Arb symptoms and conditions

I have been on Lisinopril 20 mg for the past 9 years. I can't believe I have taken it for such a long time. I noticed some strange chest sensations 2 years after taking it but pushed through it. Then I developed breast cancer and went through the chemo and radiation while continuing to take it. In the last 2 years and more recently in the last 3 months, I felt so many skipped beats that I had to check it out and I also have had significant hair thinning. I had a holter monitor, resting EKG, lots of bloodwork and was told that everything was normal. Normal???? Then why was I feeling so rotten and scared every time my chest decided to heave or get funny sensations in my throat. Doctors do not want to hear these types of complaints especially when you think it is related to a medication that they ordered.
So I decided to try an alternative approach. I have been taking fish oil, coenzyme 10, cholesterol nutritional supplement, Vit C, Vit E. I started these about a month ago while still taking Lisinopril. I finally stopped the Lisinopril yesterday so I'll see if I have any improvement of my symptoms.I also went to a website that showed 1% of people can have skipped heartbeats while on Lisinopril Here is the URL
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Hope this helps many of you who have similar episodes. MHS

I'd had been on Altace 20mg (2-10mg capsules) for about 2 yrs. A year ago a 25mg. HCTZ tablet was added. BP was under control (140-150s/ 80's) with only side effects from HCTZ, cramping from mineral imbalance, and the occasional bouts of being lightheaded. I decided to go off meds and monitor BP. I was fine for about 6 weeks, but then BP started up and felt I needed to get back on meds. Dr. agreed and prescribed what she said was a replacement ACE inhibitor with the convenience of HCTZ built in, Lisinopril HCTZ. She also prescribed Benicar an ARB. I took both for five days with side effects of being light-headed, feeling like fainting occasionally. On day 6, I developed an ugly skin rash/swelling on right front part of my head. I thought it might big a spider bite. Next day I developed more of the same on the right side of my nose, my right eye, and on my right cheek. I thought it was the Benicar, since I was made to believe an ACE inhibitor is an ACE inhibitor (from Altace to Lisinopril), and did not have a history of problems with it, and the ARB was the new kid on the block. I quit taking the Benicar but the symptoms persisted for 3 more days. I called the Dr. and was told they did not believe it was related to the meds since it did not manifest earlier, but to go ahead and stop taking the Benicar until the symptoms subsided, then resume to see if they came back ( sound like good advice to you?) 4 days after being off Benicar the rashes and swelling were worse. I then decided the problem had to be the Lisinopril. I have been off only 24 hrs, but symptoms are starting to improve. I will be calling tomorrow for a new Dr.

I am a male 55. Started taking Altace 15 years ago. BP kept creeping up. I work outside for a living. Sometimes work is very hard, climbing mountains, carrying land surveying equipment ect. Dr started me on lisinopril 40 mg, dropped altace which I had been taking with HCT 25mg. Started getting numbness in left hand and charley horse in elbow after playing mandolin for 10 minutes. I thought this strange. Now I have muscle cramps in legs and I am wiped out when I get home. (thought must be getting old) Then other joints, shoulders, and knees stared hurting and lower back. Started thinking what has happen to me?! I am completely falling apart! That's how I found this web site. Now I wonder, snake venom sounds about right. I had started thinking I had been poisoned. Guess I'll make a DR appointment or move to an "old folks home". At least I won't have a stroke.......right?

I am a type 1 diabetic and was put on the Lisinopril over a year and a half ago, maybe 2 years. I have my hair coming out when I shampoo and the red patchy skin on my lower legs which is dry making it embarrassing to wear shorts or capris. It makes me feel ashamed. I have laid off both the Lisinopril and HCTZ for a few days now. I got blurry vision, and I think it has made me gain weight. I get the swelling of the angles by this or both meds. Before taking these, I didn't have the swelling. I liked reading through the replys here on this medicine or both. I tried to identify some replies with myself and what I am experiencing. I want to get off this crap and take something else if at all "Alternative" at best. I did take atenylol (sp)? before. If anyone wants to contact me, they can e-mail me at ****** because, I would like to see what others are doing differently now to take care of the situation I am going through.

PLEASE READ MY STORY!!!....Part 2. My Nephroligist put me on an ARB-Angiostein II Receptor Blocker-Cozaar@50mg.

He said in his opinion, " the medications on the market in both classes of ACE Inhibitors & Angiostein II Receptor Blockers (ARB's) are similar in regulating high blood pressure and helping the kidneys to function better." He went on to explain that "ARB's have less side effects, are a much better quality, and more expensive." "The insurance companies don't want to pay the higher price." "Cozaar is one of the best." I told him that's what I wanted, "The Best." I had a good feeling about this Doc. He knew what he was talking about and recommended what he felt was best for me given the problems I had with Lisinopril HCTZ. He's monitoring me closely and I'm to call him ASAP with any weird or unusual side effects.

I did more research on the ARB's and have personally concluded for the time being, that the ARB's make more sense to me in "how" the medications regulate high blood pressure. Of course there's different types of variables one must always consider before starting these medications or any other medications for that matter. Everybody's medical condition isn't the same and the medications are NOT a "one size fits all" and shouldn't be addressed as such.

I've been on the Cozaar for 3 days and so far I feel great! I'll keep you updated for any side effects. Anyone out there try any of the ARB's? If you're currently taking or have taken, I would certainly appeciate if you would please email me and let me know what your experience was like in regulating your blood pressure and/or any side effects you had.

My main problem with Lisinopril is the coughing. Coughing, coughing. coughing. I will be fine for 2 to 3 hours and then start with this awful cough. People will actually turn away from me if I am out shopping and a cough begins. I presume they believe it is contagious. Sometimes I end up vomiting and I cannot catch my breath. Coughing at night is really a problem because of lack of sleep. Doctors believe my cough is due to allergies because I have post nasal drip. However, none of the medications they have given me stop the coughing. I never had this problem until I began taking Lisinopril. Lisinopril is my first Blood Pressure medication.

oh, great! (sarcasm)...i was switched to diovan after my previous meds (olmesartan medoxomil) sp?--it's known as benicar at the pharm--started causing a bad side-effect--some possible muscle damage, i was told. not sure how bad but i had some bloodwork done to check liver function b/c i mentioned to the doc that i have muscle cramps, body aches as though i ran a marathon...just a bit of soreness and tingling sensation on my extremeties when I lay on one particular side. these were tolerable side-effects compared with the constant coughing with lisinopril. goodness...if the high blood pressure doesn't kill you first, the numerous side effects from these drugs surely will! can anyone else here tell me more about diovan before i take this new poison masquerading as medicine? with the benicar, i did notice bloating and some wt gain--or, it's just harder to shed pounds. what other bp meds are out there that aren't ace inhibitors? i'm dreadful of drugs that cause hair-loss :P

anyway, to those that are on any meds....never miss your follow-up visits even if your medication is "working" for you. get a blood test just to make sure there aren't really any abnormal readings. best of all, if you have to keep switching and trying out meds to find the right one, do insist from your doc that they give you free samples first...like a months worth, as these arb's sure aren't cheap.

I was on acupril and developed the cough. I then switched to Avapro, an ARB, and it has worked well for me.

I think the ARBs are better.