Got EDEMA? (11 Medications that Cause Leg Swelling) 2024

Edema (swelling of the legs, ankles, feet) is a very common condition. It is a sign that things are not right in the body, and many medications can cause this worrisome symptom. This video lists the 11 medications that cause leg swelling.

Sometimes you need to take a medicine. Keep in mind that there is almost always another medication choice if you have edema caused by your current one. If you are taking one of these 11 medicines that cause edema, talk with your doctor about changing to another.

Medications discussed: Pramipexole,
Clonidine,
Trazadone,
MAO-Inhibitors - (Isocarboxazid (Marplan), Phenelzine (Nardil), Selegiline (Emsam), Tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl, Zelapar, EMSAM) and rasagiline (Azilect)),
NSAID's - (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and celecoxib, Ibuprofen, naproxen),
CCB's - (amlodipine (Norvasc), amlodipine + atorvastatin (Caduet), amlodipine + benazepril (Lotrel), amlodipine + valsartan (Exforge), amlodipine + telmisartan (Twynsta), amlodipine + olmesartan (Azor), amlodipine + olmesartan + hydroclorothiazide (Tribenzor), amlodipine + aliskiren + hydroclorothiazide, amlodipine + perindopril (Prestalia), clevidipine (Cleviprex), diltiazem (Cardizem), felodipine (Cardene, Cardene SR), isradipine, nicardipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine (Sular), verapamil (Calan))
beta-Blockers - acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol fumarate (Zebeta), carvedilol (Coreg), esmolol (Brevibloc)
labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), nebivolol (Bystolic), penbutolol (Levatol), propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal LA, Inderal XL, InnoPran XL), sotalol (Betapace, Sorine)
Corticosteroids - bethamethasone, (Celestone), prednisone (Prednisone), prednisolone (Orapred, Prelone), triamcinolone (Kenalog), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Depo-Medrol, Solu-Medrol), dexamethasone (Dexamethasone Intensol, DexPak 10 Day, DexPak)
gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica)
pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia)
Insulin (many brands)

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Ken D Berry, MD, is a Family Physician with 20 years of clinical practice.
Any information on diseases and treatments available at this channel is intended for general guidance only and must never be considered a substitute for advice provided by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care professional with questions you may have regarding your medical condition. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

[rebeccadirks]

1:19 Pramipexole
1:32 Clonidine
1:42 Trazadone
1:56 Mao Inhibitors
2:13 Anti-Inflamatories NSAIDS
2:36 Calcium Channel Blockers
2:45 Beta Blockers
3:08 Corticosteroids
3:30 Gabapentin & Pre-Gabilan
3:54 Pioglitazone & Rosiglitazone
4:09 Insulin

[kevinkall]

I had edema for OVER DECADE! Tried plethora of treatment including those tormenting pressure socks which just transfer swelling, and are more painful that edema itself for me. doc's were perplexed. For recent infection, was prescribed doxycycline. Edema went away quickly, infection not so fast. Edema has never returned. YOU MUST TRY THIS!!!

[stanrodgers]

I'm on pregabalin (and NSAIDs) for intense nerve pain and after a short while I started having the lower leg swelling. I did not even think to associate this with the meds. Great video.

[Bowerbird.]

I saw my mother suffer from debilitating edema which in turn exacerbated her other conditions. I have no doubt she was trapped in a vicious cycle due in part to the cocktail of medications she was prescribed which most likely caused her edema. If only she were still here to get this information.

[lanetracarther]

I took 10mg Amlodipine for 10 years. I got tired of dealing with edema, and requested to be removed from the medication earlier this year. When I first got diagnosed with hypertension, I managed the edema with diet and exercise. As I got older, I found it to be more difficult to manage. It forced me to stay away from cured meats, and foods loaded with sodium. While I was grateful that the medication was helping me shift my dieting choices, the edema made it impossible to wear nice shoes. It's so nice to see the bones in my feet and hands now.

[KETODiamond]

Thank you! I may be commenting on old videos. I am collecting info to print out for my mother to try to undo some of the damage she has done in her refusal to listen to me. Her doctors always tell her I am wrong and that she should listen to them. But she steady grows sicker and sicker. Her legs are so swollen they are oozing! Back and forth to doctors and hospitals constantly!

[brggmc]

Thank You, Doctor Ken! Your information is of the greatest interest to me, not just for the care and presentation you put into your videos, but for the simple fact that you actually give me more of your time than my own GP does. Here in UK, it is difficult enough to get an appointment with a GP, then to be faced with a person whose attention is often distracted by his phone, his lap-top screen, etc, etc, or just plain rude boredom.
I don't think I am alone when I say that YouTube has become my go-to source of information and guidance on many things, and that your presence is an enhancement to my day, because your help is free, and I can listen to what you are telling me as many times as I need.
Please keep up your good work, You are on my Staff !

[ClaudetteCMBL]

Oh my, I was on Trazadone for years and suddenly I have Cellulitis, Lymphedema Phase 2 and Venous Stasis. I have had nurses here daily for six weeks cleaning and gauzing my ulcers on both legs, then when they stopped leaking out fluids, they did an ultrasound pulse/nerve testing on both of my legs and now the wrapping happens every four days to keep my circulation going and swelling down. This all makes sense to me now. I had many Doctors tell me I had this cause of me drinking too much filtered water- any sort of water(160 ozs. daily). Thanks for all your info, your great to listen to cause you explain things very clearly without the big medical words haha.

[ArnCital]

Amlodipine: I quit taking it and my doctor switched me to hydrochlorothiazide. My edema was getting worse and worst of all was the Peripheral Neuropathy. My feet hurt with the muscles constantly cramping especially at night. Diclofenac put me in the ER twice before I on my own concluded it was causing my respiratory distress and hives, especially in my lungs. The Peripheral Neuropathy led me to wonder what damage was being done to the nerves in my brain, spine, and heart. Thank you for the information as I believe it is saving my life.

[risteardwest]

A excellent video of 11 different medications that could cause swelling in your feet ankles or legs a lot of diabetics usually gets swelling if they take too much insulin a whole trick is to eat less carbs healthy foods that don't raise your blood sugar and yet some diabetics have perfect sugar levels like for instance $130 even as low as 65 if the in the meal and they still get swelling in their legs and ankles compression socks help too they're very uncomfortable after a while and sometimes they make your feet swell up even more so the whole trick is you actually have to be your own doctor and experiment and do things just eat healthy vitamin b1 is known to get the swelling out of your legs and feet so try that also I give this video five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💯👍❤️

[ms.thomas]

GOD Bless Your Dr. Berry. I've in so much pain due to in part of swelling in My leg, ankle and foot and toes. I cry most of the night due to this suffering. GOD led Me to You this Sunday Morning, and I am so Very Grateful. I'm taking at least four of the medications You spoke about. One being Insulin injections.
I Thank GOD for You.

[jannlittle]

The less medications you take the better off you are. I used to take atenolol (caused my heart to beat very slow) my feet froze and I had to cut it back. I also took hydrochlorothiazide and ibuprofen. Both of those damaged my kidneys to stage 2 almost stage 3... but I’m careful now. I’m trying to baby my kidneys. I realized the damage only after I started taking Synthroid and my ankles swelled so bad they hurt. So I’ve slowly come off that medication and I’m taking NAC and milk thistle for liver.. Also babying my kidneys with renofood and dandelion plus potassium, lemon water and apple cider vinegar. I’m off synthroid and my temperature stays around 98.5 (yay) with absolutely zero cold feet and hands. My fingernails and hair are much better too.

[kathyn]

I have the swelling and I am on a few of the medications listed - I will be chatting to my GP ! thank you

[Mzfoxy]

Im glad I watched the video I am a 32 yr old black female that has recently been prescribed this medication. I’ve only been taking it for 2 weeks and my legs feel like jello and hurt really bad my feet and thighs are swelling. 😭

[patmorrison]

Tremendously helpful! Thank you so very very much

[peggyleekight]

Thank you Dr Berry for sharing this information with us. GOD bless you.

[monamurphy]

I wish i had never started taking medicine when I was young. But we trusted our doctors and so much research has been done over the years and made available to the public. Now after taking certain medications all my adult life, I am aware of the dangers of stopping. Thank you

[shangrilahomestead]

Very informative video. Thank you for sharing it.

[amydeleon]

TY Dr. Berry - so glad I stopped gabapentin! Most of the medications used for my condition (similar to MS & Parkinson's) causes unpleasant side affects that are an additional challenge ... I've found that adjusting diet, exercise & doing PT help way more!!

[jeanetteperkins]

I used HCTZ four two months and I could get out of bed, because it affected my muscles. I stopped using it. My legs pains are getting better and I had a problem with urine. I could feel when I need to go to bathroom until I got bad pains in my back. I’ve changed my doctor and medication and feel much better.