Yes, it’s safe to eat bananas while taking amlodipine. There aren’t any known interactions between bananas and amlodipine.
However, other blood pressure medications called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may interact with bananas. Your doctor may prescribe amlodipine in a combination drug called amlodipine/benazepril (Lotrel). This drug contains both amlodipine and the ACE inhibitor drug benazepril.
If your doctor prescribes this drug, they may advise you to avoid eating bananas. This is because eating bananas and taking an ACE inhibitor may increase your potassium levels, which can become dangerous.
If you have questions about what foods or medications may interact with amlodipine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also check out this article about amlodipine oral tablet interactions.
Does amlodipine 5 mg cause fewer side effects than the drug’s other strengths?
It’s possible. With the 5-milligram (mg) strength of amlodipine, you may have a lower risk of side effects. And the 5-mg strength may cause fewer side effects than higher strengths, such as the 10-mg strength. This is because the 5-mg strength of amlodipine has less active drug than the 10-mg strength. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) When you’re exposed to smaller amounts of the drug, you may experience fewer or milder side effects.
However, it’s important to note that amlodipine is also available in a 2.5-mg strength. Taking this strength may cause even fewer side effects than the 5-mg strength.
If you have concerns about your amlodipine dose causing side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read this article about amlodipine’s dosage.
If I stop taking amlodipine, will I experience certain side effects?
No, you should not experience any withdrawal side effects from stopping amlodipine. Withdrawal side effects can occur when your body becomes used to a medication that you suddenly stop taking. People taking amlodipine in studies did not report withdrawal side effects.
But it’s important to note that stopping treatment with amlodipine can increase your blood pressure. Or it may cause symptoms of your heart condition to come back. This is because amlodipine works to manage your blood pressure or heart condition.
Before you stop taking amlodipine, be sure to talk with your doctor. They may recommend switching to a different medication to manage your condition.
Can amlodipine cause eye-related side effects?
Yes, in rare cases, it’s possible that amlodipine may cause eye-related side effects. People taking amlodipine have reported the following eye-related side effects:
- unusual vision
- double vision
- eye pain
- pink eye
But it’s unclear whether these side effects occurred in the drug’s studies. If you have concerns about developing eye-related side effects from taking amlodipine, talk with your doctor.
Does amlodipine cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases, amlodipine oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. Examples include:
- peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that causes numbness and pain in the hands and feet)
- long-term effects after a heart attack
- edema, which may cause weight gain*
These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to best manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of amlodipine may last.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of amlodipine in detail” section that follows.
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Side effects of amlodipine in detail
Side effects of amlodipine oral tablet include:
Weight gain
In studies, weight gain was rare in people taking amlodipine oral tablet. This side effect was usually mild.
Some people may develop edema (fluid buildup) from taking amlodipine, which may lead to weight gain.
Ways to manage
If you have concerns about weight gain, tell your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to manage your weight.
Dizziness
In studies, dizziness was rare in people taking amlodipine oral tablet. This side effect was usually mild.
With dizziness, you may experience the following symptoms:
- feeling like your head is spinning
- feeling like you may faint
- losing balance
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of dizziness, tell your doctor. To manage these symptoms, your doctor may recommend you to:
- stay hydrated
- avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine that can worsen dizziness
- avoid switching positions quickly or sitting up suddenly from a lying position
- avoid driving or using other machinery when you first start amlodipine until you know how it may affect you
It’s also possible that dizziness may be a symptom of low blood pressure, which is one of the actions of amlodipine. So, if you develop dizziness during your treatment with amlodipine, your doctor may recommend monitoring your blood pressure more often to ensure it doesn’t get too low.
If you have concerns about developing dizziness during your treatment with amlodipine, talk with your doctor.
Joint pain
It’s possible to develop joint pain while taking amlodipine oral tablet. In studies, this side effect was rare and usually mild.
You may experience joint pain in the joints of your fingers, hips, or knees.
If you experience symptoms of joint pain from taking amlodipine, tell your doctor. They may recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Your doctor may also recommend manageable exercises, stretching, and icing the painful joint.
Warnings for amlodipine
Some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking amlodipine oral tablet include:
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take amlodipine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Sometimes, amlodipine could react with drugs you may be taking for a different type of condition. Other things may also affect whether amlodipine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking amlodipine oral tablet, tell your doctor about any of the following health conditions or medications you may take for those conditions:
- heart disease
- liver problems
- past allergic reaction to amlodipine
Amlodipine and pregnancy
It is unknown whether you should take amlodipine oral tablet during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Amlodipine and breastfeeding
It is unknown whether you should take amlodipine oral tablet while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Amlodipine and alcohol
Amlodipine oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.
However, it’s possible that drinking alcohol while taking amlodipine may increase your risk of side effects from the drug. For example, both amlodipine and alcohol may cause the following side effects:
So, drinking alcohol while taking amlodipine may increase your risk of having these side effects.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with amlodipine oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of amlodipine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Do my other medications increase my risk of side effects from amlodipine?
- If I experience side effects from amlodipine, can you prescribe a different dose?
- What should I do if I become pregnant while taking amlodipine?
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Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.