You might be thinking about switching to Amlodipine, as it can be used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing the muscle cells in the walls of your blood vessels, which in turn lowers your blood pressure. According to research, Amlodipine can make you lose weight. Here’s what you need to know.
Key Facts About Amlodipine
Amlodipine is a prescription drug that you may need to take for hypertension. If you’re just looking for facts about Amlodipine, you can read the FDA prescribing information here. It’s important to mention that Amlodipine interacts with a variety of other medications, supplements, and foods. This makes it very difficult to determine what might interact with Amlodipine and cause serious side effects. If you’re not sure what any of these things are, you should probably avoid them while taking Amlodipine.
Why You Might Lose Weight While Taking Amlodipine
This drug is known to aid in the breakdown of adipose tissue (fat). This is important because when you have too much adipose tissue, it can negatively impact your health. Adipose tissue is important because it stores energy (calories). Having too much of it can make you heavier even if you are eating the same amount of food as before. This is because the body needs more energy (calories) to maintain a proper functioning metabolism. For this reason, Amlodipine can make you lose weight.
How Long Does It Take For Amlodipine To Make You Lose Weight?
According to the available research, it takes anywhere from three to six months for Amlodipine to start working its magic on your tummy. During this time, you might notice that your weight starts to fluctuate. Sometimes you’ll lose a little, while other times you might gain a little. However, you should not experience any major fluctuations in weight as this could be dangerous.
Is It Safe To Take Amlodipine With Other Medications And Foods?
Like many other medications, Amlodipine can interact with certain foods and supplements. Since blood pressure can fluctuate depending on what you eat and drink, it’s important to take this into consideration when combining Amlodipine with other medications or supplements. For instance, eating foods high in salt can cause your blood pressure to rise, which in turn might cause you to gain weight. Taking Amlodipine with supplements high in vitamin C can also cause your blood pressure to rise, so be careful about what supplements you’re taking while on this drug.
When Should You Not Take Amlodipine?
Amlodipine should not be taken with vitamin A or vitamin C supplements due to its interaction with these nutrients. It also interacts with medications that are organic compounds, so avoid those, too.
Side Effects Of Amlodipine
While Amlodipine can be a valuable tool in maintaining healthy blood pressure and a desirable weight, it’s also vital to keep in mind its side effects. From 2008 to 2016, the FDA issued 16,900 reports of adverse events associated with Amlodipine. Side effects range from mild to severe, and in some cases, they were even life-threatening. The following is a partial list of the side effects reported by the FDA, and although it may be helpful to know what these are, it’s still not worth the risk if you can avoid them.
- Headache
- Flushing
- Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
- Diarrhea
- Nasal Congestion
- Dizziness
- Palpitations (rapid heart beat)
- Rash
- Back Pain
- Arrhythmias (irregular heart beat)
- Chest Pain
- Facial Edema (swelling)
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
It’s also important to mention that while Amlodipine has been proven to lower blood pressure and make you lose weight, it does not mean that it’s the perfect medication for everybody. Some patients may need to try other blood pressure medications or undergo bariatric surgery before they start seeing any significant results from taking Amlodipine. And with so many people being prescribed this medication, it’s quite possible that some individuals may experience undesirable side effects that are drug-related. In 2010, the FDA issued a warning about the potential side effects of Amlodipine. Here are some of the key things the FDA said in that warning:
- “Adverse events, including fatal and serious adverse events, have been reported in post-marketing experience for Amlodipine. The most commonly reported adverse reactions associated with Amlodipine include headache, flushing/blushing, dizziness, diarrhea, dyspnea, tachycardia, and chest pain. Many of these reactions are believed to be due to vasodilation (widening of blood vessels). As a result of these vasodilations, patients may experience dizziness, headaches, and blushing, especially in the presence of sunlight or stress. In some cases, these adverse reactions have led to hospitalization and/or death.”
- “According to package insert information, Amlodipine is currently not recommended for use in patients with renal (kidney) dysfunction. Caution should be exercised in patients with a history of angina (chest pain), heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or hypotension (low blood pressure).”
- “The safety and effectiveness of Amlodipine in patients with moderate to severe hepatic (liver) impairment has not been established.”
- “Although the weight loss properties of Amlodipine have been well-established in clinical trials, the medication is still not approved for use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (blood sugar control disorders) or sleep apnea (reduced breathing during sleep). The use of Amlodipine in these patients has not been evaluated and may be dangerous.”
- “Amlodipine has not been studied in patients younger than 18 years old, in pregnant women, or in those who are breastfeeding. Caution should be exercised in these populations.”
Overdose
According to the FDA, there have been eight cases of severe adverse reactions (including two deaths) due to Amlodipine overdose. The majority of these cases of overdose occurred in people who were also taking certain other medications or supplements alongside Amlodipine. If you or a loved one has overdosed on this medication, contact your local poison control center immediately. Be sure to describe what medication(s) you are taking, including the dosage, and if you are not allergic to any ingredients in these medications, what foods you are eating or drinking.
Hopefully, this article has answered your questions about Amlodipine and provided you with enough information to make the right decision for your body. Keep in mind that it can take several months for Amlodipine to start working its magic on your body, so be patient.