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Amlodipine and Atorvastatin

(83 Posts)
Welshy Tue 11-Mar-25 12:16:23

Good afternoon

I had a Dr's appointment this morning as I had been checking my BP and it was very high.

I was given Amlodipine 5mg one tablet once a day & Atorvastatin 20mg one tablet once a day.

I have never taken any medication for BP or Cholesterol, so this is all new to me.
I have anxiety which doesn't help.

I am looking for any advice before I start them. I am 65 years old.

Thank you in advance.

Marydoll Wed 12-Mar-25 14:39:53

I take both, with no side effects, along with Ferusamide, Clopidrogel, Ramapril and Ranolazine.
They keep my heart in a stable condition.
I don't have high chlorestoral, but taking it is a belt and braces approach.

Allalongagatha Wed 12-Mar-25 14:21:25

I take both. Amiopodine reduce fluid retention. As well as high BP I have kidney disease. So my ankles were really swollen. No problems with either med.

Suzysues Wed 12-Mar-25 14:16:09

I had to go to A&E a few weeks ago with a nose bleed that wouldn't stop. It did eventually, but my blood pressure was really high. I was given Amlodipine at 10mg a day. I have been taking it every day and checking my blood pressure, it has come down quickly to normal levels, bordering on going low (109/68) I am expecting my GP to reduce my dose at my next check up (fingers crossed) I am 64, very fit and healthy a good weight. But I suffer with anxiety, so can only assume it's that that has caused it. My hubby has had a few health scares lately, so that has made me more anxious, including health anxiety. I have signed up for CBT to help my stress levels. I felt a bit weird the first few days I took Amlodipine, so I now take it at night and am fine.

ExaltedWombat Wed 12-Mar-25 14:11:43

You've had informed, professional advice. You want some lower-value advice too? Well, Gransnet is the place!

Sounds like standard blood pressure and cholesterol medication. Same as I take. What's frightening you?

suelld Wed 12-Mar-25 14:07:12

I was on Amlodopine for decades, all worked fine , no side effects, until after about 20+ years of usage I got ankle / lower leg swelling… turned out to be the Amlodopine. Switched to another BP med, not a lot better, finally now on a different one and much improved. Atorvastatin I take one at night, the only side effect is occasional bouts of flatulence! Tho as I’m prone to that anyway, not 100% sure it’s the Atorvastin! 80 next year!

Glenfinnan Wed 12-Mar-25 13:56:27

I take both the same… no side effects!

Nan0 Wed 12-Mar-25 13:54:42

I had the same diagnosed last Nnovember and started on just the 1 a day amlodipine, after a week or so I realised I no longer felt anxious in the same way as before, a lot more relaxed, no headaches or migraines and try to drink decaffeinated coffee..Maybe the tablets won't have the same effect, for you, but do go ahead and try, you may feel so much better..am trying to lose weight too, if it helps get bp down a lot, then could try not having the tablet..and see if stays down or not. Good luck with it, give it a go

Mt61 Tue 11-Mar-25 23:43:03

Pamelaj1 need to book a well woman check, ask for blood work to be done- checking your cholesterol, vit D, b12 levels. Just booked mine

Welshy Tue 11-Mar-25 22:40:20

NotSpaghetti

I took this for a while and it certainly worked like a charm on my cholesterol... Unfortunately it upset my stomach so I'm trying another now. It was a major decision for me too.

I do know how difficult it is to accept medical "help" when you have previously been fine.
flowers

NotSpaghetti Thank you so much for the link. It's surprising how many people are taking them and for many years too.

I am taking other medication for arthritis and sciatica. Plus I have had health anxiety for years.

I hope your new statin works for you and doesn't give you any side effects.

NotSpaghetti Tue 11-Mar-25 20:54:39

I took this for a while and it certainly worked like a charm on my cholesterol... Unfortunately it upset my stomach so I'm trying another now. It was a major decision for me too.

I do know how difficult it is to accept medical "help" when you have previously been fine.
flowers

NotSpaghetti Tue 11-Mar-25 20:50:49

Here it is:
www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1345984-Atorvastatin-Your-experiences-please

NotSpaghetti Tue 11-Mar-25 20:49:11

Atorvastatin is one of the stations- it lowers cholesterol and triglycerides.

I think there's a recent thread about it? Will check.

Welshy Tue 11-Mar-25 20:21:15

HowVeryDareYou2

That is the problem, so many side effects with any medication.
Some people are fine, other are not sad

HowVeryDareYou2 Tue 11-Mar-25 19:56:22

My cholesterol is 3.7, so I don't need statins

HowVeryDareYou2 Tue 11-Mar-25 19:55:40

Welshy I was given Lercanidipine, but another GP told me to stop that as it caused me to have Vasculitis (I have it in all my limbs). That was a couple of years ago. Then I had Ramipril, was taken off it 2 weeks ago as the GP thought that it was causing my ongoing cough. I'm now on Doxyzosin.

My stroke wasn't caused by hypertension.

Welshy Tue 11-Mar-25 19:18:34

Thank you all so much for your replies smile

Commonground I hope I have the same outcome as you & have no side effects. Fingers crossed.
I know we are all different.

Rosie51 That was one of my concerns which I had read about, the swelling. The Dr reassured me that if that happens, there are others to try.

crazyH Good to hear you have had no side effects either. As my cholesterol was up last year and I was telling this new Dr about the heart disease in my family, this is why he said it was wise for me to take the statins.

PinkCosmos That is good after only 6 weeks your BP is now normal.
I have been having headaches, hot flushes and blurry eyes. Which I have booked the opticians for at the end of the week.
I am like you, I don't like the thought of taking them but as you say far better than a heart attack or stroke!
I haven't touched any alcohol since lockdown and I gave up smoking in 2001.

Whiff Good to hear you have suffered no side effects.

HowVeryDareYou2 Sorry to hear that neither medication worked for you. Were you not offered an alternative? As you had had a stroke.

HowVeryDareYou2 Tue 11-Mar-25 15:34:11

I was put on Amlodipine and Atorvastatin, following a stroke almost 4 years ago (they said caused by Covid, I hadn't ever had high cholesterol or BP). My GP stopped the Amlodipine when my legs and feet became very swollen. I stopped the Atorvastatin as my legs ached and felt so heavy all the time. My cholesterol is 3.7 without any tablets.

Whiff Tue 11-Mar-25 13:48:37

I have been on Amitriptyline since 1992. The last 3 years I take 10mg 3 times a day for nerve pain . And started taking Atorvastatin 20mg since January as after an angiography found slight furring in my right artery . Haven't suffered from any side effects from either. I do take 5 other sort of tablets and been fine taking them all.

PamelaJ1 Tue 11-Mar-25 13:19:32

Commonground

I was prescribed Atorvastatin to lower my cholesterol level, recently. In three months it has gone down from 7.1 to 4.4 I have had no side effects.

Wow lucky you, I’ve been on it for about 6months now along with Bisoprolol and no one at my surgery has been in the slightest bit interested in a follow up blood test.

Jaxjacky Tue 11-Mar-25 13:10:10

I’m unsure why you’re asking advice on here? We’re all individual and can react differently to medication.
Your GP is the most qualified person and has prescribed drugs to help improve your health, as others have said, take them and see how you are after a month or two

PinkCosmos Tue 11-Mar-25 13:08:30

I was put on Amlodipine about six weeks ago due to very high blood pressure. I don't have an issue with cholesterol.

I am 67 and have never taken long term medication before. I have posted on GN about it recently.

I am currently taking 10mg Amlodipine each morning. It has brought my blood pressure down to a normal level. I have a bp monitor at home.

In order to help my bp, I am also trying to lose weight and have lost almost a stone so far. I have also given up my nightly half (at least) bottle of wine.

I also worry about side effects. Since starting the medication I have had headaches on some days but not others. I don't know whether the headaches are just headaches or whether they are side effects. Sometimes my head feels a bit fuzzy but that could be just me! I haven't had anything else that I could put down to a side effect. They do say that any side effects should ease within a few weeks.

However, I am thinking of asking if I can reduce the dose to maybe 7 1/2mg, provided my blood pressure stays OK.

I don't like the thought of taking medication but I have told myself that it is far better to take it than have a stroke or heart attack.

I know quite a few people who take Amlodipine with no side effects at all.

There are so many different types of bp medication. I would just take the Amlodipine for a few weeks and see how you get on. If it doesn't suit you, you could ask to try another type.

crazyH Tue 11-Mar-25 12:49:45

Btw I have/had no side effects from Amlodipine

crazyH Tue 11-Mar-25 12:48:48

For the past 10 years , I have been on Amlodipine 5mg daily. My cholesterol was slightly raised but they advised me just to watch what I ate ie butter, cheese etc.
Yes, anxiety is an illness in itself 😂- I suffer from it, so I know ….

Luckygirl3 Tue 11-Mar-25 12:41:05

I have asked gransnet to delete my erroneous post caused by me misreading the original post. I would not want anyone to be misled.

Welshy - I really do think you should take the drugs - there might be a few side effects as with all drugs, but preventing you having a stroke is a priority. If you have any problems then there are lots of other drugs that do the same job and your GP can make changes if needs be.

kittylester Tue 11-Mar-25 12:37:59

My advice is to follow your doctor's advice.