# Felodipine and leg swelling - why only one leg? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076 "2017-09-23T18:11:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/1 "2017-09-23T18:11:32Z")
I have been prescribed Felodipine for blood pressure issues. I’ve previously been on 2.5 mg but a week ago the doctor doubled my dosage. And my left leg has swelled considerably. Leg swelling is a known and common side-effect of Felodipine, affecting more than 1 in 10 according to the notes. But why is only my left leg swelling? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/2 "2017-09-23T19:24:07Z")
Another data point, I had the same issue with another blood pressure medication, amlodipine. It affected my left leg about 4 or 5 times the amount it affected my right leg. I assumed that it had something to do with the heart being on the left side, but I couldn’t quite make out how that made a difference. Since then my doctor changed me to something else because the amlodipine was not so effective on my blood pressure. After a couple of weeks the swelling has gone completely. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/3 "2017-09-23T19:28:06Z")
Yeah, Amlodipine sucked. Avoid Clonidine, as well, if you can. I’d see your Dr. about the swelling. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/4 "2017-09-23T20:31:41Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Another data point, I had the same issue with another blood pressure medication, amlodipine. I was on amlodipine. It made me absent-minded and constipated. > [@](#): > > It affected my left leg about 4 or 5 times the amount it affected my right leg. I assumed that it had something to do with the heart being on the left side, but I couldn’t quite make out how that made a difference. Ah, good point. I wonder if it is relevant. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Yeah, Amlodipine sucked. Avoid Clonidine, as well, if you can. > > I’d see your Dr. about the swelling. I have an appointment. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/5 "2017-09-23T23:20:54Z")
I’d consider unilateral leg swelling to be a possible deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in your leg) before I’d think it was a side effect of your calcium channel blocker, frankly. If you have any chest pains, shortness of breath, or significant pain in that leg, I’d suggest considering emergency evaluation. Blood clots that break off and travel to the lungs can be fatal. I generally recommend that complaints like this get emergent evaluation. It might only be a one in ten chance that it’s a clot rather than something harmless like drug effect, but that’s still a significant risk. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/6 "2017-09-24T09:33:09Z")
No pain. My leg was mildly swollen on the amlopidine. I’ll visit the doctor on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/7 "2017-09-24T16:03:07Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’d consider unilateral leg swelling to be a possible deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in your leg) before I’d think it was a side effect of your calcium channel blocker, frankly. > > If you have any chest pains, shortness of breath, or significant pain in that leg, I’d suggest considering emergency evaluation. Blood clots that break off and travel to the lungs can be fatal. I generally recommend that complaints like this get emergent evaluation. It might only be a one in ten chance that it’s a clot rather than something harmless like drug effect, but that’s still a significant risk. My doc saw my legs and didn’t seem concerned about the amount of swelling. The swelling was mostly in the ankle and the top of the foot, if that makes any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/8 "2017-09-24T16:12:28Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > My doc saw my legs and didn’t seem concerned about the amount of swelling. The swelling was mostly in the ankle and the top of the foot, if that makes any difference. If you and your doc are both cool with it, I am too. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/9 "2017-09-24T21:46:40Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > The swelling was mostly in the ankle and the top of the foot, if that makes any difference. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/10 "2017-09-25T13:45:21Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I was on amlodipine. **It made me absent-minded** and constipated. Is this a common side-effect of amlodipine? I use it daily. I haven’t noticed being absent-minded any more that might be expected, given that I’m an aging old fart. But I regularly engage in recreational activities on weekends that require utmost alertness, so that concerns me. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/11 "2017-09-25T14:05:42Z")
^Parkour? At _your_ age? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/12 "2017-09-25T21:17:55Z")
How weird… I am having the exact same issue, left ankle and top of foot swelling. The bad thing for me is right now, I am without a doctor, mine retired end of Aug. I guessI need to find another… ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felodipine-and-leg-swelling-why-only-one-leg/797076/13 "2017-10-20T16:16:26Z")
Seems I forgot to post the follow-up. The doctor reduced my Felodipine back to 2.5 mg and prescribed me an anti-swelling medicine - Bendro-something - which has worked very nicely.