Why does Norvasc make my legs and ankles swell?

Norvasc (amlodipine) belongs to a group of medicines called calcium antagonists used to treat high blood pressure and angina. Swelling of the legs and ankles is one of the common side effects of this drug. The mechanism of this phenomenon is that amlodipine dilates blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure but at the same time increases pressure in the small capillaries. As a result, fluids leak from the vessels into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling.

The risk of oedema is dose-dependent – the higher the dose of amlodipine, the more likely it is that you will develop oedema. If the swelling is mild, your doctor may only monitor you or recommend that you reduce your dose. In some cases, combination therapy with other medications, such as ACE inhibitors or ARBs, is also used, which can reduce this side effect.

In this situation, I encourage you to consult a doctor, especially if the swelling is severe or accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath or pain, to rule out more serious health problems.

I encourage you to report the symptoms you experience to your doctor, as well as to report the occurrence of an adverse effect of the preparation. Reporting side effects allows you to increase control over medicines available on the market. We wrote about how to do it here: 

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/artykuly/jak-i-dlaczego-zglaszac-dzialania-niepozadane

If you need more personalized advice, you can use teleconsultations here:

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/telekonsultacja/

The advice is provided in Polish.

The availability of Norvasc in pharmacies in Polish can be checked at the following address:

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/produkty/54537/norvasc-tabletki/apteki