Chronic cough symptoms and conditions

59 year old female. A history of hypertension started on Lisinopril in April of 2009..I am so GLAD I found this site! I have developed a severe chronic cough. This cough keeps me up at night ( and everyone else in the home)
Severe soreness in every joint in every part of my body. I can not sleep, serious fatigue, I have had mental confusion, short term memory loss I NEVER had the mental confusion or memory loss. I went to my Dr. 2xs he put me on antibiotics, told me I possibly had aspirated mucous in my lungs or had "silent reflux" no matter what I have taked or done none of the above symptoms lessened. Therefore, I started to do my own research and wound up here on this site. I am going to my doctor tomorrow informing him of the side effects ( which I would have thought he knew) and asked to be put on another medication for my hypertension. My question I have that there does not seem to be a easy answer is how long will it take to reverse all these symptoms? Truthfully I put all these symptoms in to the "just getting older" category. Thank You so much for sharing

I started Lisinopril 10mg in mid November 2008. In December I caught a particularly nasty cold, terrible cough, lost my voice for weeks but very little sinus problems. Went to urgent care on New Years Eve because I couldn't deal with the coughing anymore. They gave me a chest x-ray and breathing treatment and sent me home with a z-pack, inhaler and cough syrup. Slowly started feeling better and by mid January I had my voice back, but the cough continued. It was a cough like so many of you describe, the kind where you cough until you puke! No fun. But, I'm a smoker so I kept thinking that was why it was taking so long to get over.

March 1, 2009 I had a coughing attack while shopping. While coughingl I felt a terrible pain in my side, it was so bad I thought I was going to fall over. I knew I had broken a rib! From coughing... imagine that! When I got home I starting googling chronic cough and broken ribs. I came across reference to medications as a cause of chronic cough. The light bulb came on.

I stopped taking the Lisinopril and called the Doc in the morning. Told the nurse that I wanted to change my medication and that I needed a chest x-ray to see if I had broken a rib. Saw the doctor two days later, no hassle about changing meds, but I really had to talk her into the broken rib theory. Had my chest x-ray and sure enough, I have a broken rib.

Well, three weeks later and I feel so much better. Now I only have coughing fits 3-4 times a day instead of the 5-6 times an hour. I think I will get over this!

Too bad though, because the meds actually worked. My blood pressure was lower than it had been in years. But I think this is one cure that has side effects worse than the disease it cures.

Thank God for each and every one of you'll who posted!! I am a 31 year old female who has consumed this poison since March 08. My PCP had started me on the Lisinopril 40mg and eventually increased it to 80mg per day.
OCTOBER 2008-
I begin having "flu like" symptoms which I started taking over the counter medicine for.

NOVEMBER 2008-
I was becoming worst so I went to my doctor (the one who prescribed this mess) and was told it sounds like bronchitis so she prescribed a "z-pack" (which is a 5 day course), "cough syrup", and stated to "quit smoking".

FIVE DAYS LATER-
I went back to my doctor with the same complaint chronic cough and now shortness of breath. I was told that since the "z-pac" didn't work it may be "asthma"!! SO of course I was prescribed more drugs one being one called "Augmentin" (which is a 10 day course), and an inhaler now for asthma!! I was ordered to have a "chest x-ray", and another script for more cough syrup with codeine!!!!

SEVEN DAYS LATER I WAS IN THE ER-
I felt as if I was dying! I was so scared and did not know what to do. I couldn't even go to work all I could do was cough, gag (sometimes vomit), and gasp for air!! I knew something was terribly wrong. The chest x-ray was clear other then a small amount of inflammation. I was prescribed yet more pills this time a 5 day course of "steroids" for the inflammation, more cough syrup, and was told I didn't need the inhaler!!!

1 WEEK LATER IM STILL COUGHING-
I was beginning to think that this condition was smoke related and begin to feel depressed as if my life was over. I decided to quit smoking as of 12/19/08, however the gagging cough and shortness of breath is still present.

I GOT A 3RD OPINION
I went to an internal medicine doctor (just 6 days ago) who stated that it appeared to be the Lisinopril the whole time and to stop taking it immediately. I was prescribed a medication called "Diltiazem" generic for " Tiazac" but the insert mentions cough as a possible side effect for this medicine as well. I am to weak, broke, and cautious to take another one so quickly. I'm still coughing as I type this!! I think I will just stick to my fluid pill and a better way of living before I continue to put this stuff in my body. To sum up this whole coughy blog, please, please think twice before taking this or any other medicine, trust me it will save you a lot of health problems and medical bills. And finally if your doctor wont listen, don't hesitate to get a 2ND OR EVEN 3RD OPINION IF NEEDED!!!!!

I am a 42 year old healthy male who works out and, therefore, I know what muscle fatigue and common muscle cramps feel like. However, today was my 10th dose of a 14 day supply of Levaquin 500 mg for a chronic cough and possible sinus infection. Suddenly this morning, after walking down 1 1/2 flights of stairs at our church, both of my calves simultaneously cramped so severely, I lost feeling in both of my feet. I had to grab the handle bars to keep from falling. Once we got home, I wrapped my calves in a heating pad for an hour which did little to relieve the pain and cramping. My calves are now noticeably swollen with continued cramping. I can barely walk. Suspicious of the Levaquin, my wife googled the drug and found this website. Thank God! Now all we can do is pray that the suggestions for self-help posted on Oct. 27th will work and that I do not develop any further side affects as others have posted. I will also alert my GP on Monday of this website as well as everyone we know.

I'm wondering if some of you could explain how the leg pain was. My 20 month old has been on Singulair for 2 months for ?asthma (he's has bronchiolitis once and pneumonia 2x since he was 6 months old and a chronic cough). His medication "regime" in working great-absolutely no cough in 2 months from a child who I started to think coughing was normal for this age. 3 weeks ago we were driving in the car and he started grabbing his right leg say "ooww, boo boo". and now in the last 2 weeks we have had 3 times where he holds his right leg crying in pain and will not walk, will not stand on his leg. One time lasted for about 2+ hours-he went to bed like that and woke up fine, jumping in his crib. 2nd and 3rd time it lasted about 1 hour and then he was fine completely back to himself. We had him seen but decline xrays and to just watch it for now. The MD said it could be a virus in his knee. I asked about side effects to med and she doubted it. But I started reading and now I'm suspicious. The weird thing is that it comes on strong and goes away just as easily. Wondering if anyone else could describe their leg pain in more detail. Thanks!

I have been on Singulair for about one month and am experiencing extremely painful cramps/charlie horses in my legs. I am taking Singulair for adult onset asthma. Have a horrid cough, been told over the past 20 years, yes, 20 years, it is caused by allergies but no medication stops the coughing. Then they figured it had to be caused by acid reflux. So prilosec is prescribed. Still have the cough. Now this specialist deems it to be adult onset asthma. The Singulair does not stop the coughing - so what is next? Major leg cramps/charlie horses.

I was prescribed advair diskus (100/50) twice a day, 10 days ago. It was for chronic cough which almost instantly improved 90%, however the medication kept me wide awake at night and caused pain in my chest while I was asleep. I was told to take it only once a day, but when it wore off at night, I had labored breathing and could not sleep. I have hardly slept in all this time and am exhausted. Albuterol does not help, and I have been to urgent care twice in the last two days. They only offer breathing treatment. By the way, except for the cough, my health was excellent. I haven't had true asthma in years. I would rather have my cough back. At least codeine cough syrup worked, and helped me sleep.

I'm 23 and i've been taking 20 mg a day of lisinopril for a month now. before that i was on 10 mg of altace and had no side effects at all. since taking the lisinopril i've noticed my legs feeling no cramped but like that half asleep feeling at night. also my sex drive has decreased dramatically and i've found it difficult to get an erection. if anyone has had the same problems please let me know. any information would be very appreciated.

i have been taking lisinopril for six months and i feel sick to my stomach everyday and have a chronic cough now and vomiting.

Effective after two weeks for some people - not effective for others. Side effects for some people - others do not report side effects. So why does Merck have to grow their market before they have any idea what's going on?

This isn't a big group of people in the study but it makes sense from what we are reading here. These researchers did examine the mast cells. We need to know about mast cells (while suppressed by montelukast) on a longer term basis.

J Asthma. 2008 Apr;45(3):243-50. Links
The efficacy of montelukast and airway mast cell profiles in patients with cough variant asthma.Kawai S, Baba K, Matsubara A, Shiono H, Okada T, Yamaguchi E.
Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.

Background. Cough variant asthma (CVA) is characterized by chronic cough without apparent wheezing; its pathophysiology is considered to be similar to that of classic asthma. Objective. The clinical effects of montelukast, a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist, on cough variant asthma were assessed, and the activation profile of airway mast cells was examined. Methods. Montelukast (10 mg/day) was given orally to 36 CVA patients (25 women and 11 men; median age, 37.5 years). Before treatment, the patients' bronchial mucosa underwent a biopsy with a fiberoptic bronchoscope. The biopsy specimens were double stained with anti-CD63 antibody and anti-human tryptase antibody. Results. After 2 weeks of montelukast treatment, cough symptoms improved in 22 patients (the effective group) but did not improve in 14 patients (the ineffective group); in the ineffective group, the symptoms disappeared 2 weeks after they were switched to fluticasone propionate (400 mug/day) inhalation therapy. In the effective group, the time interval from the onset of symptoms to the initiation of treatment was significantly shorter than in the ineffective group. The bronchial mucosa biopsy specimens showed that the proportion of CD63-positive cells in tryptase-positive mast cells was significantly higher in the effective group than in the ineffective group; although the total numbers of mast cells were not different between the two groups. Conclusion. There is a subgroup of CVA patients in whom leukotrienes are closely involved in the pathogenesis of their chronic cough; activation of airway mast cells may be an essential feature in these patients.

PMID: 18415834

Does anyone know an alternative to Singulair? Zyrtec made me too sleepy to function and without allergy meds I get sinus infections, bronchitis and/or chronic cough.

I have been on Yasmin for 2-3 years now for endometriosis. It was great as it helped with the severe cramping, and cleared up my skin. I never paid much to the series of changes to my body months to follow, till it got worse. Within the past 2-3 years, I've had countless exams literally from head to toe -- bloodwork, MRI, X-Rays, CT-Scans, Ultra-Sounds, and other lab work. All of which, despite slight irregulars through bloodwork on liver count, thyroid, lymph, and raised cholesterol, were normal. It got to a point where my family doctor thinks I need to see a psychologist. I considered my self a pretty healthy and happy individual. I know I was not imagining these aches and pains.
About 1 year into taking the pill, I noticed numbing in my legs, severe headaches, dizziness, and trouble falling asleep. I even discussed it to my gyno, who quickly brushed off any relation between these symptoms and the pill. I figured, it might have be induced from stress at work and thought no further of it. I also discussed it with my family, who also dismissed the idea.

I started losing a lot of hair and started getting more emotional, with frequent/extreme mood swings. I also started crying a lot, which was never the case before. I was never so emotional. The pill does not even help with clearing my acne anymore. I also had bloating, frequent urinating, tender/painful breasts, chronic cough, frequent throat infections, nausea, fatigue, back pain, heart palpitations, chest pain and pressure, and chronic abdominal pain. The chest pain and abdominal pain landed me in the ER today. And of course, all test results were "normal".

It's worth getting off this thing, at least to see if Yasmin is the cause. If this little pill is the case of all of our pain and suffering, instead of helping like it should -- the product should really be pulled of the market, along with a class action against the manufacturer.

I feel very lucky to have found this site, that there are others who are going through the same thing and can understand I am not insane for thinking the pill is the cause. I'll have to come back to post the progress.

Thanks for all these posts! My 4 year old daughter has a history of allergies which have in the past led to sinus infections and bronchitis. We used Xopenex and Pulmicort with the nebulizer along with Vazobid and Delsym and cleared up the bronchitis during Christmas 2007, but her pediatrician suggested her taking Singulair as a preventive medication for her allergies. This medication has turned our household upside down. She has taken it every night for 3 weeks and the side effects are the same as others have posted.......aggressive behavior, severe defiance to simple tasks, nightmares, stomach cramps, wetting accident at school (first time ever), weight gain, bruising, and vomiting. When told "no" she replies with wanting to kick me and tells me she doesn't want me as a mom anymore. The devilish behavior is intolerable. She was never like this before she started taking Singulair, and I am so thankful that I found this website quickly enough to put 2 and 2 together, and I am taking her off of it TODAY!!!

I have been on lisiipril for 3 months and have a retching cough many times each day that produces clear phlegm. Cough subsides after expelling phlegm, but reccurs in a short while. I do not seem to have any sinus condition, and it doesn't appear to be connedcted to any lung problems. It wakes me up at night 2-3 times. HELP.

I had a chronic cough which got worse and developped into bronchitis. My doctor gave me 10 days of 500 mg levaquin. Ten days later I went back, still coughing, even though the bronchitis was a bit better. He gave me another prescription for 7 days of levaquin with a refill.
A week or so into this routine, my legs started to hurt a lot. I thought I was just out of shape and needed to get back to the gym and do some stretching exercises. I could barely climb the stairs to the gym, but I must say that after working with the trainer and stretching a lot (and it hurt a lot) I was able to walk easier and the pain lifted quite a bit. . . for a while.
I also have developped total diarrhea, which made sense to me; because I was trying to kill bad bacteria in my system which I thought was causing the bronchitis.
Fortunately, last week I decided to go to another doctor because I wasn't getting better and I felt my old doctor was just overwhelmed by the health care system and was just going through the motions. This doctor, an ENT doctor, immediately diagnosed me with LPRD (acid reflux which goes all the way to the vocal chords, resulting in cough, tightness in the throat, etc.) I know he's right because I have felt the acid reflux thing at night when I have eaten late and had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.
Tomorrow I'm heading to a gastro doc to attack the diarrhea, but I wondered if the leg pain had anything to do with the levaquin, since it came about after a week or so on the stuff. and lo and behold found all these postings which have now scared whatever shit I have left out of me!
I'm off to get some magnesium, as someone suggested and would appreciate any other tips anyone might have. My only tip is that stretching out your legs and butt muscles, does temporarily help a bit.

Wow I am so glad I found this site, Ive been on this crap since June 2007 and now Sept 2007 I experienced everything from swollen eyelids to the miserable chronic cough which sometimes is dry and sometimes kinda wet. It did lower my BP but after two months of coughing I've had enough and yesterday was prescribed Benicar 20mg. Does anyone have experience with Benicar?

I am wondering if the chronic cough I have is a side effect of Januvia. Initially I thought it was the ace inhibitor I was taking, but since I went off it a few months ago, the coughing has not subsided.

I am currently taking Levaquin for the first time; just finishing a one week course @ 500 m.g. / day. Had a bacterial infection on knee similiar to an insect sting (one hole). Not only cleared up but also helped with a undiagnosed condition in the lungs which has caused a chronic cough for at least five years now .... now gone. Never had any indication of side affects.

I looked this med up after being on it for a week and developing a chronic hacking cough, post nasal drip and increased tiredness. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I've had enough. It goes into the garbage tonight!

i have been taking this medication for 3 months and now have a chronic cough....i have switched meds and havent taken lisinipril for almost a week...my doc says that this cough can last 2-4 wks after going off lisinipril...
hope this helps....

Been taking this for about 18 months. I have experienced dizziness, facial numbness, elevated liver enzymes, chest pain, and chronic cough. Been to the docotor several times and have had multiple tests run. Finally fed up, I switched doctors. This was the first time Lisinopril was even mentioned as a possible cause even though she is doubtful. I came home and immediately searched the internet to find this forum. So glad I did!

I developed a chronic cough while on Toprol. It got so bad I could hardly talk on the phone or sleep. Thinking I was developing and allergy, I went to an ENT doctor and an allergist. They treated me for allergies. By chance, on my annual physical with my regular doctor, I brought up the bad coughing. She immediately told me that it was my blood pressure medicine and changed the prescription. However, by that time, I had been coughing so hard that I ruptured a disk in my neck and had to have neck surgery. So, if you start developing a cough you can't seem to get rid of on this medication, please see your doctor immediately and don't think it could be allergies. I waited too late because who would have thought that blood pressure medicine would create a dry, chronic cough.

Since being on this medication, I seem to have developed a chronic cough. Have had various tests to rule out other causes. Has anybody else had a chronic cough develop since using this drug?

I have been on topamax since Nov. 06. My psychiatrist started me on 25 mg and moved me up to 100 mg. He put me on this medication because I asked him about undergoing a gastric bypass for weight loss and wanted me to try medication first. My symptoms are tingling fingertips and feet. I have also had a chronic cough (sometimes so violent I vomit) from a cold that I have been unable to get rid of. I read on a web site that Topamax can cause a chronic cough. Also, carbonated beverages taste flat to me now. I have lost about 20 pounds but I don't think the sides effects I am having are worth the weight loss.

I recently began to take Advair (about 2 months) and have experienced very few side effects. My voice gets a little heavy by the end of the day and I sometimes wake up with a sore throat (once a week). But my doctor had warned me about these effects and so I was not surprised. I do have more phlegm, which I hadn't associated with Advair, but rather with allergies. Overall, I am very pleased with Advair. I had a chronic cough for almost 3 years and used Albuterol inhaler 2-3x a day before begin prescribed Advair. I have not used the inhaler once in 2 months. I will continue to use Advair as prescribed, 2x a day!