Hydrochlorothiazide-Lisinopril and dizziness

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 :(

my mother was prescribed this med about 3 weeks ago, and after the first day of taking it she felt her chest tightened more, upset stomach, bad headaches, dizziness, she was just not feeling good at all. we had 4 trips to the er within a week and the doctors can't find anything wrong with her. she stopped taking this med but the med is still in her system and she is trying to get better now.

Have any females suffered from decreased sexual desire with this med? I have had the cough, weakness, dizziness, sore throat, runny nose, numbness and tingling in my hands, weakness in lifting with my arms, coughing, and catch my breath a lot. I thought it was just "getting used to the med". I am convinced this is a dangerous med, I am off it for good.

I have been taking lisinopril for about a year.I have had many of the side effects listed here...dizziness,nausea,lack of energy and that TERRIBLE cough.It starts when you least suspect it,the most awful dry throat and cough.Recently my doctor increased my dose and I have noticed in the first few days I have decreased urine output and palpitations especially when reclining.I will let my doctor know on Monday for all the good it will do.Physicians are never real happy when you complain about side effects and many times they ignore you or make you feel like you are imagining these problems.

I am upset because neither the Pharmacist or my Doctor were any help. I thought I was going crazy. I have been on this med. for 6 or 7 weeks of which have been absolute misery. I have experienced numbness and tingling in my finger tips, headaches, yellowing of my skin, severe nausea but never throwing up, unable to eat and yet gaining weight, severe dizziness and nearly passing out, fatigue, pain in my legs when I exert myself (climbing stairs to my bedroom), unable to stay asleep at night, leg cramps, stomach pains, anxiety!!, depression, grouchy, extreme bleeding with my monthly cycle (my normal cycle is 3 to 5 days this cycle lasted 3 weeks and counting), coldness, heart palpitations, chest pains, wheezing and deep dry hacking cough. I just felt like I was going to die also thought it could possibly be menopause, low blood pressure (90/60). Because BP was low I took 1/2 the dosage day before yesterday (5mg). Yesterday I stopped taking it altogether and I was able to eat (yeah!!!!) with only minor nausea. Today my legs are not hurting as bad going up and down the stairs and my bleeding has really slowed down. I don't have a headache but I am still coughing and am having the problem with the numbness and tingling in my fingertips. I see dramatic improvement. I believe if my husband had not researched the side effects of this drug online, it would have killed me. Also he thinks that women should not take this drug because of the emotional impact on the husband! Also I am so angry that his happened to me in full sight of the medical professionals !@!@!@ I will be posting this message on as many medical sites that will take it.

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.

annoying cough,total nasal congestion,slight dizziness and total loss of appetite.

I have been on lisinopril tablets (10) for about a year. I have dizzy spells, pass out, headaches, sweats, and shoulder pain and low back pain. I have been to a lot of doctors and had a lot of tests but nothing shows up. Could it be this med? Please help me I feel like I am dying.

I have been on Lisinipril for 4 weeks, having all kinds of symptoms,
anxiety, heart going slow and fast, dizziness often over all not felling well, not to mention the sweating and loss of balance.I have had my
thyroid check and full work up of my heart, eco,stress, evreything.
Any one else have "ice pick" head pains?