October 17th
2009
4:19 PM
I greatly appreciate the comments posted on this site; I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and because I had not seen a doctor in > 3 yrs was prescribed Lisinopril to protect my kidneys. I had a concern about taking HBM because my average is 118/78 – 120/80. My prescribed dose of Lisinopril is 10MG but I cut the pills in half because I was extremely leery of possible side effects, doing so my BP is around 117/74. I will keep watch over every change that takes place in my body; and protest if things appear seriously out of sorts; thanks again for your comments, they are invaluable.
-- By 2bablessing | Reply | Private Message me
September 22th
2009
3:50 PM
Hi all.
I just discovered this website, and reading all these comments makes me want to comment also. I, too, am on Lisinopril and am suffering many of the side effects mentioned here.
I'm a 54-year old male, and have had high blood pressure since around 1998-99. Nothing really controls it, although I've had episodic success from time to time. I lost a lot of my hearing last year due to a BP-related disorder called "hydrops" (my right ear particularly), and my eyesight has declined from 20/20 to "mediocre" in record time (although it's been largely stable now for 5 years).
Really, everything bad started when the medications began in 2002. For example, I now have Type II diabetes, almost certainly as a result of the diuretic I was prescribed from 2002-2007. I could also tell horror stories about clonidine, Toprol, Accupril, and others.
Latest event: I ended up in the hospital ER last Wednesday for what seemed like a minor stroke. I am now suspecting the Lisinopril because the symptoms so mimic much of what folks describe here. I've never had the bad cough, but the joint aches are awful. As for the stroke (actually, a TIA -- Transient Ischemic Attack) -- we'll know for sure after the MRI tomorrow, but my regular doc and the neurologist suspect it was NOT a TIA. Then I see descriptions here of tingling, neuralgia, and other symptoms identical to what happened to me!
Sadly, I don't have any simple answers to share. I've tried to cut all sodium from my diet, and I know that's helped. I am now trying a device called the Zona Plus (******), some $300 but possibly worth it. I used it for 90 days in 2007, then gave up and went to a no-salt diet ... and my BP dropped like a stone. I thought diet would do it all, but I was wrong. I should have continued using the Zona. So now I've started a new trial of it. We'll see what 60-90 days on it PLUS a low-sodium diet can do.
There's another device called the Resperate which is also kind of spendy. Anyone tried it and had success?
I'll be seeing my doctor this week or early next, and asking him to get me off the Lisinopril. But what to replace it with? Any ideas will be welcome.
-- By pdxwriter | Reply | Private Message me
July 31th
2009
1:13 PM
I have had life-threatening spasmodic breathing episodes for the last year. My GP attributed it to asthma, because that's what it looked like, and they have given me prednisone shots and later on, antibiotic shots, to control it (for about 6 weeks at a time). I have well-controlled type II diabetes, so predisone can cause it to go out of control fairly quickly. Prednisone also caused some occasional pain in my feet, probably because of the elevated blood sugar. All the asthma drugs they gave me actually made me sicker, like Advair, etc. Lo and behold, I was able to talk my doctor into a referral to an allergist, and my allergy numbers are off the charts! All grasses, most trees, and many animals were high enough to cause anaphylaxis, especially when surrounded by more than one. Anaphylaxis can cause the labored breathing I suffered. Meanwhile, I have the lung capacity of an Olympic swimmer. I have an elderly friend who has gone to the hospital several times this year with the same problem. After I found out my results, I talked to his wife, and they discussed the allergy and infection aspect with the doctor. Turns out he had fairly severe allergies and infections that made his life-long asthma go way out of control. With a medicine for infection, he is 10 times better - the asthma is under control because it is not being jump-started by the low-level infections he suffered. I don't even have asthma, it just looks like asthma. I will begin years of allergy shots, just like in my 20's. (I am 55). The upshoot? Some people are suffering severe asthma symptoms. Others have a combo of problems which are exacerbating the asthma-like problems. Doctors who think you only have asthma tend to only treat asthma. Prednisone greatly reduces inflammation, which is a common factor in all the above diseases. So, calming the symptom doesn't mean treating the source. You long-term asthmatics should also look inot taking allergy tests if it is considered safe (they DO inject a small amount of allergens in your skin), and not spend 100% of your time with the pulmonary specialist who is only looking at your lungs. Also, you really need to do some cause and effect testing with antibiotics or similar to see if you have some type of infection. My friend and I are both on our way to better health because we went beyond treating the symptoms.
-- By itslaurie | Reply | Private Message me
June 29th
2009
3:08 PM
54 year old Male, Retired Marine, Very physically active, with Type II Diabetes; 5mg. Thanks for this Website. Started Lisinopril 3/25/09. Took it for 25 days, found this website and stopped taking it immediately. I had severe JOINT PAIN. It started in my hands, then feet, knees were next, then moved into my shoulders. The pain was the worst I've ever felt. Approximately 60 days after stopping the drug I went to see the Dr. after the Pharmacist told me Lisinopril should have been out of my system after 2 weeks. The Dr gave me Steroids (Prednisol) which completely eliminated ALL pain in 2 days . I was tested for Polymyalgia Rheumatica, however the my Sed Rate was normal. The blood tests did reveal that my RHEUMATIOD FACTOR is elevated (34.3 where the normal range is 0.0-20.1 IU/ML). Was told that if the pain returned, then I would be referred to a Rheumatologist. 3 Days after finishing the dosage pack of Prednisol, the pain/swelling in my hands and shoulder has returned. Going back to see the Dr today to discuss next steps.
Although the doctors don't agree, I believe Lisinopril caused this pain, and although out of my system now, triggered something that isn't going away.
The rest of this describes the roving pains I experienced.
Hand pain included swollen fingers, inability to make a fist or type on a keyboard. After light yard work on Sat., shooting burning pain up the inside of both arms. Trying to close your hands into a fist, you can feel the tendons up your arm burn with pain. Motrin did not alleviate the pain. Hot water did not help.
Pain in my knees each morning. The pain worsened over night and frequently causes you to wake up. The pain was like your knees were being squeezed in a vice. No position is comfortable. Motrin sometimes helped, but after awoken, getting back to sleep was impossible.
Feet swollen. Couldn't wear any shoes for extended periods. Loosening the laces helps, but still caused pressure which becomes unbearable and the shoes have to come off.
Shoulders; This is the strangest one. First pain was in the left shoulder, like I had impacted a brick wall at a full run (actually no trauma occurred). The pain felt like someone had stabbed it in my shoulder in the socket. At it's worst, no position is comfortable. Had to put my arm in a sling. 5 Days later, the same type pain moved to the right shoulder.
-- By tobarcus | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
March 25th
2009
6:09 PM
52, BP 150's/100. Taking Metformin twice a day for Type II diabetes. Was prescribed Lisinopril 20mg once a day about 3 weeks ago. After about a week and a half developed constipation, plus a neck ache on the right side - like a muscle strain. ****** lists diarrhea as a side effect - I had to hunt pretty far to find constipation as a possible problem.
-- By still | Reply | Private Message me
September 27th
2008
11:25 PM
Sensitivity to sun exposure, dizziness about 30 minutes after BID dosage of 450mg. I am taking t-leptal following neurosurgery 12 yrs ago. I am experiencing ED and impotency, too, and wonder if they are drug induced or only age related(60).
I've seen only one reference to this. Any others? Have you?
-- By wlgragg | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
August 4th
2008
5:00 PM
I was diagnosed with type II diabetes and extremely high cholesterol about a year and a half ago. I was put on metformin and simvastatin. Through diet, exercise and 'natural' meds (banaba leaf, Gymnema, chromium, vanadium, among others) I got my diabetes under control to the point that I was able to go off metformin, but I was kept on simvastatin. I never experienced any of the horrifying symptoms described in previous postings; however, when I went on vacation a month or so ago I forgot my simvastatin- within 48 hours of going of this med, my libido actually returned- I had attributed the loss of not only function but desire to diabetes. When I resumed taking the pills, my libido once again evaporated. I went off of simvastatin completely a week ago and I feel like a new person!
-- By fuzzyrider | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
July 26th
2008
6:51 PM
I am my husbands caregiver. He is on many medications the last 26 years due to chemical poisoning thanks to our government not protecting their civilian painters at the Army Depot where he worked.
He has permanent brain damage, CRS damage, memory loss and short term memory, CHF and Bollis Emphysema. Now he also has Type II diabetes a severe case as he was not diagnosed for 7+ years of testing.
To make this short. He has been on many drugs for pain, diabetes, blood pressure, the brain damage, ( he is a recovering, not drinking alcoholic)
Recently the doctor took him off the Codeine # 3 that he had been taking for almost 15 years, 8 per day. and gave him time release Morphine Sulfate.15 MG. They also gave him Gabapentin for the neuropathy which is severe in his feet and starting to go up his legs. He is over weight, above the waist, and has not had a problem with High Blood Pressure, for many years since taking 60 mg daily of Inderal. His Blood Sugars have been between 98-140 without medication. When he was first diagnosed he was put on glyberide and it worked so good he was off it in 6 months and totally diet controlled since then but about every 3 years he would go on it for about 6 months and then he was ok again.
He has not needed it for the last 7 years. Since starting the gabapentin he went from 300 to 600 to 900 and slowly increased the dose to 1600 mg. The 300's are caps, the 600's are tablets.
All the sudden he has pounding headaches, I took his BP which we had not been watching and it was 198/115 with a 98 pulse. The only change was the gabapentin and Morphine. The morphine does not seem to be causing any side effects, once he was used to getting sleepy.. but once the gabapentin was added, all he does is sleep. The blood sugars also went up with the blood pressure. His were 358 higher than they have ever been except when he was first diagnosed. I was able to get the glyberide and that is bring down the sugar levels only taking 1/4 tab 2 x a day, and the blood pressure is also coming down, it was 139/85 with a pluse of 76 which is still too fast. I talked to some pharmancy friends and they said " Its the gabapentin " so I told the doc I wanted to stop it and he said to start leveling off, one 300 mg cap every 4 days. We were down to 2 a day till Friday and saw the doctor. Due to his taking Cymbalta they did not want to give him any of the other anti depressants so they want him to back on the gabapentin up to 1200 a day instead of the 1600 a day.
Taking into consideration his medical issues and meds, I don't believe this is a safe or sound decision, but I know how much pain he was in before the gabapentin.
I wish they would be more forthright about the side effects of this medication. They said it only causes blood sugar issues in 1 % and they did not even address the high blood pressure etc.
His pupils are also different, he has the kidney pain, but his biggest problem is sleepy.. hopefully it's not his kidneys or his heart. They did blood tests on Friday and I am asking for a EKG.. in the mean time we are monitoring both blood pressure and blood sugar 6 or more times a day. Thank you so much for sharing. It really helps to know we are not alone.
March 28th
2008
12:59 PM
pancreatitis,, After being prescribed Byetta for Type II Diabetes by a PA, I used the 5 dose size of Byetta for 30 days, then I went on 10 dose of Byetta twice a day. on a Saturday morning I had discomfort under my left breast after my AM injection, then after PM injection I began to experience severe pains under my left breast, they got progressively worse as the minutes went by, terrible pain, ended up in the emergency room, blood tests showed increased pancreatic enzymes, I was given a prescription and told to visit my GP on Monday. My GP knew what had caused it as soon as I told him I had been taking Byetta, he had other patients who had the same thing to happen. I called the mfg, they were aware of the problem, the FDA has put out a warning after I began taking the Byetta. There were no warnings about pancreatitis in the medicines I had received. Since this instance in December, I have talked with two others who had similar experiences with Byetta. I now am left with chronic pancreatic pain and am on meds for that. From what I have read have a 4% chance of developing pancreatitis cancer as a result of the attack. When you read the little infor out there about this, it appears to be pushed off as long time alcoholics who drink excessively are the ones who have had this problem with Byetta. I would estimate it has been at least 4 years since I have had a cocktail and have never been an alcoholic... BEWARE!!!
-- By suffering | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
January 25th
2008
12:51 AM
I am not sure if the Lisinopril is my problem. I have been on it for 3 yrs now. I do not have HBP -never had it. I developed Type II diabetes and am on Metformin. In the last two months, I have developed dizziness and light headedness. Also, last two months, heart palpations - and the itching is driving me crazy. Skin has developed tender sites - like the skin feels like very thin paper. I think I am going to stop it - even reading what's on this page - it may be what's causing these strange things. I did not know it was from viper venom. I also have dry mouth, but no consistent cough. Every now and then.
-- By abc123xyz | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
November 2th
2007
1:34 AM
Hello EveryOne out there...OK OK....
Now Why have I been out of touch since Sept 14th.... 2007???
I have been VERY VERY ill.....
Y'See, I went to see this new Doctor (Quack) for continued pain in my chest (sternum) area....that I have been having trouble with all Summer. (Severe Costochondritis/Fibromyalgia) By Sept 14th, this Quack who claims to be a Doctor had given me this prescription for Prednisone pills (20 mg each)....with orders to take mega doses of this toxic poison in order to combat the pain I was suffering. I was so desperate to get out of pain that I went ahead and filled the prescription and started taking the pills that eventful Friday night. I made the fatal mistake of trusting this Doctor!!!
If I had any sense God gave green apples I would have researched this a little before taking this medicine!! I would have run like all heck in the opposite direction!
I had been taking these reccomended large doses for approx two weeks back then per Doctor 'Quack's' order.... I have been hooked after the first week....and now currently desperately trying to get off of it with only marginal success!!
I have been on this Prednisone crap for some 49 days, currently and desperately trying to get off of it....with terrible side effects!! I have experienced every side effect known to the Devil himself and even discovered some new ones that I never knew was possible!? Case in point! I can't sleep night after night without terrible withdrawals all night long!!! I am forced to contend with them every night here. Not to mention I fight the withdrawals all days long too. I have this inept doctor and I am sorry I even went to him in the first place...!
The withdrawals I am now getting are harder to deal with than the original chest pain itself!!! Not to mention even eating the so-called 'wrong' foods sets off even more withdrawals almost immediately. I am now extremely sensitive to light and the sun~ not to mention.....noise....and stress....
I am much sicker from this Quack Doctor's so-called "HELP" than I ever was before....
I don't mind saying his name and trying to steer everyone away from this jerk Doctor here in Las Vegas who takes advantage of people in pain when they are desperate by feeding them toxic poisons and passing the poison off as something harmless thats gonna help them??? Just ask me who he is and I will tell you. I have no qualms about it....
Bottom line is I have spent this last month trying to get off this crap and I just found out that the withdrawals may bother me up to a YEAR after I take my last dose of this crap poison!! I have been going thru H***!!! A nightmare I would LOVE to pass onto this Quack who pretends to be a doctor!
I am down to about 7.5 mg per day now from about 180 mg that he gave me originally Sept 14 2007. Believe me this was not easy thing for me to do. I went "Toxic" on this drug weeks ago and it has affected my ability to process, think and reason properly. I feel like part of my mind is now missing or went on permanent vacation!! Dizziness,feeling like I'm gonna pass out, Brain Fog and Mass Confusion is the order for the day~depending on the time of day???
"The side effects of prednisone include adrenal suppression, which can occur with periods of prednisone use to surpass seven days. Adrenal suppression refers to the body’s inability to synthesize natural corticosteroids, resulting in a dependency on the prednisone taken by the patient. This is why doctors do not recommend the cessation of prednisone when the patient has taken it for longer than seven days. They reduce the dose gradually over a few days in the case of short-term prednisone use, and over weeks or months in the case of long-term treatment. Stopping prednisone treatment abruptly can cause the life-threatening Addison’s disease, in which in the body no longer produces sufficient amounts of adrenal steroid hormones"
I want to SUE this Doctor for making me this sick!!!!!
SDR
GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!!!
-- By lostris | Reply | (15) replies | Private Message me
October 24th
2007
4:25 PM
I was put on Lipitor for borderline high cholesterol. I don't remember the dose. I have Type II diabetes. My A1c was controlled at between 6.5% and 6.9%. Except for the first three months of being diagnosed with DM II, my A1c was always under 7%. 3 months after starting lipitor (6 years after being diagnosed)my after meal glucose level was over 300 and sometimes over 400 whether I ate carbs or not. My A1c went over 8%. My diabetes meds were changed because my doctor had not heard of such an effect and didn't believe that it was the lipitor. So I took it for three more months. A1c still over 8%. I found a few studies on medline that say that a small population of people lose glycemic control when on atorvastatin. I told this to my doctor and told them that I refused to take it any more. They put in my chart that I stopped taking it against medical advice. My A1C was 7.2% within three months. Please make sure that if you are taking lipitor, have your blood sugar checked once in a while.
-- By fightinbass | Reply | Private Message me
September 12th
2007
1:33 PM
My doctor started me on Mevacor a few months ago at 40 mg - I could hardly stand up to walk - my back was killing me! Then she put meon 5 mg of Zocor - okay for the first few weeks, and my cholestorol went down so she told me to double it to 10 mg - then the leg cramps started. I stopped taking if for a few weeks and restarted at 5 mgs (again) last week - now my legs are aching and my ankles are swollen big time. Also noticing fatique and some blues/depression. I told my doctor today that I am not taking it anymore! Not asking her, TELLING her.
-- By madammarina | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
February 20th
2006
11:17 PM
I have taken Advair 100/50 one puff in the morning for several years. It has worked wonders in alleviating my Asthma. The trouble is I now have developed type II Diabetes. Also I have put on about 30lbs. that I don't seem to be able to loose. I eat about 2000 calories a day and exercise 5-6 times a week. I also have high triglycerides, high cholesterol and fatty liver. After reading the posts in this forum, I am convinced that the Advair is the cause. That being the case I made an appointment with my Allergist on Wednesday. I tell you what he has to say.
-- By jeffb161 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
February 18th
2005
4:12 PM
I have been taking the Lisinopril for about a week or ten days. I thought i had an unrealted problem going. I have had this dry tickling cough..unproductive but violent for the same amount of time approx. I also have pain in hip and leg . I am going to quit the drug. I have type II diabetes and only midly elevated BP..I had rather run two miles every day at 70 than cough my head off.
-- By cynth | Reply | Private Message me
Lisinopril (7) PredniSONE (2) Cylert (1) Byetta (1) Trileptal (1) Lipitor (1) Simvastatin (1) Zocor (1) Hydrochlorothiazide (1) Neurontin (1) Advair HFA (1)
October 19th
2009
1:56 AM
Folks, I was on this standard diuretic for about 6 years or so. For a very long time, I did not think it was causing any significant side effects (other than having to pee a lot). I was wrong. It gave me type II diabetes.
If you ask MOST doctors and nurses about this, they will deny it strenuously. As one very good PA told me, "diuretics are our first line of defense." An RN just two weeks ago thought I was crazy to blame my diabetes on it.
But it is not my imagination. The ALLHAT study -- which, if you cite, will cause most docs and nurses to shut up right fast -- is one of the most famous studies out there. It was huge, and its authors became strong proponents of diuretics. But the same study found that if you take HCTZ for five years, you have about a 12.6% chance of developing diabetes (versus perhaps a 1 to 2% chance otherwise). I am so angry about this because no one warned me. No one told me this, so I could never make an informed decision about taking this medication. Now I will be fighting diabetes for the rest of my life!
I haven't looked at the insert for HCTZ in a long time, so for all I know they're now finally listing blood sugar issues. But they said nothing when I started in 2002, and no one bothered monitoring by blood sugar either. Even when we finally noticed the glucose readings going up, no one said, "Oh, we should take you off that diuretic."
If you do some googling, you'll discover that there are a (minority) of doctors out there who are also very concerned about this. They argue a lot at forums for doctors. This business about diabetes IS a known side-effect. It's just, as I said, that too few doctors seem to be aware of it, or if they are, seem to feel the need to inform their patients before prescribing it.
-- By pdxwriter | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me