I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Pre-Dialysis => Topic started by: Deanne on January 27, 2011, 06:49:21 AM

Title: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: Deanne on January 27, 2011, 06:49:21 AM
I've been on Norvasc for a long time at both 5 and 10 mg/day. I went back up to 10 mg/day in early January and for the last week or so, I've been dizzy during the night and when I first get up in the morning. It seems like Norvasc is the likely culprit since it's the only thing that's changed. Last night, I noticed the dizziness start about 45 minutes after I took the pill. I'm going to experiment tonight and take it earlier in the evening, before I take anything else, to see if I get dizzy again 45 minutes later. If it made you dizzy, was it a permanent thing, or did it go away? I'm hoping once I get used to the higher dose again, the dizziness will go away.
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: jbeany on January 27, 2011, 08:12:57 AM
I wouldn't take this as something that will absolutely apply to you as well - but I got worse, not better.  I had a crummy doc who didn't care about my side effects, so I ended up too dizzy to risk driving or getting in the shower most days.  I had to get new meds and a new doc to fix it! 

Seriously, if your experiment tonight leads you to believe that's the issue, find something else - it's not like this is the only possible med out there.
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: Deanne on January 27, 2011, 09:50:03 AM
Thanks! I'll call my neph if I get dizzy after taking it tonight. I need to call her anyway because I haven't heard from the transplant center yet. My neph has always been very responsive to issues with side effects. It's just a hassle switching meds, so I was hoping this was a temporary thing, like coughing was after I starting lisinopril. 
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: reidt22 on January 27, 2011, 11:57:37 AM
Hey Deanne,

I have been taking Norvasc for about 14 months now.  I used to get the dizziness for about the first 6 - 8 months but it has since subsided.  I don't know if this information will be of any assistance to you but that is my experience with Norvasc.

For now,

Tim
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: Deanne on January 27, 2011, 12:01:35 PM
Thanks! I like that answer better. I'll still tell my neph about it, but I don't have a problem with waiting to see if it gets better. It's only a bother when I get up during the night and first thing in the morning.
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: MooseMom on January 27, 2011, 12:19:24 PM
I've been taking norvasc for 6 years and don't recall having any problems with it, at least nothing that I recognize, but then again I'm going mental with all of this renal stuff so maybe I'm thinking I'm posting this but really am not.... ::)

There are so many bp meds out there that if norvasc causes a problem, something else will be available.  It might be an idea to document your experimentation so that you have something concrete to tell your neph.  See if you can detect a pattern...it looks like you may already have done that.  When do you next see your neph?
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: jbeany on January 27, 2011, 02:12:49 PM
Deanne, I guess I should have looked more closely at the dates you posted - I agree with the idea of waiting it out for a bit to make sure - but I'm talking about a doc who ignored my issues for far months, when I was having a hard time coming up with the energy to think, let alone be proactive.  I figure if it hasn't gotten better in 6 weeks, it's not gonna.  And mine actually got worse as I went.

Sorry - you hit a hot button issue for me, and thinking about that doc makes me snarl every time!
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: Deanne on January 27, 2011, 02:26:49 PM
I've seen the posts about bad nephs. I'm incredibly grateful to feel like I'm getting good care from mine. My only bad neph experience was with the neph I had before this one. He's the one who put me on prednisone and then seemed to ignore my problems with side effects. I still remember calling his office first thing one morning and saying, "My latest side effect is that I'm going blind. What am I supposed to do?" I didn't get a call back until late afternoon and found out later that I was experiencing a life-threatening problem. My blood sugar level was over 1500.
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: Deanne on January 28, 2011, 08:35:09 AM
Interesting..... I took my norvasc around dinnertime last nighty and then had a normal evening. I didn't get dizzy until I got into bed and I'm still a bit dizzy now. Before, it always wore off before I left for work. I don't know what to think. Time to do some web searching, I guess. I'll call my Dr next week if it doesn't stop by then.
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: rsudock on March 12, 2011, 03:38:26 AM
I know this is an older post but Deanne it seems like when you lay down that is when you feel dizzy. That could correlate to blood pressure. Do you have a blood pressure cuff? See what it is when you lay down. You may need to just switch to a new med...

xo,
R
Title: Re: Dizzy on Norvasc
Post by: Deanne on March 15, 2011, 11:25:45 AM
It went away. I don't know if it was a coincidental inner-ear thing or if I adapted the different dose, but i'm not dizzy anymore.

Thanks for asking about it!