Amlodipine and Atorvastatin

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

and the atorvastatin is an anticoagulant for preventing clot-caused strokes - it is not for lowering cholesterol.
Are you sure? My husband was prescribed this medication exactly for lowering his cholesterol after diet changes failed to do so.
^

Luckygirl3

Amlodipine is for your high BP; and the atorvastatin is an anticoagulant for preventing clot-caused strokes - it is not for lowering cholesterol.

Did they order any blood tests? - e.g. cholesterol.

If you feel unclear about what is going on it might be best to speak with the doc again - perhaps you can get a phone appointment?

I am on an anti-coagulant, similar to the one that you have been given, and also on various other heart drugs. A lot of people over 65 are on these. There is a balance to be struck between efficacy and side effects, but if you BP was very high you would be wise to take the tablets in order to avoid a stroke. Sometimes there needs to be a compromise.

Thank you for your reply Luckygirl3

When I had my cholesterol checked last year it was raised.

There is a lot of heart problems in my family.

I have to return to have all bloods done on the 20th.

I beg your pardon - I misread the drug as Apixaban.

Atorvastatin is indeed for lowering cholesterol.

It sounds as if the GP has done exactly the right things and the OP should take the prescribed drugs.

I was prescribed Atorvastatin to lower my cholesterol level, recently. In three months it has gone down from 7.1 to 4.4 I have had no side effects.

Welshy my husband has been on Atorvastatin for years with no side effects at all. I was prescribed Amlodipine and while it worked brilliantly to reduce my BP it caused awful swelling in my feet and ankles. I was changed to Lercanidipine and have been fine. Give the medications a try, if you get unpleasant side effects the GP will try a different variety but these are the most commonly prescribed forms and work for most people.

My advice is to follow your doctor's advice.

I have asked gransnet to delete my erroneous post caused by me misreading the original post. I would not want anyone to be misled.

Welshy - I really do think you should take the drugs - there might be a few side effects as with all drugs, but preventing you having a stroke is a priority. If you have any problems then there are lots of other drugs that do the same job and your GP can make changes if needs be.

For the past 10 years , I have been on Amlodipine 5mg daily. My cholesterol was slightly raised but they advised me just to watch what I ate ie butter, cheese etc.
Yes, anxiety is an illness in itself 😂- I suffer from it, so I know ….

Btw I have/had no side effects from Amlodipine

I was put on Amlodipine about six weeks ago due to very high blood pressure. I don't have an issue with cholesterol.

I am 67 and have never taken long term medication before. I have posted on GN about it recently.

I am currently taking 10mg Amlodipine each morning. It has brought my blood pressure down to a normal level. I have a bp monitor at home.

In order to help my bp, I am also trying to lose weight and have lost almost a stone so far. I have also given up my nightly half (at least) bottle of wine.

I also worry about side effects. Since starting the medication I have had headaches on some days but not others. I don't know whether the headaches are just headaches or whether they are side effects. Sometimes my head feels a bit fuzzy but that could be just me! I haven't had anything else that I could put down to a side effect. They do say that any side effects should ease within a few weeks.

However, I am thinking of asking if I can reduce the dose to maybe 7 1/2mg, provided my blood pressure stays OK.

I don't like the thought of taking medication but I have told myself that it is far better to take it than have a stroke or heart attack.

I know quite a few people who take Amlodipine with no side effects at all.

There are so many different types of bp medication. I would just take the Amlodipine for a few weeks and see how you get on. If it doesn't suit you, you could ask to try another type.

I’m unsure why you’re asking advice on here? We’re all individual and can react differently to medication.
Your GP is the most qualified person and has prescribed drugs to help improve your health, as others have said, take them and see how you are after a month or two

Commonground

I was prescribed Atorvastatin to lower my cholesterol level, recently. In three months it has gone down from 7.1 to 4.4 I have had no side effects.

Wow lucky you, I’ve been on it for about 6months now along with Bisoprolol and no one at my surgery has been in the slightest bit interested in a follow up blood test.

I have been on Amitriptyline since 1992. The last 3 years I take 10mg 3 times a day for nerve pain . And started taking Atorvastatin 20mg since January as after an angiography found slight furring in my right artery . Haven't suffered from any side effects from either. I do take 5 other sort of tablets and been fine taking them all.

I was put on Amlodipine and Atorvastatin, following a stroke almost 4 years ago (they said caused by Covid, I hadn't ever had high cholesterol or BP). My GP stopped the Amlodipine when my legs and feet became very swollen. I stopped the Atorvastatin as my legs ached and felt so heavy all the time. My cholesterol is 3.7 without any tablets.

Thank you all so much for your replies

Commonground I hope I have the same outcome as you & have no side effects. Fingers crossed.
I know we are all different.

Rosie51 That was one of my concerns which I had read about, the swelling. The Dr reassured me that if that happens, there are others to try.

crazyH Good to hear you have had no side effects either. As my cholesterol was up last year and I was telling this new Dr about the heart disease in my family, this is why he said it was wise for me to take the statins.

PinkCosmos That is good after only 6 weeks your BP is now normal.
I have been having headaches, hot flushes and blurry eyes. Which I have booked the opticians for at the end of the week.
I am like you, I don't like the thought of taking them but as you say far better than a heart attack or stroke!
I haven't touched any alcohol since lockdown and I gave up smoking in 2001.

Whiff Good to hear you have suffered no side effects.

HowVeryDareYou2 Sorry to hear that neither medication worked for you. Were you not offered an alternative? As you had had a stroke.

Welshy I was given Lercanidipine, but another GP told me to stop that as it caused me to have Vasculitis (I have it in all my limbs). That was a couple of years ago. Then I had Ramipril, was taken off it 2 weeks ago as the GP thought that it was causing my ongoing cough. I'm now on Doxyzosin.

My stroke wasn't caused by hypertension.

My cholesterol is 3.7, so I don't need statins

HowVeryDareYou2

That is the problem, so many side effects with any medication.
Some people are fine, other are not

Atorvastatin is one of the stations- it lowers cholesterol and triglycerides.

I think there's a recent thread about it? Will check.

Here it is:
www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1345984-Atorvastatin-Your-experiences-please

I took this for a while and it certainly worked like a charm on my cholesterol... Unfortunately it upset my stomach so I'm trying another now. It was a major decision for me too.

I do know how difficult it is to accept medical "help" when you have previously been fine.

NotSpaghetti

I took this for a while and it certainly worked like a charm on my cholesterol... Unfortunately it upset my stomach so I'm trying another now. It was a major decision for me too.

I do know how difficult it is to accept medical "help" when you have previously been fine.

NotSpaghetti Thank you so much for the link. It's surprising how many people are taking them and for many years too.

I am taking other medication for arthritis and sciatica. Plus I have had health anxiety for years.

I hope your new statin works for you and doesn't give you any side effects.

Pamelaj1 need to book a well woman check, ask for blood work to be done- checking your cholesterol, vit D, b12 levels. Just booked mine