High Blood Pressure Support Group

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a medical condition wherein the blood pressure is chronically elevated. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Doctors recommend weight loss and regular exercise as the first steps in treating mild to moderate...

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Heart, Blood & Circulation
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Edema with new meds

Frisc
Frisc
I have been taking 240MG Diltiazem for about 2 years with no side effects, I recently got on 5MG Amlodipine Besylate along with it. Right after the additon of the Amlodipine I noticed when I take my socks off at night, there are huge indents where my socks were. My socks are not tight. I looked up the side effects of the Amlodipine and came up with the Edema being a side effect.

I just started drinking alot more water to try to stop it, but it doesn't seem to change. I can't feel any discomfort, and once I sit down in my recliner with no socks, it goes down within an hour or so, but it still worries me, especially with the other listed causes of edema.

I had a Cardioligist but he released me to my family Dr. since my only real issue is high BP. The Cardioligist had me for about 2 years and did heart tests, cardio grams etc.. and everything was normal except a slight elevation of protien in my urine.

Is there anything that will eleviate the edema? It's winter now, but in the summer I don't want to have shorts on and have these indents around my socks. I'm not heavy, I have thin legs actually, my feet or ankles don't swell, it's just the indents around my socks.

Thanks
skope2
skope2
what does your dr say? I'd be on the phone every day or in his office! Make sure he knows your retaining fluid from that pill! Get a second opinion if you have too!
skope2
skope2
I couldnt take that pill either, it made me cough like lisinopril.
Frisc
Frisc
I've only been on it for about 2 weeks now. The Cardioligist prescribed the Amlodipine Besylate, then released me to my Family Dr. I didn't think the Edema was a reaon to call the Dr. since it is listed as a known side effect.

My BP is the lowest it's been in 2 years (average 132/82) but I have also been drinking alot of water and watching what I eat. I was guilty of eating whatever I wanted in the past, but am now taking a healty approach becaue I would ultimately like to get off the Amlodipine completely since it is causig the Edema. I havn't had a Coke in a week, NO fast food, I never drank coffee, so I am caffine free. I am eating salads (no dressing)

So next question would be: If it is a know side effect is that reason to call the Dr. or quit taking the pill alltogether?

Thanks
skope2
skope2
call the dr and tell him your ankles are swelling. also watch out for a cough. I couldnt take ace inhib's.... cough and water retension....I am not a dr, but watched close family members with high blood pressure lead to worse things. All I know is water retension makes it extra hard on your circulatory systems... makes your heart work harder, etc.... play it safe... talk to your dr (s)
skope2
skope2
opps, should of said socks makes marks....instead of swelling....
Frisc
Frisc
I didn't take the Amlodipine Besylate yesterday, I only tookl the Diltiazem, and I noticed last night the swelling was about 75% less than before. I'm not going to take in anymore. I have been really watching what I eat, and drinking lots of water and my BP is still down. I'm going to continue with my diet, water and taking my BP daily and then make an appointment with my family Dr. in the near future.

The cardioligist I had just wanted to throw different pills at me, and since my BP was down and I had no other issues he released me. So I really want to keep control of my diet and continue with just the Diltiazem and give it afew weeks before I go to my family Dr. so he can get an idea of where I am. But I will continue to monitor my BP daily.
JohnD1
JohnD1
Why was he giving you two different calcium channel blockers? The usual approach assuming you tolerate the calcium channel blocker is to add an ACE inhibitor or a diuretic.

I couldn't get on with amlodipine either, though not because of ankle swelling.
dsf95
dsf95
I live with lymphedema, which I was born with, so I can give some tips, I think :) but I do think you should switch to a med that doesn't give you swelling.
my back and foot massager help a lot. you can also have someone else massage you or do self massage. just get massage a couple of times everyday at least.
compression stockings help a lot, you can get some non prescription magic socks at the drug store as well.
biking is a godsend to me. I bike everyday.
last but not least, eat lots of fiber. I live on Fiber Choice tablets. eat fruits and veggies.
hope this helps...
deleted_user
deleted_user
Edema is tricky...and your body does have a tendency to retain fluid. Initially I was on a combination pill of lisinopril and hctz to remove the fluid. I'm not trying to scare you, but the last time that I had edema...I found out it was from a DVT (blood clot). You may want to request that your doctor write an order to have a doppler ultrasound on the leg to rule out blood clots. Take Care!
Frisc
Frisc
I have been off the Amlodipine Besylate for weeks now and havn't had anymore edema. I'm eating healty, and dropping weight, and my BP is down and staying down. I feel alot better and plan on keeping up my new diet. I have a physical job, so that helps. My goal is to keep this up and go see my family Dr. in a few months and see about getting on a lower dose of Dilatziem and see if I can keep my BP down with no meds eventually.