Blood Pressure medication

[Matheous-2]

Anyone know which of these causes or, is linked with tinnitus? -Simvastatin, amlodipine?
Your response is appreciated.....

[bednobs]

amlodipine

[Matheous-2]

Thanks bednobs! -I was worried about a possible increased dose of simvastatin which I think has a worse reputation for side-effects than amlodipine.....Hopefully my GP might consider dropping the offensive one!

[bednobs]

amlodopine side effects:
abdominal pain, nausea; palpitation, flushing, oedema; headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, fatigue; less commonly gastro-intestinal disturbances, dry mouth, taste disturbances, hypotension, syncope, chest pain, dyspnoea, rhinitis, mood changes, asthenia, tremor, paraesthesia, urinary disturbances, impotence, gynaecomastia, weight changes, myalgia, muscle cramps, back pain, arthralgia, visual disturbances, tinnitus, pruritus, rashes (including isolated reports of erythema multiforme), sweating, alopecia, purpura, and skin discolouration; very rarely gastritis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, jaundice, cholestasis, gingival hyperplasia, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, tachycardia, vasculitis, coughing, peripheral neuropathy, hyperglycaemia, thrombocytopenia, angioedema, and urticaria
Simvastatin side effects =

[bednobs]

The statins can cause various muscular side-effects, including myositis, which can lead to rhabdomyolysis. Muscular effects are rare but often significant (see Muscle Effects below). Statins can cause gastro-intestinal disturbances, and very rarely pancreatitis. They can also cause altered liver function tests, and rarely hepatitis and jaundice; hepatic failure has been reported very rarely. Other side-effects include sleep disturbance, headache, dizziness, depression, paraesthesia, asthenia, peripheral neuropathy, amnesia, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, arthralgia, visual disturbance, alopecia, and hypersensitivity reactions (including rash, pruritus, urticaria, and very rarely lupus erythematosus-like reactions). In very rare cases, statins can cause interstitial lung disease; if patients develop symptoms such as dyspnoea, cough, and weight loss, they should seek medical attention.

Muscle effects Myalgia, myositis, myopathy and rarely rhabdomyolysis have been reported with the statins; if myopathy is suspected and creatine kinase is markedly elevated (more than 5 times upper limit of normal), or muscular symptoms are severe, treatment should be discontinued; in patients at increased risk of muscle effects, a statin should not be started if creatine kinase is elevated. Patients at increased risk of myopathy include those with a personal or family history of muscular disorders, previous history of muscular toxicity, those with a high alcohol intake, renal impairment, hypothyroidism, women, and the elderly. There is also an increased incidence of myopathy if a statin is given at a high dose or given with a fibrate, with lipid-lowering doses of nicotinic acid, or with drugs that increase the plasma-statin concentration, such as ciclosporin; close monitoring of liver function and, if symptomatic, of creatine kinase is required in patients receiving these drugs. Rhabdomyolysis with acute renal impairment secondary to myoglobinuria has also b

[Sqad]

Neither.

As a 100-1 outsider..........Amlodipine.

[McMouse]

I had some issues with Simvastatin and changed to Atorvastatin.......no probs

[Sqad]

I have had a rethink and have changed my opinion. To>>>>>>>>

Neither.

As a 10,000-1 outsider amlodipine.

[sandyRoe]

For some months I have had a maddening itch on my arms, shoulders, and back. I take the following medicines: Bisoprolol 5mg, Amlodipine 5mg, Ramipril 10mg, Simvastatin 40mg, and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg.
Could one of these be responsible for the itching?

[Sqad]

Sandy......very, very unlikely.

[bednobs]

did any of them start just before the itch started?

[sandyRoe]

No. I've been taking them for some time and the itch is fairly recent.

[anneasquith]

sandy, do you get your LFT*s checked regularly, as you are on statins ?

[mike11111]

Was recently prescribed Amlodipine as Perindopril on its own wasn't doing the biz. No side effects and BP now normal. Also take Pravastatin, but I think that's for cholesterol, not BP. Again, no side effects.

[Matheous-2]

So to conclude- would you suggest I ask my GP to try alternatives to these? I am taking my own BP readings and they are averaging out around 150/73......

[Matheous-2]

bednobs- I really must thank you individually for such a comprehensive list and for taking the time to type all that (or was it a copy/paste?) Either way thank you very much....