Hydrochlorothiazide-Lisinopril and bp

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.

Within one hour after my first dose of Lisinopril I was having severe sinus congestion and mild dizziness. Since this seemed like a rather mild problem I naively continued to take my 10 mg dose every day. At first my blood pressure did drop a little, but within two weeks it had begun to climb back to the 150/90 range that I was having when it was prescribed. In addition I soon began to experience intermittent diarrhea, headache, vague moving pains in my abdomen, itching which interferred with my sleep, leg cramps, heart pain, anxiety and continuing increase in blood pressure. After calling my doctor's office and explaining all this to the nurse I received a return call telling me I was to DOUBLE my dose and assuring me that I had not been on the drug long enough for it to take effect. Especially concerning to me was the statement that the heart pain was because of my high blood pressure and that doubling the dose would resolve this. Foolishly, I did in fact double the dose for a week. During that time all of my symptoms worsened until I awoke one night with severe chest pain. My husband took my blood pressure and it was 220/120...............this as I was lying prone in bed after having just awakened from two hours sleep. At this point I was certain that my problem was more the drug than the original elevated blood pressure. I quit taking the drug immediately and within two days I was feeling better and my blood pressure was down the the original elevated level. I have now changed doctors, however I have little hope that the change will help as he has put me on a different medication ( which makes my ankles swell) and tells me that if the swelling continues he will put me on lisinopril with hydrochlorothiazide..............he does not believe that any of the symptoms I was having were related to that drug.

Wow! Let me tell you my story: I was first diagnosed with HBP (170/140) during a high school sports physical in the beginning of 8th grade (I was about 14 years old). I was in top shape and a very healthy eater. I had probably (from what I remember) every test done to see what was the cause of this hypertension - and the only thing found was that my kidney's produce too much renin (the hormone that increases BP). I was then put on Lisinopril 10mg. Everything continued good for about 6 years - I also stayed in shape and ate healthy. However, throughout those 6 years, I did notice my curly hair turing straight and my incredibly (can't do nothing with) thick hair started to thin and become stylable. Now...I do know this is my fault, but in the past 2 years my healthy eating habits have slipped, I've gained weight and started smoking - plus have a sit down, don't move kinda job. However, about 1 year ago, I had a slight spike in my pressure and my doctor added a diuretic (HCTZ 12.5mg) to my lisinopril. Ok, that brought the pressure down and all seemed well. Then..... in December 2008, not long ago, I started not feeling well. Thinking I was sick, I went to the doctor's to find my blood pressure to be 190/140. Immediately, my does was increased to 30-12.5mg. That brought a quick drop in my BP down to 110/66 - I was so darn dizzy I could barely function. I was also but on short-term disability because all this caused me to be off work for so long. Unfortunately, when my dose was adjusted to 20-12.5mg and the dizziness stopped I went back to work. Now, I can't go back on S.T.D. for many, many weeks. And....... The past month has been complete HELL!! My hands (mainly fingers) and toes are almost always cold, I've been dieting for over a month and am struggling to lose weight, my hands and feet go numb more often than usual - I never used to find myself waking up in the middle of the night because of pins/needles feeling, my hair is thinner than ever and stick straight - I'm afraid I'm not gonna have any left, I have UNBEARABLE headaches (sometimes all I want to do is sleep and sometimes, like tonight -it's 4:12am- I can't sleep), I have acne like a teenager - mind you, I never had more than 1 to 2 pimples at a time growing up, and that was rare (I was lucky)... Thank god for FMLA, or I would of lost my job since I've spent so much time home since I thought all was good and went back to work. Only wish I could make a dollar again. Now to top it off...I was referred to a nephrologist (kidney specialist) who after seeing me only once for about 30min and reviewing bloodwork from the end of January (I had a high calcium level as well as some others that deal with the kidneys) wants to take away the diuretic (HCTZ) part of my medication (hopefully to reduce the calcium level) BUT DOUBLE MY MG OF LISINOPRIL. HE WANTS ME TO TAKE 20MG TWO TIMES A DAY. I was starting to think all these new symptoms that came on so quick were a result from the increase of lisinopril - now I think I'm sure. I'm not changing my medications until I can talk this over with my PCP - I'm going to ask we try a medication change. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or any suggestions why a 20-year-old has blood pressure as high as 190/140 with no family history of HBP or really any health problems? Any suggestions why the kidneys are producing too much renin? Any meds that drop the pressure and we don't get headaches - I can live with cold limbs and numbness - it's the headaches that are rendering this 24-year-old helpless :(

ive been on it for near to a year, and have had all the side effects everyone here has listed plus a few more.
I stopped taking it yesterday and hope i start to feel better shortly.
im going to switch docs, mine is set on Lisinopril. since he put me on it i have watched what i eat, lost some weight and walking but my bp has changed very little. Its staying around 145/75-85, where its been for 6-7 years.
i would like to know what some of you feel has been the best to switch to, i would like to be on nothing, hopefully with a little more weight loss and exercise i can

Have become hypersensitive and allergic to Beta blockers,Ace inhibitor and just about most bp meds that the docs have tried me on including calcium channel blockers,and diuretic's
break out in rash,hives tongue swells, been to ER twice over it tolerated them for almost 4 months now cab't
Have to be on something due to heart stent placement can some one please help,
Thank You

I have been taking L for about a 9 months and dealing with many of the same effects mentioned on this board; lethargy (hard to get up in the morning), irregular heart beats, erection issues, loose stools (wiped my ass raw at times), limb tingles, etc, etc, etc. I forgot to take it yesterday, didn't take it today and wow, my normal bowel movements are back (one wipe ;o). I am going to stop taking for a while and see if the strange heart beats stop, Bummer of it all, is that the drug did wonders for my 190/80 bp. Within a week L Iowered it to 120/70. I have always been borderline (even as a high school and college athlete). I am guessing I will need to try another drug, but which one? I have actually tried others but none worked as well as L for the bp.

It must be the HCTZ... I was on Lisinopril 20mg for a month with little avail to my bp. I'm 25 and prior to taking it I was at 150/120: during I was bouncing between that and 130/90ish. A Walk-In clinic doctor started me on Lisinopril/HCTZ 20/12.5 and within the week, I had major upper back pain, trouble seeing and severe nausea. I have since gone to half a pill and feel much better. I hadn't heard of any of these side effects. Please let me know if anyone has similar experiences. My Mother thinks I dealt with a bout of the flu, my sister thinks I'm pregnant. Hmph.

*UPDATE* Two pregnancy tests and one week later and still not feeling all that much better. I'm still on half a pill and still getting nausea.

I'm 36 and have been on this med for about 1.5 years. I've had some mild sporadic side effects on going but thought they were just my failing health! Chest pains, tingling in my hands, arms (my left arm bothers me more and scares me of course), my legs and even feet. I have insane muscle spasm/cramps. I have twitches and spasms in places I had no idea were even muscles. Backaches, head and jaw aching, blurred vision, feeling hung over and drugged, tired and require at least 9 consistent hours of uninterrupted sleep if I am to feel okay for half of the day. No energy otherwise, pain in my feet now when I walk, heart flutters and twitches and neck spasms and pain all over my body. I've been in the ER a number of times with them unable to find me ready for the heart attack I think I'm having. I've even been depressed and suicidal with feeling this bad. These symptoms increased in discomfort and My bladder/uterus are enlarged/swollen and morning urination especially is painful even if I have not much to evacuate. I noticed that these symptoms grew more frequent and stronger and the past few months I literally thought I was going to checkout any day. I was just waiting. I thought, oh well, you're on meds for bp, but you got on too late. Your time is up. I noticed also that right after I take my pill I feel worse. So I feel the best (which is not really at all) right before my next pill is due. After reading everybody elses problems with this med, and that it's actually made from snake venom, I am going to as safe and painless as I can, wean myself from this junk. Who in their right mind would give snake venom to people? If you get bit by a venomous snake, these are exactly the things that are effected. Your nervous system, your heart, breathing, blurred vision, etc. My only fear is that having these symptoms now for this long have done permanent damage. I pray not.

Started lisinopril 5 mg - 1 tablet before bed.
25 March '08
Felt awful following morning - sweating during night waking with severe headache and following symptoms.
Didn't till 2 days later take any more with same effect
Abdominal discomfort/aching. difficult urination. Feeling nauseous. Headache/heaviness/fullness/woolliness. dizziness, unsteady especially on rising first thing in morning or from seat (BP. 118/31). Feel drugged. difficult focusing eyes/heaviness. unsteady on feet. can't walk straight. Feel awful - like hangover. Bowel insecurity / gurgling/ Diarrhea. headache nearly all day.
Depression, feeling weepy/emotional.

Cough which after several months subsided but my knees crack when I walk. Dr. says can't be meds but it didn't start until I went on the med. Quit taking them and cracking subsided. BP went to 225/102 so started taking again last week and knees are cracking again.