If you have recently been prescribed amlodipine, then you might be wondering whether or not you can still enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a pint during the weekend whilst on this type of medication.
It is important to understand that many people who take amlodipine do so for long-term conditions such as high blood pressure or angina.
This means that it is likely that people will be wanting to consume alcohol whilst on amlodipine, which is why it is important to understand the implications of doing so, if any.
In this blog, we will explore what amlodipine does, what it is used for, how alcohol affects the body, and whether you should mix the two safely.
Finally, we will also discuss what to do if your drinking has become more than just an occasional habit and where to seek help if you think that you are addicted to either drugs or alcohol.
Amlodipine is a type of medicine known as a calcium channel blocker [1]. It is commonly prescribed to treat conditions that are usually long term, such as high blood pressure, angina or certain types of heart disease [1].
It works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels. This allows blood to flow more easily, which lowers blood pressure and reduces strain on the heart.
For many people, amlodipine is taken once daily and forms part of long-term management of cardiovascular issues.
According to the NHS, amlodipine is generally well tolerated, although side effects can include dizziness, headaches, flushing, severe fatigue and even sometimes swollen ankles [1].
It is important to understand that because amlodipine affects blood pressure directly, anything else that lowers blood pressure, including alcohol, might cause issues when mixed or consumed together [1].
It is well known that alcohol has a complex relationship when it comes to blood pressure. In the short term, drinking alcohol can cause an individual’s blood vessels to relax which might temporarily lower blood pressure [2].
However, as alcohol is processed and metabolised by the body, an individual’s blood pressure will likely fluctuate up and down.
Over time, regularly drinking heavily is linked with prolonged high blood pressure.
In fact, numerous studies carried out by the NHS advise that regularly drinking more than the recommended 14 units per week increases the risk of developing issues such as hypertension and even heart disease [2].
So, alcohol can both lower and raise blood pressure depending on the timing, quantity and long-term use.
When you are taking medication specifically designed to control blood pressure, such as amlodipine, this can sometimes have consequences.
According to the NHS, you can drink alcohol while on amlodipine, although it might make you feel dizzy or light-headed at times. That is because both amlodipine and alcohol can lower blood pressure.
When combined together, their effects might make things a lot worse. For some people, this might result in severe dizziness, feeling faint, feeling light hearted, severe and prolonged headaches, frequent flushing or even heart palpitations.
In some severe cases, an individual’s blood pressure may drop too low, known as a condition called hypotension. Symptoms of hypotension included things such as low blood pressure, blurred vision, confusion, weakness and even fainting.
It is important to understand that the risk increases when you consume more alcohol, or if you are particularly sensitive to the medication that you are taking.
If you are unsure whether or not you should be consuming alcohol whilst being prescribed amlodipine, then you should speak to your local GP or a local pharmacist for more help and advice.
As discussed above, there are a number of serious side effects associated with combining alcohol with a medication such as amlodipine.
To understand why this happens, it is important to understand how both substances work together in the body and what side effects this causes [3].
Both alcohol and amlodipine relax your blood vessels. In fact, amlodipine widens blood vessels to reduce pressure, and alcohol also widens blood vessels, particularly just after consumption. When mixed together, an individual’s blood pressure may fall lower than expected.
It is important to remember that amlodipine is prescribed to help your cardiovascular health. However, heavy alcohol use is linked to a number of things that impact heart health, including high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, irregular heart beats and an increased risk of a stroke.
As discussed above, there are a number of common side effects associated with amlodipine including dizziness, headaches, flushing and fatigue. It is important to understand that alcohol can intensify all of these side effects and symptoms. What might otherwise be a mild side effect could feel more serious and severe after drinking alcohol.
While moderate drinking might not be an issue when consuming amlodipine, it is important to understand that some people should still be very careful if they intend to mix amlodipine with alcohol.
Below are a number of situations and circumstances which mean that you should be careful mixing amlodipine with alcohol.
You should be careful mixing amlodipine with alcohol if you have just started consuming the drug. This is because the first few weeks of treatment can bring a number of side effects that mean that your body is adjusting.
This might include feeling slightly dizzy as your body adapts to lower blood pressure. Adding alcohol into the mix during this adjustment period could increase the risk of fainting or feeling even more unwell.
A lot of individuals take amlodipine due to angina or coronary heart disease. When this is the case, then heavy drinking poses a number of different, additional risks.
For example, consuming alcohol can trigger irregular heartbeats and might increase the strain on an individual’s heart putting them at risk of a heart attack.
If amlodipine makes you light-headed, then consuming alcohol might make you feel even worse. When this is the case, then falls become a greater risk, especially for older adults who have been prescribed amlodipine.
You should also be very careful consuming alcohol if you take other different types of medication.
For example, many people on amlodipine also take other drugs such as ACE inhibitors, diuretics, cholesterol medication and even beta blockers.
Unfortunately, alcohol may interact with these medications. This will likely compound the side effects and put your health at risk.
If you are unsure as to whether or not you should be consuming alcohol whilst taking certain medications, then you should always ask a pharmacist or GP for their advice.
It is important to understand that drinking moderately might only cause temporary dizziness whilst being prescribed amlodipine. However, drinking heavily can create severe side effects and symptoms, some of which are listed below for you.
Unfortunately, large amounts of alcohol combined with blood pressure medication such as amlodipine might cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low, which might lead to a faint or to a fall.
It is important to understand that alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases your urine production and therefore makes you more dehydrated. Unfortunately, dehydration can further worsen your blood pressure and result in severe headaches, fatigue or even fainting.
Likewise, drinking heavily over a long period of time might even make your medication less effective, making your blood pressure harder to control and any health issues worse.
Sometimes it can be difficult to acknowledge when your drinking has gotten out of control.
If you do start to feel stuck or are worried about how much you or someone you love is drinking, then it is important to understand that support is available for you.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we understand that alcohol abuse does not happen overnight. Instead, it often develops gradually.
Our team of specialist advisors understand that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but instead a sign of strength.
There are a number of different treatment options available to you, including outpatient rehab treatment, inpatient rehab treatment, therapy or a home detox.
If you or someone you know needs support for their alcohol consumption, then you can start by speaking with your local GP, your local drug and alcohol prevention team or to a member of our team at Rehab 4 Addiction.
You can start by calling us for free on 0800 140 4690 or by visiting us online by searching for www.rehab4addiction.co.uk
[1] https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/amlodipine/about-amlodipine/
[3] https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/amlodipine/common-questions-about-amlodipine/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
