Nagging cough symptoms and conditions

Me too... I've had a nagging cough ever since an upper resp tract infection (treated & improved w Z-pak). This has been over a month ago. I started Lisinopril:HCTZ combo many months ago & no complaints before. Could drug be the cause of my cough? I've been thinking I aggravated my throat from all of the coughing w the sinus infection. Whatever - it's a drag! My SO is tired of my coughing & fumigating our living space with Hall's cough drops all the time. My BP is good though.... I'm thankful for that.

I am reading the majority of your side effects re: Lisinopril, and I too am suffering from a nagging cough that keeps me up a bit when I am sleeping. BUT, please look at the side effects v. the benefits before you take yourself off the medication. High Blood Pressure is serious!!! I had a friend pass away quite quickly because he was not taking his HBP medicine like his Dr. prescribed. Trust me, I don't like my cough either, but given the alternative, I'll suffer with a little hacking.

I'm a 36 years old with now real history of bp prob. but my family do. I had a few occasion with an evalted bp ove a 8 month period. I was recommend by the ER doctor to start taking amphenol first then the cardiologist recommend this one. I should have stayed skeptical about taking any meds. I just start taking the lisinopril med at10/12.5mg for 1 week now and everything I am reading i am having most of those side effects. I wished i would have checked this site out first. I sleep most of the day, stomach aches dizziness etc.

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.

I was prescribed Z-Pak on Dec 31 2008 and it did help my bronchitis and pneumonia, however the side effects are horrible.....I still have a nagging cough but my breathing is better. I had to take gravol for three nights with this med as I was so nauseated and dizzy. Worse, I have agitated sleep and needing 10 to 12 hours of sleep because of awful sleep I am getting. I stared with diarrhea and hemorrhoids, and vaginal yeast infection. Losing urine with coughing which is due to my age and past pregnancies (53 years old), sore breasts and very sore nipples. Heavy period started 3 days ago.....which has shaken me...... as I went through menopause 11 years ago, yes 11 years ago! I had ringing in my right ear (never before) for 24 hours this week and have altered and less hearing in ear now). This is my 53rd birthday and I will call doctor Monday and see her asap. I am freaked out! Is this all from that med or do I have uterine cancer???

I am taking Lisinopril. I have been taking this for about 2 weeks. I am so very very tired, all I want to do is just sit and feels like I want to sleep. I can't stand this feeling and now reading everyone's experiences it has really scared me!!! Thanks for everyone that has shared their experiences.

If you are taking this medicine, STOP! I took this medicine for about three months. I started to feel like I had a congestion. I cough lightly at first then into a hard cough which progressed into a hacking. My wife thought I was critically ill. I was spitting up clear congestion at work into my garbage can. This stuff is bad, I found this site and stopped taking the medicine. It took 3 week for the cough to subside. It’s been about 4 months, and I would say I am only about 98 percent back to where I started . About every 3 weeks I out of the blue start to slightly hack. I know one thing this is not a good medicine. When I started my BP was 138/109. My doctor told me to try this. Because of this medicine I could not do my job and my doctor never told me it was the medicine. When I told him he told me he didn’t think it was the medicine and prescribe some cold medicine

I am a 56 year old woman and my doctor started me on 10 mg Lisinopril in March. Within 24 hours of starting it I developed a very annoying cough. At my next doctors visit she told me my bp was not down enough and wanted to increase the dosage. When I asked her if the cough could be from the Lisinopril she gave me some samples of Benecar HCT. The only problem I had with that was muscle weakness and some palpitations that went away after a few days. When I got the prescription filled I found that my insurance didn't cover it and it was quite expensive so I called my doctor back and she wanted me to try the Lisinopril again at 20mg and see what happened. That very same night the cough came back with a vengeance, along with dizziness. I decided to try to tough it out but after ten days now the cough is so bad it's unbearable. It keeps me up at night and I cough till I gag and cry. On several occasions I have coughed until I vomited. I couldn't take it any more and stopped taking it two days ago. I called my doctor today and she told me to stop taking it and now we're going to try Norvasc.

59 year old female, overweight.

My nightmare with 40 mg. Lisinopril started 3 months ago with the dry, hacking cough which got bad enough for me to gag & left me short of breath. I stopped this med completely after reading the horror stories here. Had little effect in lowering blood pressure.

I felt achy all over - thought I had the flu or a nagging cold which wouldn't let go, yet no temperature or other symptoms. Been coughing for 3 months. Some numbness in left hand fingers. Very tired all the time with no desire to do anything.

Depression got much worse, I felt like I was dying or had cancer and just felt like I wanted to end it all to get relief.

Had moving chest pains and some pain in left arm. Bad stomach/intestinal pains with bloating, gas & cramps. Some dizziness & light-headed feelings.

Reading the posts on this forum has been a Godsend; I wish I had found it sooner. My mom just got a prescription for Lisinopril; I told her to not take it - it's poison. Referred her to this page. When I read the same symptoms over & over on these pages, this is a red flag. Only wish the doctors would take heed of this - in fact I plan to tell my doctor tomorrow to come here & read these postings - they are an eye opener and could well save others from the horror of Lisinopril.

I'm planning on weaning myself off all prescription meds and start an herbal/alternative lifestyle. I stopped this stuff cold turkey when I read all the posts here & am feeling somewhat better altho I still have the nagging cough. Truth to tell I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Thank goodness I typed in "Dry cough "and "gag." I found this site and now I know WHY I can't seem to get over this "cold."

I've been on lisinopril for about 3.5 weeks and I was beginning to think I had suddenly developed allergies. I get this terrible tickle and I try to fight it, because I know once I start coughing, it will take a while to settle down again. My eyes water, my head throbs, and I reach a point of nearly gagging. In addition, I get to deal with the added pleasures of menopausal stress incontinence. I'm MISERABLE!

I've been needing to schedule an MRA for another non-related issue, and I have been putting it off due to concerns about being in the MRI machine and not being able to catch my breath.

Thanks to all of your input here, I'm calling my doctor tomorrow. Enough is enough!

I am 60 years old and have been on Lisinopril for about a year. I have experienced the nagging cough (day and night), numbness in my arms and hands and occasional unexplained hives. I was suspicious of meds causing the cough, and now I can say it's likely the Lisinopril. I also have poor quality of sleep, due to coughing and numbness in upper extremities waking me up.
On the plus side, my blood pressure is under control. :-)
Linda, Oshkosh WI

Taking Levaquin for pneumonia discovered through Xray as I had a nagging cough for a few weeks. Into 10th day of 14 day 500mg regimen and have had what feels like muscle tears in my calf muscle. First one happened after a weeks treatment during athletics and seemed to get much better in a few days. Second 'tear' happened today while walking. I can't really tell if these pains are muscle or tendon (achilles) but massage and heat helps. Sure am surprised to learn about all the side-effects from taking this drug and think I better end the treatment.

I am a 47 year old female recently diagnosed with high blood pressure. I started it 10 days ago and after 3 days I started had a tickle in my throat which made me have coughing, hacking and gagging to the point of vomiting. I can't sleep at night and during my work day which is constantly talking to people I have to excuse my self to have my "coughing fit". My head of course is pounding from coughing constantly. I saw the Dr. last week and she thinks I have a virus of some sort. After reading all of these side effects of everyone who has experienced similar symptoms I am 100% sure it is the Lisinopril. If I were truly sick the cough would have gotten better or worse at this point but it has stayed the same. I am so upset all the time about this that my blood pressure has probably increased! The cough has gotten so annoying that I stayed home from work today and I decided to stop the medication. I would almost rather die(drastic!) than deal with this horrible cough!

I'm writing for my mother. She was on 20mg of Lisinopril and her doctor insisted her violent coughs was from her asthma. Being an asthma sufferer her whole life and knowing the difference, she insisted it was not. He told her that this drug does not cause violent coughing as she described (but later admitted otherwise). I saw her in October and then in November for Thanksgiving and it looked as though she aged ten years! She was coughing badly, throwing up from coughing so violently and was white as a ghost and was extremely tired from not getting enough rest (from coughing). Everyone in the family told her to STOP taking the medication. She stopped taking it the day after Thanksgiving. It's been about five days and she is still coughing, although it's not nearly so bad, but she's taking pain medication (Hydrocodone) and I believe this narcotic has helped to subside the coughing, plus allow her to sleep, but masked the effects of the Lisinopril. Please, anyone, that has discontinued this medication, can you tell me how long to expect this drug to be out of her body? This has been an absolute nightmare and I'm so worried about her! Please email at ******

I'm 40 yrs old and was prescribed Lisinopril on July 2. For at least a month or so I've been experiencing constipation and headaches on occasion. The leg cramps happen every night though. My scalp has been very tender in areas, my throat is sore, I have the nagging cough, my vision seems to have gotten worse, and my skin itches miserably. I have headaches, which I thought were sinus headaches, but sinus meds didn't help. Yesterday the itching got so bad, I took Benadryl, which helped...I also slept VERY well...I went to the Dr today. He looked at my arms and back which were red and splotchy. He told me to stop taking the Lisinopril and we'll watch my BP. I'm hoping that all these things go away soon. I was beginning to think it was all in my head.

My husband has had a nagging cough with a little mucus. The doctor took him off of Lisinopril for this reason and the cough has dissapeared.

WOW, this sounds so similar to my symptoms. My ailment started out as a sore throat, then progressed to a headache then an awful nagging cough. I went to my doctor and he checked me out, my blood pressure was a bit elevated but my urine and my lungs were clear. I was running a low grade fever but nothing serious. He said it was probably just from post-nasal drip. He gave me Levaquin anyway in case I did have some kind of infection. The first day I took it...3 days ago....I felt like I had literally been beaten to death, it hurt to walk and I felt numb allover, that night I couldn't sleep, I kept having crazy thoughts and my legs were going wild and throbbing with pain. I finally managed to get to sleep but woke up drenched in sweat, my clothes and my side of the bed was as if someone had poured water on me. I have never in all my 40 years ever sweated like that. I am overwhelmed with hot flashes, even when I'm in an air conditioned place I feel like I'm on fire. I tried to go out shopping yesterday and it wore me out just walking from the car to the store. I mean I am a normal otherwise healthy 40 yr old woman here and shopping to me is the best fun in the world, but I was just too weak to even walk around in the store without leaning on the cart. I had my husband rub me down with Ben Gay last night and when he went over a spot in the middle of my back towards the right side...right under my bra strap it felt like I had been either shot or stabbed there...I actually screamed out when he just rubbed over it . I began feeling nauseas yesterday Still am today, even threw up this morning. I am taking myself off of this drug right now...too bad I did not read these posts until after I had already taken my dose today. So no more for me.
Update: June 16th, 2007 3:26pm I got up this morning a bit woozy and soaking wet with sweat again...but I refused to take another Levaquin. I went to help my husband paint our church house and felt great all day...no more leg pain but still hot flashes though. No more fatigue either. I just wish we all could get a settlement from this dangerous drug that should have been taken off the market a long time ago.
~*Dee

~*Dee

I am on Levaquin 500 now for what I was told was a respirtory infection, this is my 4th antibotic for the same problem. I am extremely sore and feel as if there are hundred pound weights on my ankles, it hurts to walk. My stomach is sore, my muscles are so tired, it hurts to situp. I am so lightheaded after taking this medicine, I feel ok before I take it but it all hits me at once after I have taken it. I have only been on Levaquin 4 days is this normal?

I had started to take Lisinipril abot 3 months ago after a month and a half I stopped, I had a dry nagging cough, with occasional gagging, from feeling like I had a lump in my throat. I stopped taking it and slowly this side effect went away. I decided to try taking it again thinknig maybe I was sick before, within one week the dry cough and gagging returned, I quit taking it. Just my experience, I hope this helps somebody else.

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'm horrified that I ever gave this to my kids after taking some for a nagging cough myself last night. My scalp and skin are tingling, my eyes feel as if they're bulging out, I'm totally dehydrated with terrible cotton mouth but can't eat or drink because of loss of appetite and slight nausea, I feel paranoid, my body is exhausted but can't rest, nothing looks right (colors, faces). It's now been 8 hours....1tsp of Bromaxefed!! I can't believe the FDA approves the manufacturing and distribution of crap like this! Especially to our children! God only knows what is being approved for people with mental issues....no wonder they hear voices telling them to carry out unimaginable acts. THROW THE BOTTLE AWAY NOW!! And please get this off the market!

I am so happy I found this site. I've been on the medication for about three weeks now. Last weekend I thought I was having a heart attack in the middle of the night and was scared to death. But I think alot of it was due to acid reflux. And I have the nagging cough as well. I'm on the phone all day at work and can barely get through a call without putting my customer on hold and having a drink of water. I've been having leg cramps as well. I'm going to call the doctor on Monday!

Hi there...as far as the coughing...I have been on Lisinopril for almost four years. I have still have a constant nagging cough, and extreme dry mouth.

I TO HAVE HAD THE SIDE EFFECTS OF RASH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DISCOMFORT OF HEAVY FEELING IN THE UPPER CHEST AND ACROSS THE BACK BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES.PLUS A NAGGING COUGH. THIS ON JUST A FEW MONTHS TREATMENT FOR HIGH BP

I'v had a nagging cough for about a month now. Just started taking Lisinopril a couple of months ago. I thought because I had a bad cold a few months ago that's why i couldn't get rid of the cough. I never thought it might be the medication. Now i realize it probably is the case. I'm also very tired and have found it very hard to do my running and other workouts. When i told my doctor about it, it said he had lots of atheletes on it and had not heard of anyone being fatigued. Well I know what i feel and I'm definitely more tired lately.