Blood pressure medicine symptoms and conditions

I take 25mg of Toprol XL for mitral valve prolapse. The only thing is I feel tired like I could fall asleep all the time. Is this common with this medicine on such a small dose. My doctor said this small dose shouldn't bother me. Anyone else take this dose and feel tired?

I, too, am trying to get off of Lisinopril. I am 49, and 10 lbs over my ideal weight. Went on the drug in December 2008, 2.5 mg a day. Since then, I have been depressed, tired, had a dry cough, sometimes a pounding heart and most recently, I am now losing my hair! And, yes, my bp is normal while on the Lisinopril. I have to say, that while I knew it was making me feel lousy, the hair loss was the last straw of side effects. I went on it at a time of high stress in my life and for now, life is calmer and my bp ranges between 135/80 and 145/90 when I am off it. Thinking of some natural, healthy approaches to lower my bp. Perhaps lose that 10 pounds and get more exercise. It is the worry of a high bp that makes the lisinopril hard to give up. The side effects though tell me it is bad for my body. I appreciate this website and reading about the experiences others are having while on this drug. I am hoping my hair will come back in if I stay off of it. Has anyone else had their hair grow back?

I started Lisinopril a 6 weeks ago at the suggestion of my Internist. The blood pressure medicine I was on (for 5 years) was too strong and causing me to have episodes of dizziness and hypotension. Since starting Lisinopril I have suffered with a severe hacking cough that is especially troublesome at night. It wakes me up almost every night and I wind up sleeping in an upright position on my lazy boy and taking strong cough medicine to suppress it. Since I am an RN, I attributed this to climate, my job (with children), and generalized stress of graduate school/work/family. I have a call into my Internist and will stop Lisinopril immediately. Thank you for this blog.

Took this medication with hydrochlorothiazide due to high blood pressure. Two weeks ago I took a nap Friday evening after school (I teach school from 8 to 4:30), and woke up with half my face and tongue swollen. I thought it must have been a food allergy.
This Friday, while at the gym, my tongue started swelling on one side. By the time I got home, my neck was swelling on that side. I called the doctor and got a dose pack of prednisone and went and picked it up. I took the first 6 pills at 8:30. 2 hours later the other side of my tongue was 3-4 inches thick and my neck was swelling to the point it was equal to or outside my head. I took another 4 pills and a benadryl.
I almost went to the hospital, but held out because of the out of pocket expense with my insurance. Finally, about 2 the swelling of my tongue subsided. I tried to lie down around 4 a.m., but couldn't breath due to swelling in throat. Had to sit up all night.
Now, Sunday afternoon, I still have some swelling in my throat. I was never warned that such side effects were possible. I wonder how many people have been effected and if the FDA has any idea of the numbers.
swelling of tongue,
swelling of neck,
trouble breathing,
trouble swallowing.
I had been on this medicine for 3 months. I'll never take another blood pressure medicine. And, I have to find a new doctor that I trust.

having bad night sweats and racing heart

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.

I had to re-start Lisinopril recently (almost 3 months now) and did not realize until I saw my Dr. last week that it was quite possible that that was what was causing my nagging cough, liquid phlegm cough-ups, burping at night, dehydration overnight, scratchy throat off and on at all hours of the day, loud chest coughing occasionally, my eyelashes are more brittle now, some leg cramping, and toe cramps, and watery right eye, would tear up quite a bit during heavy bouts of coughing. :( He just changed me to HCTZ which now I'm wondering if that is the same thing as Lisinopril? It reads that at the top of this post--what if they both cause an allergic reaction like this I am ALLERGIC TO SULFA COMPOUNDS so upon reading that pharmacist note above, I'm going to speak to my Pharmacist, My Dr's and my chiropractor too. I'll tell everyone I know, I've already heard from 3 other people that say they had a nagging cough and it turned out to be their blood pressure medicine.

Im a 32 year old male that was put on simvastatin 40 mg and cardizem 240 mg. I am now having severe headaches, so bad i cant go too work anymore, dizziness, fatigue, legs feel shaky all the time, cant stand up for long periods of times. Doctors claim its not the medications but its funny i never had these problems until i started taking these medications, after reading what people have too say about the simvastatin on here i am done with that, i cant live my life like this anymore. I have also heard my other medication can cause these problems so im going too talk too my cardiologist about a different one too control my heart. Im glad i have found other people having problems like me, i don't feel so crazy now.

777
I've been noticing that you as well as bobby are continuously replying to many of the posting. I stopped taking lipitor in December after having chest pains for 10 months which included being hospitalized for 2 days of testing. I'm still having the chest pain although I believe it's getting better. There was a week in the beginning of this month that I had no pain at all but now it's back. My question to you and bobby is you keep saying you still have some side affects for months but fail to list them. What are they and with your experience, why does Lipitor cause chest pain? What have you found out in your research? Is this drug causing damage to the interior lining of the arteries? Is this why many people are getting the pains from?

I've been on it for about 2 months, the first month nothing really happened...but the last month its just been getting worse and worse. Light headed, sweaty hands, cold feet, tinglinging in the fingers, heart palpitations, etc...the worst are the heart palps, and light headedness (I feel like I might pass out right now!). I stopped taking it today, my last pill was yesterday morning, so hopefully the side effects will subside today or tomorrow.

for those who went off the drug, how long did it take for the side affects to disappear?

When I first started taking Januvia it was like a god send to me. My bs dropped and I started losing weight. Since sugars were not low enough, I started taking janumet. A1C results were consistently 6.3 even tho' I ate anything I liked. Have taken Janumet for almost a year now and weight is 135lbs (height is 5'3"). Nice, since I just couldn't lose weight earlier (also have an under active thyroid and a sweet tooth). I recently experienced my first hot flash in an air conditioned room no less (am 46 yrs old). Started having migraines around my period. Left shoulder hurt when I raised my arm or reached behind me. Digestive system was a mess. Never experienced high blood pressure but had my first high BP reading at my last check up. Stopped Janumet after reading posts here and started feeling better right away. Digestion is normal. Don't know what to do now.

I have been on this medication for 3 months now. I am a 28 year old male, 6'2", weigh 211lbs, and in overall good health. My blood pressure average is 144/72 without the medication, but on the medication it seems to stay around 136/66. It took about one week for the blood pressure medicine to start working and when it did I felt very tired (which is normal). Now, in my third month I have started to notice new symptoms like severe headache in the right front lobe, severe tiredness, cold fingers and toes (in warm conditions), severe lower back pain, mood swings, blurred vision in the right eye (same location as headache), and a occasional twitch in my right thumb (probably not related to the medicine). When I first started this medication I did read all of these post and figured that everyone was crazy and/or nuts, but know I am thinking that I would rather stop the medication
and start seeking out for a better medication.. I know medicine has side effects but damn!!! Anyone else have cold fingers and toes while they have been on the medication..thanks

After reading these posts I am connecting some of my experiences that I attributed to other things. Glad to know it could be the IUD and not just me. I'm 46 so things are changing anyway. Thought the dizziness was from my blood pressure medicine... Anyway I got my Mirena in '05 so I've had it for awhile. I got it after my divorce. I like not having periods but I don't like the occasional brown discharge or spotting.

The worst side effect that I've experienced is the total lack of sexual sensation. Many of the other women report loss of libido but I think this might be different. I want to have sex but when I do it's like I have no sexual sensation from vaginal penetration at all. Almost as though it was dead down there. I also don't have the same sensation in my breasts as I used to. I've never been overly sexual but this is really frustrating. I've been seeing the same man for the last 2 years. He's very sexually oriented so it's a good thing we can only see each other every other weekend when he doesn't have his kids. It's really important to him so I indulge. Otherwise the relationship is great. I can orgasm sometimes but not from penetration. I asked the doctor but she kinda blew me off saying there was nothing I could do except teach him how. So I mostly suffer in silence and fake it sometimes.

Been thinking about getting the Mirena removed but I was worried it might not help. Wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and if everything goes back to normal when it's removed. I do like not having my period but perhaps it's not worth it. Please let me know!

I just removed my NR on yesterday after trying it for 2 months. It raised my blood pressure so high till before I noticed that it was the NR causing it, my doctor gave me blood pressure medicine. My blood pressure was 120/70 before trying it which is perfect for my age and weight. But now it has fluctuated and even raised to the highest pressure of 180/108. Anyone who uses this should definitely keep a watch on their pressure as it is a written side effect as well. My boyfriend can also feel it. They tell you that your partner can't feel it but they can. Therefore, I have to schedule my blackberry to remind me of the pills again. Also, I would get headaches that were so bad you can feel the blood trying to pump in my veins in my head. That's dangerous and can cause stuff like aneurysms. It's not for everyone!

I have been experiencing the following side effects after taking Januvia for the last year. Night sweats, nightmares, GA (which is fatty tumors on my left forearm I have about 40 of them), arthritic type pain in my left shoulder and left hip that radiates down the arm and leg. eczema on both hands SEVERE. I have quit taking the blood pressure medicine (used only as precautionary) cholesterol meds, and prozac for a week now and am very sternly watching my diet!!! and exercise regularly, I have yet to quit my diabetic medicine but will quit one at a time to figure out which is causing my side effects. I believe the drug companies are making a killing off all these drugs that make me feel like crap. I am taking more herbs, vitamins and like I said eating HEALTHY. I won't even use splenda or sweet and low, Have been using Stevia if I use any sweeteners at all.

I want to add something to my original post. I only took this med for 10 days (5mg) and was miserable. After 3 weeks I was beginning to feel better (having 1 bad day, then 2 good) when suddenly I experienced pain in my left side, numbness and tingling. My doctor sent me for a kidney scan. Five days after this new pain began, I developed another rash. I realized that I had shingles. So PLEASE be careful if you have any symptoms. This puts a terrible stress on your immune system. Apparently my immune system couldn't handle the stress and the result is shingles. So, I'm miserable again and probably have another 3 weeks to go before I begin to come out from this episode.

Also, for those of you who are switching to another blood pressure medicine that is an ace inhibitor (as lisinopril is), you will not tolerate those either. They are all made from the same ingredient, snake venom.

I am a 60year old female who was admitted to Mayo clinic after experiencing a hypertensive encephalopathy seizure. I was placed on lisinopril to try to bring my blood pressure under control. I have been on as many as five different medications per day with none controlling my extreme high blood pressure. After taking lisinopril for two days I developed a severe headache with floaters. My face became very swollen, especially my eyes, with unbearable itching and soreness. I also have had chest pains and it feels like my throat and insides are raw. My stomach hurts and it is hard to eat. I have only taken two lisinopril tablets and will not be taking any more. I see my doctor tomorrow and expect to be given a different medication. So far I have had no luck with any blood pressure medicine and I have tried about ten different kinds. If any one has had any luck with a prescription drug or an alternative remedy, I would love to hear from you.Thanks, Evelyn

Have been taking Lisinopril for approximately 6 months. Was previously taking Benicar, but insurance company strongly recommended the generic form.

Have experienced depression, eye problems, extreme leg pain, mood swings, sinus problems tightness in my chest, and severe rash and sores over my entire body.

Went to a dermatologist for the rash and sores. She took a biopsy and the report stated I was allergic to something. Had to use 4 anti-itch medications and 4 pills to be taken internally. Rash never did completely clear.

After having a nuclear stress test, my primary care physician referred me to a cardiologist. My left circumflex artery was 90% blocked, so a stent was inserted.

So I should be feeling alot better with all this being done. NO!! Have had more problems since the stent.

Am going today to the dermatologist again for the rash and sores and am taking the Lisinopril so when the biopsy is done, the lab can check to see if this is the culprit.

Also, am going to my PCP today for the leg and back pain. Am going to let him know I will not be taking Lisinopril anymore. An alternative blood pressure medicine will have to be prescribed.

Thanks for all the information. I will update my situation as soon as I know what is going on.

I am a 62 yo female who was prescribed Lisinopril in February. Within a week I had such a continuous horrible dry, hacking cough that I trouble communicating with others. This cough was particularly bad during the night. I have had to live with water and cough drops as my constant companions. I can honestly say that I have only slept through the night once from February until last night. My PCP finally decided that I did not have a sinus infection and that a codeine based cough medicine was not the answer and switched me from Lisinopril to Avapro on Monday, June, 2nd. According to my PCP it could take up to a week for the cough to go away.

After a lifetime of good blood pressure, I was so reluctant of surrendering to the fact that I needed to be on blood pressure medicine but finally did so for the fear of a risk in having a stroke. My doctor put me on Lisinopril about 6 weeks ago. The good news is that my blood pressure is now 120/60 HOWEVER....I have had the most unusual, annoying, dry, itching cough that simply stops me in my tracks!!! It just sneaks up on me without warning and I suddenly feel like a lint ball is stuck in my throat and I can't swallow and the tears pour down my face. I cannot even walk into the post office without a bottle of water in my hand for fear of an attack coming on. The only relief I can get is to drink water. It really hits me at night when I am trying to sleep...so guess what I DON't get much sleep!!! I went thru 1 gallon of water 2 nights ago!!! Along with this condition, I have also felt extremely irritable!!!! I did have enough sense to know that the level of anger or the amount of tears I was experiencing seemed to be over amplified. Thanks to my good friend for caring enough about me to discover this web site so I can discontinue this medicine. No more high blood pressure but I may just choke to death!!!

Today I decided that I am not taking Lisinopril anymore. I was sick with flu like symptoms about 2 months ago. I went to my doctor and and was treated for a bronchial infection. I was prescribed and antibiotic and also a blood pressure medicine. My blood pressure was high and had been for some time. The illness did leave but now I have new problems. For some reason the first bottle was a white pill, then changed pharmacy, and now a small peach colored pill. The side effects were worse on the white pill, less but still life altering on the peach pill. Since taking the medicine here are some of the things I have experienced.
- severe coughing, so bad that my neck back and head where killing me;
- loss of bladder (not sure if from coughing or additional side effect);
- hair falling out;
- tightness in my chest;
- difficulty breathing (using inhaler multiply times a day vs. when sick or 2 or 3 times a year);
- muscle pain;
- memory loss (small black out periods with no recovery of the memory for that time);
- feelings of dread; some intermittent periods of severe, some mild confusion;
- sleeping so soundly did not hear people in my home all night, loud music, doors opening and closing, in my room standing next to me talking (normally a very light sleeper);
- confusion for 15 to 20 minutes upon waking, did not know what time it was, where I was, what day;
- falling asleep at desk of if parked in my car;
- digestive issues, severe gas, intermittent watery stool and constipation;
- short tempered, inability to cope with my normal ability to function in high stress level on job (I actually left my job of 8 years on a week ago);
- strange feeling in the middle of forehead and intensifying to almost a muscle kind of pain just in the center.
- the worst was the yesterday, I felt like I did not want to live...just like quitting, thank GOD my children love me so much that they kept trying to keep me engaged in conversation and stayed with me all afternoon until it finally passed. I did not take the medicine yesterday or today. I called my Dr. to have my chart updated today that I will NOT be taking this medicine anymore. I will walk everyday and get on a diet that is fat and salt restrictive, I want to live and do it sanely.

I am 39 years old. My cholesterol levels have been between 250 and 370 since my mid-twenties. I started on Lipitor and noticed after a few years that my loss of memory, muscle pain, fatigue and difficulty sleeping were just plain annoying. I quit talking in August of 2007. Since then I have changed my diet to a vegan diet where I have zero cholesterol intake. After 9 months my cholesterol levels are still 270. My body produces it anyway. The only time I saw my cholesterol levels drop (on Lipitor) was when I was doing Atkins (high fat, protein) and my levels were in the 170s. I was prescribed Zocor this spring by another doctor, however still found myself unwilling to take it. While only taking a diuretic blood pressure medicine, I began experiencing some chest pain, headaches, shortness of breath, numbness in the face and hands and got scared. I began taking the Zocor on Friday 4/25/08 - I haven't had a good night's sleep since. By Tuesday night I broke out with a rash on my arms and hands (itchy). I thought it was hives. By Friday 5/2/08 my head was in a fog - I couldn't remember what happened on Monday, it feels like it was 6 months ago. I stopped talking last night Fri. 5/2/08 and this morning the rash was gone and I slept fairly well. I believe in choosing the lesser of two evils; however, with the obvious effects of this drug I wonder what it does to the inside of my body where it isn't so obvious. As young as I am, I really worry about the long term effects of this medication, and others like it, that would make heart disease seem like a piece of cake.

My son is 9 years old and been on Adderall XR for about 3 weeks and says he hears voices and they tell him they are going to hurt someone... He also has become very aggressive with his siblings... Has anyone else ever had this happen.. Please Help

I was on Prednisone for just over two weeks for a bad skin rash (allergic reaction). I went to the ER they gave me an injection on Prednisone. The next day my Doctor puts me on 40mg a day for 10 days then down to 20mg, and then 10mg. The side effects were (and are) crazy. Blood sugar and Blood pressure are through the roof. My heart pounds,races, skips beats. Hands shaking, nervous, and panic attacks. Yeah, sure, the rash is gone, but I feel like a train wreck. I took my last dose 2 days ago, and have been told it can take 2 to 4 weeks for this to get completely out of my system and end the side effects. Can anybody else verify this?? Good god, what a mess!!