Has anyone got any thoughts or information on Amlodipine and its possible negative effects on muscles, post stroke? I’m thinking in terms of it blocking calcium from going into muscle and wondering about long term effects of this. As in, could it impede recovery? I’ve got some issues going on which I’ll write about later in the hope that someone here might have experienced the same. At the moment though, my thoughts are on Amlodipine which is the only medication I take.
Trace
Amlodipine and I do not get along. Convinced the swelling I was experiencing was an effect of that drug I tried abstaining from its use for while and yes the swollen legs and so on began to return to something like normal. Apparently this is a recognised side effect. Unfortunately taking the drug had made movement difficult and uncomfortable. I was making no progress with attempting to relearn walking.
The local surgery sent around a practise nurse and it was agreed that I would be taken off Amlodipine and put on something else. Very soon the swelling returned. It turned out the substitute was the same drug with a different name. I suppose that was supposed to trick my body into not swelling up. After several attempts to offer a differently packaged version of that same drug I made it clear I was not taking it no matter what name it was labelled with. Incidentally the swelling had virtually disappeared and I was making progress with getting about on my feet. All this thanks to stopping the medication.
I think I was labelled ‘awkward customer’ but eventually they did manage to find an alternative.
I’m still not good at walking but the little I can do does make a difference. At least I am not bed bound any more.
Good luck dealing with it all Trace, stick to your guns and they just might find a real alternative for you.
Hi @Trace57 Amlodipine is a Calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension. It helps by relaxing and widening blood vessels. I take 5mg a day ; not that much, but still. I think it’s key to balance Mg / Ca because these meds can lower Mg ; so I take lots of Mg also because I take very high doses of D3.
I am not a fan of something depleting my Mg and it has caused disruption since day 1. Is it Ca not getting into my muscles? not sure ; I have had lots of RLS at night and spasms and hypertonic leg muscles.
Let us know what you find out ; I’m interested
thx, Roland
Yes, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) can affect the calcium-magnesium balance in your electrolytes, though the impact varies depending on the type of CCB and individual factors.
Direct Effect on Calcium Channels:
Potential Hypomagnesemia (Low Magnesium):
Impact on Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) & Calcium Homeostasis:
Magnesium’s Protective Role:
CCBs can subtly shift the calcium-magnesium balance, often leading to mild magnesium loss. While severe electrolyte disturbances are rare, monitoring Mg²⁺ (and correcting deficiencies) may optimize CCB therapy and cardiovascular outcomes.
Would you like specific recommendations for magnesium supplementation with CCBs?
Since CCBs (especially dihydropyridines like amlodipine) may increase urinary magnesium loss, some patients can benefit from supplementation—but the approach should be individualized.
Patients with symptoms of hypomagnesemia:
High-risk groups:
Patients on non-DHP CCBs (verapamil/diltiazem):
Different magnesium supplements vary in absorption and side effects:
| Form of Magnesium | Bioavailability | Best For | Potential Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium glycinate | High (~80%) | Best overall (well-absorbed, gentle on gut) | Minimal (rare loose stools) |
| Magnesium citrate | Moderate (~50%) | Constipation relief | May cause diarrhea in high doses |
| Magnesium malate | Moderate | Fatigue, muscle pain | Mild GI effects |
| Magnesium L-threonate | High (crosses BBB) | Cognitive support (anxiety, memory) | Expensive, less studied |
| Magnesium oxide | Low (~4%) | Not ideal (poor absorption) | Laxative effect, bloating |
Avoid magnesium oxide—it’s poorly absorbed and mostly acts as a laxative.
Caution:
Encourage Mg²⁺-rich foods:
Would you like guidance on specific CCB-magnesium combinations (e.g., amlodipine vs. diltiazem)?
I was already on Ramapril before my stroke. Then had Amlodipine added after my stroke. It certainly hasn’t hindered any of my progress. But everyone’s different and so there are always those who have adverse reactions to certain medications.
Lorraine
Hello Trace - I am pretty sure I have mentioned this before, and I am not sure if it will be any help to you at all but I will add my (Mum’s experience) with Amlodipine.
Mum never took any meds pre-stroke except B12 vitamin top-ups which she also stopped after a while. Whilst in the stroke unit, she ended up on some medications including Amlodipine. Upon discharge, we followed the advice to carry on taking the medications.
With time we noticed things happening and we wondered if the meds were responsible. As time passed, we talked to the healthcare support team members and one by one, started taking the medications off. As I recall, Mum was taken off Amlodipine following admission to the hospital, but I can’t remember exactly what symptom led the consultant to say to us that Amlodipine was not helping and we should stop it.
Like I said, it probably doesn’t help you and also Mum’s condition was probably quite different to yours as at now.
Anyway, it’s just another observation and comment that may or may not prove of help.
@EmeraldEyes @pando @ManjiB @Bobbi
Thanks for all your replies. I’ll respond when I can - life interruption taking up all my time right now😳
Trace
Hi Pando
Thank you for your informative and detailed posting.
Great stuff.
Cheers
Welcome, @Poncho
Today I learnt Calcium Channel Blockers are the crowning achievement of Western medicine. The book that convinced me is “Magnesium Reversing Disease” by Thomas E. Levy… my 3rd book I’m reading on magnesium (which is a natural calcium channel blocker) ie. no sexual hormone negatives and no thyroid negatives
ciao, pando
Thank you for letting me know your experience with Amlodipine, @Bobbi. I’m glad you got the BP meds sorted out eventually. They all have side effects but not everyone gets them! It’s the long term effects that bother me which is why I’m working towards stopping them one day if I can. Anyway. I’m loving your YouTube channel. 15k views on one of your videos!! Please keep on keepin’ on😁
Trace
Thank you for this extensive info, Roland. Very interesting read.
I’m on 10mg Amlodipine which I’m not happy about. As we know, it treats the symptoms but not the cause and my GP has never been interested in investigating the cause. My concerns are with the long term effects, not just of Amlodipine but any BP med I might need if I’m unable to reduce my BP naturally.
But I’m glad to have learned that Amlodipine can deplete Mg. I get a fair bit of Mg through diet but don’t know if my Mg levels are optimal and from my understanding, a standard blood test doesn’t give an accurate result because it can’t determine Mg levels in bones and tissue. I’ve started supplementing with around 1000mg of Mg L Threonate throughout the day because, like you, I take a high-ish dose of Vit D3 (5000iu) and K2 (MK7). (I know you take 10,000iu). I’m due a blood test so will make sure electrolytes are ok as Amlodipine can mess with all of them.
Thank you again for all the info.
Trace
I’ll be looking into this!
Trace
Thanks for replying, Lorraine. Not sure if I’m necessarily having an adverse reaction - I’m more concerned over the damage it might be inflicting on my body!!
Trace
To be honest, I’m quite happy to bury my head in the sand on that one.
No medication is without risk, even taking paracetamol risks internal damage! But being at more of an immediate risk of another stroke, that for me, out weighs the longer term risks as to what it might do to my liver or kidneys and such.
That’s how I look at it anyway.
Lorraine
Thank you for your reply @ManjiB. It’s helpful to know when other people have had problems with the same drugs and even though you can’t recall what the problem was in this instance, it was of enough concern for the doc to stop prescribing Amlodipine for your Mum. The way I see it, I’ve already lost a bit of independence and I don’t want to risk losing more because of a drug that could potentially be doing more harm to my body in the long term even though it’s purpose is to reduce risk of another stroke. My GP isn’t interested in investigating why my blood pressure spikes. So long as the numbers look good, he’s happy. But the cause of the spikes hasn’t gone away, of course. The only alternative is to try to manage the BP naturally, if that is possible. I’ve been trying a few things for a while now which seem to be making a difference. I’m hoping to be able to reduce the dose soon. That’s a start, at least😁
Trace
I understand what you’re saying. But if I can find another way………..
Trace
I have since checked our records and the cause of admission to hospital was hyponatremia which as you will now no doubt know occurs when the concentration of sodium in your blood is abnormally low. Mum’s reading was below the minimum.
The low sodium was causing her to have seizures/epileptic fits.
We were asked to stop amlodipine with immediate effect and they gave some anti-seizure or seizure preventative medications which we did not take because of the side effects that were listed.
So no amlodipine and no anti-seizure meds as routine.
Mum was left with Insulin jabs (which were also a problem but the GP refused to take her off it) and 75mg Asprin.
Eventually with the help of a supportive DN (diabetic specialist) Mum was gradually taken off insulin by reducing the dose and checking the sugar levels.
Since then she only takes 75 mg asprin as preventative.
Due to her diet (food supplement Ensure bottles, she needs help with Fibre and salt).
We give her half teaspoon of salt in her daily fluid drinks and she has 30 ml of HyFiber.
Essentially, Mum is now as she was pre-stroke wrt meds. We have considered stopping the asprin as well but with the low dose and no noticeable side effects we are continuing with that.
We wish you success in coming off amlodipine if that is what you wish to do.
Here’s my latest clip, in which I talk a little about calcium channel blockers
Great video Roland - very informative.
Very well presented (as always) and wonderful music.
Thank you for sharing.
I have noticed Magnesium being mentioned quite a bit in recent posts and I note the above as dietary sources of magnesium.
I was very pleased to learn that, without even knowing it, I am probably doing well in terms of my daily DV intakes as I eat pumpkin seeds, spinach (and other greens), almonds, cashews (occasionally) and dark chocolate, quinoa as well as flax seeds etc.
Nice 
I agree. But I am unsure whether statins are calcium channel blockers as Dr Google seems to offer differing views…I guess most of us are on statins as well as any other meds.