Hi Everyone,

Have not written in a while, my doctor put me on a new drug, due to me commenting on my cough. I have been on Norvasc for 24 days, and I thought all was well, until my eye starting twitching. Has anyone heard of it, and do you think it is harmful. I am so tired of this drama I so bad want to get on with my life.

History of med use.

Diovan 80/12.5 Could not exercise
Lotrel 5/10 Cough
Norvasc 10 Eye twitching


I am willing to deal with the cough or the eye twitching as long as it is not harmful. I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK!!!!!


Thanks in Advance for any help or encouragement.

Just out of curiosity, have you been checked for hypercalcemia as well as both hyperthyroidism and hyperparathyroidism? Both of those disorders can cause nerve irritability as well as a wide range of cardiovascular symptoms.

Also, I see that you have not been on a single ARB yet (not a combo). Those tend to be somewhat well tolerated, especially in those that develop an ACE Inhibitor cough.

Just a thought...

Sandra,
I guess you abandoned the NasalCrom that you thought was helping with the cough.

Transient twitching has been reported on Norvasc but it's so rare as to be clinically considered almost insignificant ( less than 0.1% of patients). Your eye twitch may or may not be related to it. You were on Lotrel which IS Norvasc but with the addition of a diuretic. Were you twitching on Lotrel?

As for Diovan HCTZ- This is a combo ARB and diuretic. The fact that you felt fatigued and couldn't exercise properly I think was a result of the HCTZ (diuretic) component, not the Diovan.

Dehydration, or disturbed electrolytes caused by the diuretic may have been the problem.Did you have a blood test to check potassium levels while you were on it?

Seems to me diuretics and Sandra do not mix!

I know how frustrating all this "drama" (as you so succinctly put it) can be..it's such a draaaaaaag.


But my bet is that the twitching is not related to the Norvasc, and barring any other side effects, it'll go away soon. How long has the twitch been present? (I once had an eye twitch last 8 days!!! Made me GOOFY)

If it doesn't abate, I would love to see how you do on straight Diovan, (non HCTZ) at an increased dose of 160mg.

zuzu xxx

Thanks for responses. Zuzu8 - In answer to your question, I had not abadoned the Naslcrom, my doc felt that as long as I had other meds to try, why take something that gave me any side effects. I now feel she (my doctor) should leave me on something long enough, reassure me the drug is not killing me, and then let me develop coping skills or better yet teach me some, or maybe my body would build up a tolerance. SINCE it looks like I will have side effects no matter what I take!!!! When I think of the people who have to live in chronic pain constanty, a cough or an eye twitch is nothing. In answer to BabyCatcher questions, yes I have had the test done. And tests were normal. The eye twitching began after I had been taking the meds for 10 days, I have been twitching for about 3 weeks. My neighbor who is a doctor, said that she thinks it is my nerves.

Oh by the way, I am still coughing!!!!!! I have not been on Lotrel for a month. And back to ZuZU8 final comment, I wanted to try straight Diovan also, but my doctor said that the Diovan was the cause of my problem, not the HCTZ part. Zuzu8 how did your eye twitching resolve, did you do something to make it stop?

Sandra,

First, I must correct myself. Mea culpa... but Lotrel is a combo calcium channel blocker plus Ace Inhibitor (not diuretic.) The ACE of course being the cough culprit. Your cough, if caused by Lotrel, should abate soon.

Sometimes ice helps calm a twitch. I took an ice cube and would move it constantly around the area for no more than 20-30 secs (you can't take much more than that, it's simply to cold), every hour or so.

Apart from the residual cough, and the twitch, how are you feeling on the Norvasc and is it controlling your BP well? And how's the exercise tolerance now?

zuzu xxx

P.S. Sandra,

Regarding the ice for the twitch, I started using the ice technique on day four but the twitch contunued four more days. Whether it would have stopped by itself or if the ice hastened its end I'll never really know!

Great suggestion - I can not wait to get home, and try the ice. I have not had my pressure checked since I have been on the NORVASC, the whole blood pressure monitoring thing has me on edge. But on the other meds I got the best readings on DIOVAN 106/60, and on the LOTREL 130/80, so I am hoping that the NORVASC is between the two or better. I have a doctor appointment next week (ugh!). Thank you for allowing all of us to benefit from your experience and research. I will let you know how the ice does.

My eyes I think have finally stopped twitching! I think I was low on Potassium. I started eating Bannanas as result of another post saying that it helps with BP. I have been eating 2 a day. And my eye is not twitching now. Not sure whether that was just a coincidence or not. Thanks for your help!

I took norvasc some time ago, only 5mg! I cant take it because it causes the double vision similar to migraine headaches. Had to stop taking it.
I too have a problem with just about every drug and those I take have to be small doses. I suffered with the really bad kind of migraines , numbness, vision weird even tongue would get numb, this from about 5th grade till in my 40,s when they seemed to go away except for the brief episodes with the vision.
to this day still have not found the right combination for my high BP. I have the cough too but from Lisinipril which is an ace inhibitor, it also causes other problems but have to take something I know. I hope you find your answer soon to get some relief! akjoha