People across the UK who take a widely prescribed medication are being advised to “call 111” should they develop a specific symptom, as it could be a sign of acute pancreatitis brought on by the drug.
Amlodipine is a prescription medicine used to treat high blood pressure and angina. It works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels, enabling blood to circulate more freely around the body.
However, as with all medications, amlodipine can cause side effects, although these do not affect everybody. The NHS has cautioned on its website that some of these reactions can be “serious” yet “rare”.
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One such reaction is acute pancreatitis, which is characterised by inflammation of the pancreas. This can cause “sudden and severe tummy pain” that does not subside.
Those suffering from acute pancreatitis may also develop a high temperature and experience nausea or vomiting. The abdominal pain might:
- Start suddenly and not go away
- Be severe, sharp or knife-like
- Affect the upper part of your tummy (between your ribs), one side of your tummy or your whole tummy
- Spread to your sides and back
- Feel worse after you eat, move around or lie down
- Feel better when you lean forward or bring your knees to your chest (fetal position)
Other possible serious side effects of amlodipine include:
