No matter how much research is completed any type of medication poses the risk of side effects occurring in some patients who use them. While Norvasc side effects are typically minimal as most people tolerate this medication quite well and experience few if any side effects. When they do occur, most of these side effects are very minor and do not require any form of medical treatment and even those that do require medical care; can be easily handled by your doctor.

The best way for drug manufacturers to discover the potential side effects of any medication is to put it through a series of clinical trials. This allows them to use study groups of patients who are then given the new medication in a control environment so that reactions can be observed by trained specialists and doctors. At the same time a second group is given a placebo to insure accuracy of the testing results. Once the majority of side effects are known a new medication can be released for use to the general public.

After this form of testing process, the most commonly found Norvasc side effects were found to be edema (swelling or water retention), heart palpitations, fatigue and dizziness. Some patients also complained of nausea, flushing, abdominal pain and drowsiness. All of these symptoms occurred in less than 11% of patients taking the medication on a regular basis as prescribed by their physicians.

As with any medication there is the risk of some more serious, but far less common side effect. If you should experience any of the following side effects, you should notify your doctor immediately so that he can treat you accordingly. These symptoms are chest pain, arrhythmia and low blood pressure with the accompanying symptoms such as lightheadedness and fainting. Other Norvasc side effect include severe swelling, rapid weight gain, depression, anxiety and hyperglycemia. If you see any signs of an allergic reaction seek immediate medical attention.

There are some very rare side effects but if you experience tremors, loss of appetite, vomiting, hot flashes, tinnitus, hot flashes or sexual problems you should seek immediate medical help. Less than 1 percent of all patients experience any of these side effects and in many cases it is difficult to pinpoint these side effects as a direct result of taking Norvasc, only your doctor can make the final determination and suggest a proper course of action.