Like all medicines, amlodipine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine.
Common side effects
These common side effects of amlodipine happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and only last for a short time.
There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Headaches
Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Try not to drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.
Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking amlodipine. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
Feeling dizzy
If amlodipine makes you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Do not drive, ride a bike or operate tools or machinery until the dizziness passes.
Flushing
Try cutting down on coffee, tea and alcohol. It might also help to keep the room cool and use a fan. You could also spray your face with cool water or sip cold or iced drinks.
This side effect should go away after a few days. If it does not go away or it's causing you problems, contact your doctor.
A pounding heartbeat
If this happens regularly after you take your medicine, try to take amlodipine at a time when you can sit down (or lie down) when the symptoms are at their worst. It may help to cut down on alcohol, smoking, caffeine, and big meals as these may make the problem worse.
Speak to your doctor if you have a history of heart disease and the palpitations last a long time, get worse or do not improve or if you are worried.
Swollen ankles
Raise your legs when you're sitting down.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and the side effects bother you or last for more than a few days.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects after taking amlodipine are rare and happen in less than 1 in 10,000 people.
Call a doctor or call 111 now if:
- you have stomach problems – severe pain in your stomach, with or without diarrhoea (whether it has blood in it or not), feeling sick and being sick (nausea and vomiting) – these can be signs of pancreatitis
- the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin – this can be a sign of liver problems
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- you get chest pain that does not stop after a few minutes or is new or worse if you already have angina
Chest pain is a possible sign of a heart attack and needs to be checked out as soon as possible.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to amlodipine.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of amlodipine For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.