8 Habits You Should Stop This Year If You Are Taking Amlodipine – And Why

If you take amlodipine, you don’t need to follow a long list of “forbidden habits.” The important thing is to avoid behaviors that can worsen dizziness, low blood pressure, side effects, or drug interactions. Amlodipine is normally taken long-term, and you shouldn’t stop it suddenly without medical advice.

8 habits to reconsider

1. Don’t skip doses or stop amlodipine because you feel well.
   High blood pressure often has no symptoms, and stopping treatment can allow your blood pressure to rise.
2. Don’t routinely ignore dizziness.
   Amlodipine can cause dizziness. If you’re dizzy or sleepy, avoid driving or operating machinery until you’re back to normal.
3. Don’t drink large amounts of alcohol.
   Alcohol can increase the blood-pressure-lowering effect and make dizziness or low blood pressure more likely.
4. Be cautious with grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
   NHS guidance recommends avoiding them while taking amlodipine because they may increase the chance of side effects.
5. Don’t regularly self-treat pain with NSAIDs without checking first.
   Medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen can interact with blood-pressure treatment and can themselves cause kidney and other problems, particularly with prolonged use. Ask a pharmacist or doctor if you use them regularly.
6. Don’t start herbal remedies or supplements casually.
   Some medicines and supplements can interact with amlodipine, including St John’s wort and certain antifungals, antibiotics and other medicines. Tell your pharmacist about everything you take.
7. Don’t ignore persistent ankle or leg swelling.
   Swollen ankles, feet and legs are among the common side effects of amlodipine. If swelling is troublesome or doesn’t settle, discuss it with your doctor rather than simply stopping the medicine yourself.
8. Don’t assume every new medicine is automatically compatible.
   A particularly important example is simvastatin: amlodipine increases simvastatin exposure, and official prescribing information limits simvastatin to 20 mg/day when used with amlodipine.

One important distinction

These aren’t reasons to become afraid of amlodipine. Most people can take it safely, and it is an established treatment for high blood pressure and angina.

If you develop severe dizziness/fainting, difficulty breathing, facial or throat swelling, or severe persistent abdominal pain, seek prompt medical attention