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.