Someone, please tell me how long this coughing will last! I took ...

I, too, have a terrible cough and hardly sleep at all at night. My throat feels raw but my doctor says it looks normal. I've been taking lisinopril-HCTZ 10/12.5 since late December. A cough and post nasal drip started midJanuary. I had no other "cold" symptoms so I thought this was unusual. My doctor prescribed an antibiotic because of the post nasal drip saying that lisinopril can cause a mild dry cough--the antibiotic has not helped in any way. A pharmacist suggested I try Mucinex DM. Absolutely no help. After last night's continued coughing and researching on the Internet, I will not take another tablet of lisinopril. Unfortunately, in my search I found that getting rid of the cough can take up to 14 days to several months! I am a retired instructor and I still do subbing, so I share your problem with having to try to talk when that seems to bring on more coughing. You might want to try a spray Chloraseptic which temporarily numbs the throat when you feel a coughing spell come on. Good luck (to you and me)! SAW

Your not alone. I started taking Lisinopril/HCTZ 10/12.5. for the first time on Feb.11,2009. Yes this month. I can't pinpoint the day following my first dose, when I, as well developed a dry cough and post nasal drip. At first I thought perhaps it was from a cold I had back in January & lingered silently til now, but when I looked at the possible side affects of this drug I called my Dr. on the 19th. He told me to cut the pill in half and see if that diminishes the symptons. If not after a few days, call him back. Well it didn't & I stopped taking it ,to see if it would stop. Though its been only 3 days since, I still get the cough & post nasal drip, but it's not as severe as it was last week. Nonetheless, I still have it. i was told by the nurse to give it 5-7 days . If not better,than, then I need to see him & get checked out.
I am going on vacation the end of next week to visit my daughter in Arizona & hope I can get this cleared up or the very least much more sub-sided...Good luck to both of us.

I also have had a dry cough for weeks! And I also take Lisinopril daily. My Doctor gave me a perscription for Tussionex which stopped the cough but only temporarily. Since the perscription for Tussionex cost me $106.00 for one small bottle, I took it until the cough subsided. Now after about a week of not taking it, the cough has returned with a vengeance. At this price, I cannot continue to take this cough syrup for ever, so I am taking myself off of the Lisiniopril. Since I have recently lost about 25 lbs, perhaps my blood pressure will be okay without the meds. I know I can't live with the coughing for the rest of my life nor will I pay this exhorbetant price for the cough medicine. If anyone has other suggestions, please reply to my posting. Thanks.

Re: my previous message on the 18th. Since stopping the Lisinopril, my cough is nearly gone. I still have some post nasal drip, but that only causes having to clear my throat often, no horrible coughing spells as I had been having. I am finally sleeping through the night without gagging coughing spells. Just another suggestion concerning post nasal drip--I found that chewing Wrigley's Winterfresh gum stops the post nasal drip. I chew it during the day anytime that I have that annoying drip. No other gum does what Winterfresh does--very cooling in the mouth and throat.

I started taking Lisinopril-HCTZ 6
months ago. I was told by my primary doctor that Lisinopril-HCTZ was a water pill. Since starting the drug, I am coughing at any given time, watery eyes and a tickle in my throat which triggers the whold attack. I have coughed so much that my back hurts. Please email me. Howard.alice @gmail.com

I also have a dry cough from taking Lisinopril for 4 weeks. I wished i had stopped taking the medicine when the cough started,I really wished I had never taken the medication.I know better I am a doctor.I cough through out the,my doc.insists it should be out of my system by now,going on a mont.My lungs are clear.I feel fine,until I get that tickle in my throat,I think oh no,I start,my eyes water,my mascara runs,my eyes get blood shot looking,my patients want to run,I cough so much,my back hurts.I am exhausted. I am an author also,I do alot of public speaking,for the last 6 years,i enjoy it very much.i don't think my audience wants to hear me cough.I feel more comfortable knowing the cough can last and I am not alone in the world with my dry cough.if u want a good book to take your mind off your cough go to amazon.com type in Angels Among Us even In Iraq,u will enjoy it so much u will forget your cough for at least 72 hours.My readers tell me,when they start the book they cant put it down and they read it in 72 hours.