Blood pressure medications symptoms and conditions

I started taking Lisinopril two weeks ago for relief of high blood pressure. Male, 45, 260 lbs, family history of high blood pressure and stroke. After one week I began experiencing intermittent chest pain, tingling and numbness in my left hand, and sensations like shocks in my head.

I spent several sleepless nights feeling for chest pain, feeling my heart race, expecting my heart to explode and wondering if I should go to the ER.

I visited my doctor and expressed my concerns. She immediately performed an ECG and verified that my heart was functioning normally and that my blood pressure was down. She also indicated that it's not uncommon for vasoconstrictors like Lisinopril to allow stomach acids to rise in the esophagus. This can cause chest pain and affect nerves leading to the brain and to the arm. She prescribed Zantac 150 twice a day and asked me to call her at home 60 minutes after taking the first pill.

I filled the Zantac prescription (one of the $4 prescriptions you can now get most places) and took one immediately. Ten minutes the chest pain was gone. Twenty minutes later the shocks in my head were gone and my arm went from tingly and numb to just slightly achy. Thirty minutes later all of my symptoms were gone. After an hour I dutifully reported to my doc that she was a genius and on my Christmas gift list.

If you're taking Lisinopril and having chest pain obviously let your doctor know about it. Studies indicate that denial is a serious issue and a contributing cause in heart disease victims. Many of my symptoms were classic for unstable angina, which is scary. However, they are also common stomach acid symptoms for first-time users of a wide variety of high blood pressure medications. It's possible that a simple antacid could relieve your side-effects.

Now my goal is to lose 80 lbs so I can get off this medication completely. Working 90 hours a week (the highlights of which are travel, sitting at desks, and eating) isn't going to cut it any more.

July 8, 2009
I took Lisinopril for 2 months and began noticing soreness and stiffness cramping in my legs. Joint pain and general muscle weakness. Biggest indicator was my inability to ride road bikes (bicycle) nearly as much as normal. I did not have the muscle strength or stamina to ride like before. On one ride I had such sever cramping I had to get pick up, first time in 18 yrs of bicycling. It also states to not use sodium or potassium supplement while on this medicine, which I was doing for cramping. Also because I was borderline hypertension I did not notice any decrease in BP while on this. I have stopped taking this medicine. nn

I am taking Lisinopril for high blood pressure for 5 days now. I have been experiencing depression, swollen right hand, tired, but sometimes not able to sleep..very low energy.I need to know if i should stop taking this medication or not but i can not contact my doctor until Monday. I also am taking other blood pressure medications but this one seems to have the side effects I am having.

February 22nd
2009
My side effects (Charles Clark)
3:00pm

It started with diarrhea after a couple days treatment. Then my hand muscles starting to contract on there own. Then I started having high blood pressure up to 212/118 and high heart rate and anxiety beginning to set in. My wife wanted to take me to the hospital but I refused to go (I wish I had. They might have taken me off Doxy then, but no, I was still taking it). I then started having problems breathing (like something was stopping me. Not like hyperventilating). My wife called the doctor and she said to stop the Doxy and come in. At the visit, she gave me meds for high blood pressure and ordered a heart monitor and stress test as she believed my problem was more likely with my heart. I didn't start the blood pressure medications as I needed to have the tests done in a week and a half. I had a panic attack before the stress test. There was a patient there who stated her granddaughter had developed panic attacks after she had taken Doxy for Lymes disease. What a coincidence. That weekend my blood pressure and anxiety increased and my wife called the doctor. They convinced me to start the blood pressure medicine as all of this might be caused by High Blood Pressure. I returned to the doctor 4 days later and she took more blood work as well as tested for Lymes disease again. Everything was normal and NO lymes disease. So what was causing all of these problems. That night when I came home from the Doctors I started feeling like someone just sprayed me like you spray a wasp/bee. I started to shake and twitch inside like I was dying I could feel my stomach convulsing and getting cold. Now at this point I had been off Doxycycline for a few days. My wife called the doctors emergency line and they called in a prescription for Xanex. I took it and it put be out. I woke up the next day feeling like I was on a bad rollercoaster ride going over the edge and trying to climbing out of my skin. I was unable to even take care of myself at this point. I started getting muscle twitches all over my body. I could not control my thoughts and had a hard time talking; my skin was so hypersensitive to the touch or movement. The only way I could deal with it was just lay down and not move. I felt like was going to die. More symptoms came: my middle finger on my left hand went numb; I was so nauseated I had a hard time eating; depression set in with sever panic attacks/anxiety, ears ringing, slight pain in my chest like I was having a heart attack and was becoming bed ridden and afraid of everything at this point. That next week I returned to the doctor and she noted how it seemed a struggle for me to walk into the office. She felt that I should begin meds to decrease the anxiety that was paralyzing me. She suggested seeing a psychiatrist and stated that if I got worse my wife should take me to the emergency and be admitted to the mental health program. So I began to take Paxil as well (I hate medications, but I was desperate). I was terrified that I might have side affects from these meds and I couldn't be alone and I was afraid to go anywhere, afraid I would have an attack or worse, stop breathing all together. I was terrified and my family was getting very worried about me and unsure what to do. Thanks to my best friend, my wife, and my family for taking care of me. If it were not for them, I would not know what to do. My dear mom even came in from Virginia to help take care of me. I can not express my thanks enough to my family! I have been off the drug now for almost seven weeks now and all my side effects are slowly, very slowly, dissipating. How come the Doctors don't know about this? Thank GOD for this site and the ones that took the time to post there experience with this drug! THANKS EVERYONE GOD BLESS YOU!

P.S. please reply on what you did to get rid of the side effects, how long did it take for them to go away and did your Doctor believe that the Doxycycline caused them. because I can't find a Doctor that thinks the Doxycycline can have these side effects.

Is anyone experiencing confusion, trouble thinking, trouble concentrating, decreased cognitive function, mental sluggishness, trouble solving problems or situations which require logical thinking and sequencing, and memory loss? Would love to hear from anyone experiencing any these symptoms and if so, how long were you on the drug.
Thanks!

This is a follow-up to my posting on October 10th regarding my 57 year old husband who began taking Lisinopril in March of 2007. He was NEVER on any other medication prior to taking this drug. He suffered Depression, loss of memory, lack of concentration, can't focus and struggled with small task. We have recently had an MRI done and his brain has shrunk. Deadfred1 replied to my posting and he is a 36 year old male who has been on Lisinopril for 5 years. He has the same side effects as my husband. He had a recent MRI and his brain has shrunk!!! We visited a Neurologist with his MRI results for a second opinion and he is ordering more tests because "it appears to be indictive of Alzeheimers" with the area of the brain that has shrunk. How can this be??? This was a healthy, 57 year old NEVER on a drug in his life and within months of taking this, he is in Depression and having memory issues. Isn't anyone connecting any symptoms here??? Any Doctors out there with an "open mind"? This medication is was developed from the venom of a poisonous Brazilian snake!!! Hello...it's more like a slow death with Arsenic!!! My mother-in-law has been on this drug for years and years and years. She now sits with dementia in an Alzeheimers unit. Is anybody out there listening? Alzeheimers is becoming an epidemic in this country. Have we ever thought the medications we are taking is creating this devastating disease? Millions of people take Ace Inhibitors, millions of people have Alzeheimers. They are getting younger and younger according to the Neurologist. Why, because younger and younger people are being put on Blood pressure medications from poisonous snakes. Are there any open minded Dr.s out there that can "step outside the box"...don't just "think outside the box"...."step out for goodness sake" and start paying closer attention to the symptoms people are having. I am convinced there is a definite connection to my husbands side effects and this drug. Get off people. Get off.

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.

OK guys, I have been reading all your side effects for a couple of weeks now, and finally decided to jump into this pot! You will not believe this, but I have been on Diovan 80 mg twice a day along with a couple of other blood pressure medications. It's been about 2 years, maybe a little less, and for the past 10-12 months, I have complained to my doctor that my joints and muscles ache so much that I feel like a 100 year old person. I also have has every side effect mentioned on the 9 pages listed here with all of you. I have had every test imaginable for artery's/veins/muscles/joints/sleeplessness/hair loss/weight gain/swollen ankles...you name it, I've been tested for it. They can find nothing wrong with me at all. NOTHING! I'm sure they feel that it's all in my head, since I've been quite sensitive to a lot of meds. in the past!

I am usually very active and run around like a crazy woman most of the time, but I was absolutely walking like I'd been hit by a truck. I went to my doctor with all of the complaints listed under Diovan printed out, and believe me, she took notice. We stopped Diovan that night and I started on a couple of new meds. that have absolutely no side effects. It will be two weeks this coming Wednesday (June 4) and I am almost a new person. I'd say, about 98% pain free. I actually felt relief after being off for about 5 days. It's getting better day by day. I actually feel that this stuff was killing me slowly. Get off asap!
By the way, I tried to look up the new meds, and they are so new that I can't find anything. For me, they are an answer to prayer.

Help!! I need some advice. I'm 47 and have been diagnosed with HBP. I'm 6'2", 250 lbs. My Dr. has prescribed Lisinopril, which I'm suppose to pick up today. I've never been on any prescription medicine before. Don't have any known allergies. My BP averages 138/90 in the am and 170/117 in the evening. My fear is once I start taking this medication, am I on it forever? The side-effect described on this board are frightening. Any advice??

Ultram was prescribed for me for "chronic every day headaches". It has been effective. I have been on antidepressants and I am usually unable to function on them. I experience extreme fatigue. The Ultram helps me to function and to be more productive, though not as productive as I would like. The biggest problem I have with the Ultram, though, is that it increases my blood pressure. I don't want to have to take the blood pressure medications. I don't like being dependent on the Ultram but until I find something that helps me to function and be productive I have to take it.

Has anyone had a problem with mouth or tongue sores? My oral surgeon elimnated anything serious, but still can't for sure tell me why the left side of my tongue is sore and red. Leiton planus was mentioned, I found that on one site to be associated with certain blood pressure medications.

I am a 45 year old and in August of 2007 I was given this medication as to
an alternative of the expensive blood pressure medications I was taking at
first. However, after a week on this medicine I began to notice some changes
in my sleep, and I had gotten a dry cough (which I still have) and when I would try and excercise and walk, I became real short of breath and very
weak after each incident. I had another episode on Saturday, October 6 and this one was worse to the point that I just could not catch my breath right away and now I have read these experiences from other people who are on
the same medication as I am and it very scary to know that something that is
suppose to help you is really causing your problems. How is it that?

Hi, I'm a 51 y/o female nurse that started taking Toprol-XL for high blood pressure. I don't like taking meds because of side effects (other blood pressure meds have caused my hair to fall out, fatigue, depression, etc.) so I started out only taking half of the 50 mg tab. I recently upped it up to the whole tab to get my blood pressure a little lower and immediately started having severe headaches and joint pains. I'm going back down to a half tab and wean myself off this crap. I'm taking Magnesium, potassium, and L-Arginine, which all help relax the blood vessels. I was taking a higher dose of magnesium, which causes some diarrhea, when I decided to lower it and increase the dose of Toprol-XL to see how that worked. I'd rather have the diarrhea from the magnesium! At least then I wasn't crying from depression, having bad headaches and hurting all over! I'm losing weight on Weight Watchers, so hopefully I'll get this blood pressure under control. My blood pressure was pretty well under control with the lower dose of Toprol-XL, higher dose of magnesium, and the L-Arginine and potassium. I'm going back to what was working before. I'm also going to talk to my Health and Wellness doctor about a safer replacement for the Toprol-XL.

My doctor put me on Lisinopril (10 mg) a week ago. On the third day, I felt fatigue, had a cough, entire body soreness, felt feverish, with flu symptoms. My doctor told me to stop taking it for three or four days and start it up again. I did. I felt better, especially on my forth day. I started it up again on a Monday and still felt okay, but the fatigue returned. Today, which is Saturday, I woke up feeling great. I didn't take the Lisinopril until noon time and from then on I have felt very tired. I laid down for six hours, slept two. I still have the cough and have decided to take the Lisinopril at night so that I may sleep better. I go back to my doctor the 11th of October and will let you all know how that turned out.

Dear reader I write this as a warning and as a way to seek help. I was put on Desogen when I was 23 years old. I was on this drug to control my periods. I suffered all of the side-effects. During my first year on this pill I fractured my foot.

Why mention my foot, because hormones effect our bones as well as everything else. During my second year I lose the hair on the right side on my head. Told this to my Gyn doctor and I was enored. All the while I suffering depression, insomnia, mood swings, weight gaine, and scalp hair loss.

Buy the fourth year on Desogen I changed my doctor. Who later put me on Loestrin. This wasn't any better I was now suffering night sweats along with everything else. While on all these hormones I was also taking high blood pressure medications which only made matters worse.

All in told I have been on hormones for six years. How I stopped was by accident. Meantime I was also taking pain killers for my foot which now had been broken for five years.

After coming off all these hormones my body when though an over haul. First thing was the lost off sexual function, then there was the loss of pubic hair, the shrinkage of my right breast and right buttocks, I had surgary on my left breast to remove a precanerous lump, and now just recently I have notice the shrinkage of my righ arm.

There's alot more to tell. If any doctor comes accross this article please reply. I need all the help I can get.

I am 48 yrs old, and was prescribed lisinopril in early 2007. It immediately lowered my BP. Due to the stress of my job it took me awhile to notice that the headaches, dry eyes, hollows under my eyes, lack of color to my face, were in fact not from my job but from the medication. It took someone I work with to say to me, "You know, you can go on high blood pressure meds, but if you make the lifestyle changes you need to make, you can also go off the high blood pressure meds." Since I stopped taking the lisinopril, the headaches (like a sinus headache, but deeper), the hollows under my eyes, have greatly improved, my face has color again, and the only symptom I'm still experiencing is dry eyes--hoping that will get better with time, also.

I'm going to start a serious search for a homeopathic alternative. Would appreciate any info anyone out there has re: that. I've also quit my job, gone back to graduate school, and will spend the time now to pay attention to what my body is telling me rather than run to the doctor and get some drugs.

The cough from Lisinopril is from the ACE inhibitor (drug classification not isolated to just Lisinopril), one of the main side effects of almost any ACE inhibitor is a persistent dry cough...do not stop blood pressure medications without discussing with your doctor. There are many other blood pressure medication which are not ACE inhibitors and will not cause coughing, but will control you blood pressure....ask you doctor to try a Angiotension receptor blocker or BETA blocker I've been there I thought I would go crazy from the cough I experienced!!!. I was on Avapro...it worked great for me, but when my insurance wouldn't cover that paricular medication I was switched to DIiovan, and it work well also without side effects!!! I hope this helps somone!

I have been an herbal consultant for 20yrs. Recently, for the past two year was under enormous stress. 7/5 I had muscle spasms in my heart along with cramping in my left arm for two days. Went to emergency room they admit me and released me 7/9 and the doctor ordered lisinopril and labetalol. This morning I took the lisinopril and felt dizzy. I was feeling dizzy in the hospital and told the nurse. She looked at me and said I know (with a frustrated look) it's the blood pressure meds. For years I have been taken calcium and magnesium in liquid form and it has helped until the stress attack so I became frightened. I did a little research and found Lisinopril was SNAKE VENOM? Has anyone done any research on the long term effects of SNAKE VENOM? It can't be good. I am going back to the calcium and magnesium and give my stress to someone who I forgot created me. GOD! I would really appreciate anyone emailing me****** regarding any research done on long term use of snake venom. Thanks

I am looking for any side effects from digitek. My dad is currently taking this medication and has developed a cough. I know this can be a side effect of some blood pressure meds. Could this also be a side effect of digitek?

I developed shortness of breath after using lisinopril for 3 months. I quit lisinipril because of all of the other side effects it gave me (stomach pains, the hit by a truck feeling).

For me the cough didn't get serious until near the end when I quit because of the other problems. After I quit the cough kept getting worse as did the bouts of shortness of breath.

It took me a long long time to figure out what was happening, which as near as I can tell goes something like this: the cough irritates the lungs and causes direct damage. However, as the immune system kicks into overdrive trying to clear the lisinopril and associated toxins out of the lungs, liver & rest of the body, it uses up zinc and selenium reserves.

When the body runs low on selenium (from the immune system using it up) then it can no longer effectively clear the lungs, causing more lung damage. But even more is happening, since selenium is also used by other systems, and they begin to suffer too. One such system is the joint protection mechanism. Another is the thyroid system, both in the thyroid itself as well as the thyroid receptors in the various organs all over the body.

The thyroid receptor problems cause weight gain, energy problems, etc... Combine the thyriod system having problems with the lung damage and that resulted in my shortness of breath.

To combat this problem long term I found zinc & selenium helpful. In the short term I also used tyrosine & iodine & boron & cal/mag as needed to help stimulate the thyroid along with the zinc & selenium.

I also found that the traditional asthma support to be quit helpful in the short term, which are molybdenum and manganese.

I'd prefer to get my nutrition from food, but minerals are hard to absorb in the quantities needed after such a brutal, toxic chemical assault on the body, so I choose supplementation to help me.

Best of luck to all.

I am on 150 mg of Toprol XL daily for about 2 years. AFter I started on the Toprol within 3 months I noticed my hair was much thinner. I did not associate the two until the next time I saw my beautician, and the first thing she asked me about was if I was taking blood pressure meds. Her experience with many heads of hair had given her this knowledge. I have found others who say the same. My doctors say they have never seen hair thinning as a side effect. Does everyone have to go bald before this is acknowledged?

sever hypertension and sever dizzyness throat swelling up chest pain fatigue in arms and leggs unable to sleep panic attacks and weight loss due to not being able to eat. also taking Glucophage and asprin and darvocet what alternative blood pressure medications for blood sugar can i ask doctor about?

I began taking this med following a mild heart attack in 2004. I have had a nagging cough for quite some time and saw an article in the paper today that stated that some blood pressure meds cause this cough. I'm relieved and annoyed!

I have taken Lisinopril for a long time. Not sure when it came into the market, but seems like I been on them a few years. I been taking blood pressure meds for about 10 years. I am 53. Not sure when I was switched to Lisinopril. I have fought most the symptons that are on this website. I have never connected it with Lisino and neither have my doctors, even at Mayo Clinic. I always check out healthy as a horse, except, they write this off to having Fibromyalgia. I have had long periods of time when I did feel I could "catch my breath" It's like the feeling of holding your breath in, till you need to really breath badly. So you breath, and that feeling seems to stay to a large degree. Extreme Fatigue, walking 100 feet and back sometimes. Dry cough or clearing Phlem all the time. Dizzy for like, 3 years now, weakness in legs, pain in legs even in the morning. They carry a burning with them like if you were working out, but it burns like that if you just walk a short distance. Bad insomnia, so freaking tired, but the sleep button just doesnt kick in. Sometimes totally exacerbating as far as the fatigue is concerned. Do not know if its connected, but can tolerate the soap isle in the grocery store, I can just feel it suck any energy out of me. Hot flashes, ear aches..not infections, they just seemed to stay slightly inflammed. Lots of stiffness in neck and shoulders, and lots of just skin pain, across my back. So for years I have been fighting this fatigue and pain and we will see if it's connected to Lisino or not. Let me add also, when the fatigue is greater so is the brain fog and/or lethergy. Lots of headaches. I was feeling so weak not long ago, I thought it might be MS. But Dr. Said MS is not painful, and my legs, especially thighs, and hip joints hurt a lot. If this is caused by taking Lisino, I would have to say, I am about 10% of the man I used to me, Physically. Might as well throw a sexual activity report in here. All the plumbing works fine, it just the concern if that's where I want the energy to go for the rest of the day. Sometimes and physical excertion, the best way to describe it, it like an exahusting "flare", It will kick your butt and put in bed. Like, hmmm, think I will move the couch over there...bammm. Okay, I am done. I just wanted to be a bit detailed, it might help others out. If it is Lisino, I am sure it will take several weeks for me to get it off and out of my system, but I will write back. I hope this may help someone else out there.
:)

1st night no sleep or rest. After about a week of treatment would randomly break out in red rash over 90% of my body and it would itch so bad i scratched blood out! had to stop it immediately. was taking with blood pressure meds and paxil for nicotine cravings.It did help with the cravings alot but not worth the risk.