Amlodipine Side Effect: Why Your Ankles Are Swelling!

🧠 Is Amlodipine Causing Your Swelling? | Pharmacist Explains 💊👣

Have your ankles been looking puffy or swollen since starting Amlodipine for blood pressure?
You’re not alone — this is one of the most common side effects I see in my patients. But does that mean your medication is harming you? Or is it just a normal reaction of how Amlodipine works in your body?

In this video, I’ll explain exactly why Amlodipine causes swelling, what it means for your health, and most importantly — how to manage it safely without losing the blood pressure control you need.

As a clinical pharmacist, I’ll walk you through the science, real patient stories, and simple solutions that actually work.

💊 What You’ll Learn:

✅ What Amlodipine is and how it lowers blood pressure
✅ Why it can cause ankle and foot swelling (the science in plain English)
✅ What you can do to reduce swelling without stopping your medication
✅ When to worry — and when it’s just a harmless side effect
✅ My pharmacist-approved tips for balancing blood pressure and comfort

📈 Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Why your feet may be swelling
00:41 What is Amlodipine?
01:32 Why Does Amlodipine Cause Swelling?
02:38 A Patient Story
03:34 How to manage the swelling safely
04:53 When swelling could be a warning sign
05:32 Pharmacist’s takeaway: Balance your meds, not your comfort

❤️ Key Takeaways

Amlodipine swelling (peripheral edema) is very common — especially at higher doses

It’s caused by blood vessel dilation, not fluid retention

Lowering the dose or adding another medication like an ACE inhibitor or ARB can help

Never stop your blood pressure medication without talking to your doctor

Lifestyle tips like leg elevation, movement, and compression socks can also reduce swelling