Amlodipine and swollen legs

weetabix wrote:

Has anyone taken this for High blood , I have been started on this and been on it a few weeks now. But my legs are swollen , they did say that my ankles may swell, but all my lower legs are swollen. my socks leave a line that casues bruising and then i get cappliarries that cause them as well . I have tiny red spots all over my lower legs and my knees are bright red.. they say all this is normal. don't know how much longer i can put up with it as my arthritis is bad enough in my legs without this as well. can anyone tell me if they have had this sort of reaction or not whilst on it. and does it get any better?
thanks
Weetabix

I used to take Amlodipine and had the same problems as yourself. I put up with it for about 3 or 4 years but eventually I came out in a massive allergic reaction around my sock area. It was a mass rash that was slowly creeping up my leg and was very itchy. I went to A & E when the rash suddenly went purple. I was given cream which cleared it up successfully but the area is still very sensitive even after about 7 years. I was taken off the tablets straight away.
It sounds like you might be sensitive to the med if spots are developing. I would discuss it with your GP. There must be an alternative that you can try. Sorry, I am not on BP meds at the moment so don't know what the alternatives are.
Please do get it checked before the rash gets worse.
Hugs
Elaine x

weetabix wrote:

Yes it was the doctor that said that is is normal.I don't see her now for a firther two weeks. But I think i may go before that . Ireally cab't put up with it the backs of my kness are very swollen . i have a sort of lump at the back of my knee. I have had it for years and its making this lump swell more and my walking is suffering more than ever now. they know that i am on other meds. they even said that the indomethacin makes the BP meds work less. But the I read somewhere that the indomethacin maybe to blame for the High Bp.. So I will haave to see what she says.

also my legs around my socks are getting very itchy too.

weetabix

I used to take Vioxx several years ago before it was withdrawn and that increased my BP just a touch but it was enough for me to need the Amlodopine as my BP was already borderline beforehand. Now I am not taking any NSAIDs I don't need the BP drugs. I now take Hydroxychloroqhine which doesn't affect my BP.
Hope you get sorted soon

Elaine x

weetabix wrote:

Hi Elaine. is that the one where you have to have your eyes tested every so often. or am i thinking of something else. I am def thinking of asking rhumey to take me off imdomethacin. of come off em for a bit and see what happens to my BP
the swelling is no better and i have sent half the day with my legs up on the sette. would love to go out for a while in the sun.
Weetabix

Hi Weetabix
Yes you do need to have regular eye examinations with Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). At least annually....6 monthly if poss. I also have 6 monthly blood tests too.
It is one of the milder DMARDs so is often tried first or as a combination with other meds. I have had 12 good months on it so far.