Stroke >> Amlodipine >> Lethargy?

Hi all, our 16.5 year old kitty had been doing REALLY well following a bout with infection last September, but had a stroke on Tuesday. We learned he has high blood pressure which was most likely the cause. He started on Amlodipine 4 days ago, and is either depressed or lethargic. His mobility has improved since the stroke, and he's eating/drinking well, but he's not coming out of his favorite resting spots unless we pick him up and carry him out. Then, he will drink, eat, walk to the litter box, etc... but right back to his resting spot. I've been reading the Amlodipine can temporarily cause lethargy. Has anyone else had this side effect, and if so when did you see it subside? Thanks :-)

Flowerbelle has high blood pressure, and is on amlodipine to manage it. We took her every-other week for two months to have her blood pressure taken to fine tune the amlodipine dose.

She did sleep a lot more the first few weeks (maybe longer), as I recall, but she then adjusted to it. It was fall when we started her on it, and it was seasonally a period when she sleeps more. But yes, it takes their bodies some time to adjust to it. :heart2:



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LDG said:

Flowerbelle has high blood pressure, and is on amlodipine to manage it. We took her every-other week for two months to have her blood pressure taken to fine tune the amlodipine dose.

She did sleep a lot more the first few weeks (maybe longer), as I recall, but she then adjusted to it. It was fall when we started her on it, and it was seasonally a period when she sleeps more. But yes, it takes their bodies some time to adjust to it.

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thanks so much! I've been worried he's depressed from his mobility challenges, I'd much rather it be an adjustment to the meds!

If you kitty doesn't perk up in 3 weeks to a month, I'd take him back to the vet for another blood pressure measurement - make sure the dose isn't too high.