how to handle peripheral edema due to dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, etc)

September 2011

Questions often come up about how to handle peripheral edema due to dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, etc).

These often cause edema...especially at higher doses. It's not due to fluid overload, so diuretics usually don't help.

Try lowering the dose. Most of the antihypertensive effect is at lower doses, so cutting the dose in half doesn't also cut the BP benefit in half.

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