12 Worst Side Effects of Amlodipine You Should Never Ignore
Amlodipine is widely used for high blood pressure and angina. Most side effects are mild, but some symptoms deserve prompt medical attention.
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Severe or worsening chest pain — especially new chest pain or pain that doesn’t settle. Rarely, worsening angina or a heart attack can occur, particularly after starting or increasing the dose in people with severe coronary artery disease.
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Severe difficulty breathing — particularly if it occurs suddenly or with swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
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Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat — this can indicate a serious allergic reaction and requires emergency attention.
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Fainting or severe light-headedness — may indicate excessively low blood pressure or another cardiovascular problem.
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A very fast or abnormal heartbeat — palpitations are a recognized side effect, but a persistent or severe abnormal heartbeat should be assessed.
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Sudden severe abdominal pain — particularly persistent pain with nausea or vomiting, which can rarely indicate pancreatitis.
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Severe abdominal pain with back pain and feeling very unwell — this combination can occur with pancreatic inflammation.
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Yellow skin or yellowing of the whites of the eyes — this may indicate a liver problem and warrants medical assessment.
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A severe blistering or peeling skin rash — rare serious reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported.
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Widespread painful skin, mouth, or eye sores — especially when accompanied by fever or skin peeling; seek urgent medical attention.
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Severe or persistent swelling of the legs/ankles — ankle and leg edema is actually one of amlodipine’s most common effects and is often dose-related. It isn’t usually an emergency, but persistent or troublesome swelling should be discussed with your prescriber.
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Marked weakness, dizziness, or unusual sleepiness — these can occur with amlodipine and are particularly important if they’re severe or associated with very low blood pressure
