Bee venom symptoms and conditions

At thirty-two, active, healthy and slender I developed unexplained Hypertension. I was put on Lopressor.
I relocated to the Southwest. My new doctor changed my blood pressure medication to Lisinopril. I balked at changing what had been working well for me (14 years). I pointed out my history of allergies and drug sensitivities. I told her I had gone into Anaphylaxis from bee venom and another prescription drug. She told me that she was the doctor and I was not. She said that Lopressor, a Beta Blocker was a poor choice of medicine for me because I am an Asthmatic. I began the Lisinopril the following day. My second day on it I had a severe headache, the next day this was accompanied by tightness in my chest and a feeling of suffocation. By day three I also had edema in my face, hands, feet and was very short of breath and mildly dizzy. I was weak and could barely get out of bed. I called the doctor and she was unavailable but I spoke to the RN who listened carefully. She said she would speak with the doctor and call me back. Several hours later the RN called and told me that the doctor said these were not unusual symptoms when you first start Lisinopril. She said they would go away in a few days. I was to continue the medication. With trepidation I followed her instructions. Within an hour my face was numb, I had severe pain going down my arm, I felt like my chest was in a vice, I was gasping for breath and wheezing. The pain was excruciating. I was certain I was having a heart attack. I was taken to the ER. They immediately did an EKG and started an IV line. The EKG indicated I was apparently having a heart attack. They began all sorts of heart protocols, medication into the IV, blood work, etc. They tested me for Pulmonary Embolism. Still waiting for the blood results, they injected me with a radioactive isotope and began an MRI of my heart . By this time I broke out in hives all over my body, was itching like crazy and my eyes swelled shut and I felt my throat closing. I was immediately taken out of the MRI and given an injection. I began to get better. I was admitted to the hospital, a non- ER doctor came to see me the next day. After reviewing my entire chart and talking with me extensively he determined that I had had an anaphylactic reaction to the Lisinopril. He told me that Lisinopril is contraindicated in persons who are allergic to bees.

In July I was prescribed Lisinopril / HCTZ 20 /12.5. Within one week I started to have side effects. These included
-pain in chest - worsened with high humidity
- trouble breathing - shortness of breath - worsened with high humidity
- slight continuous elevated temperature about 99.6 degrees
- near real fainting spells when outside in heat- granted it was hot, but I've never had these before
- loss sex drive
- urinate often
- don't sleep well
My BP did go down though about 10 to 20 points.
still that was the worst summer I've ever had.
After reading others' side effects, I stopped cold turkey and feel much better.
Did you know Lisinopril is extract of Brazilian viper venom? - no wonder I couldn't breath!
My new doctor has me on new drug: Amlodipine Besylate 2.5 mg. which I hope will do the trick.
Bottom line:if you have bad side effects stop and try another drug - there are prenty out there for BP control.