Can Norvasc Raise The Heart Rate?

Posted on Wed, 19 Oct 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 Answered on

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : i ask the pharcmist if norvasc could raise my heart rate, and he said no, if anything it should lower it, but i notice when i take a half of 10 mg my heart rate is 75-85, but if i take the whole 10 mg my heart rate is 95-99. i dont understand if the norvasc could be doing this or something else is doing it. i havent changed any medications except the norvas. i also have swelling in my lower legs on 10 mg of norvasc. my question is why does my doctor and pharmist say that it lowers blood heart rate? and are they right?

Answered by Dr. Priyank Mody (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it can cause sweeping in the legs and reflex increase in heart rate

Detailed Answer:
Hello ,

Yes Norvasc which contains amlodipine can cause tachycardia ( increase in heart rate ) , though it's short term and bodies auto regulatory mechanism tides over the same with time .
Norvasc causes dilatation of peripheral aertery dilation which decreases the blood pressure , this in turn would reflexly increase the heart rate for a short while in older patients ( The mechanism simplified for your understanding ) , Though amlodipine is a longer acting medication as compared to others in the group , but in some susceptible patients it can for sure increase the heart rate .
Also 10mg Norvasc can ca use seeing in the legs and it's a known side effect for the same .
Discuss it with your doctor about an aternative medication and try keeping Norvasc to 5 mg a day .
Hopefully I could help
Do rate for others reference.
Regards Dr. Priyank Mody

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar