Hydrochlorothiazide-Lisinopril and doctors

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.

I started 20 mg Lisinopril in May 2008 shortly after catching a cold/sore throat in the doctor's office. Previous to this I had minor post-nasal drip, nothing serious. But this time It took over a month to get over the cold, with continuous coughing and congealed phelgm in my nasal passages just above my throat. The coughing never really subsided, and started again in September with a vengeance. I purchased an Orek air cleaner, TB tests turned out negative. The doctors prescribed Claritin to counter the phlegm production, it didn't stop it only made it so thick I could barely swallow, and a asthma puffer to counter the wheezing. Now I'm stuck between trying to swallow all day like a thick motor oil is in my throat, or medicating it with a nasal decongestant which starts it flowing and a return to coughing. I have never smoked and have avoided smoky conditions for years religiously. The connection between Lisinopril and the onset of coughing is too strong to ignore. After reading the other posts on this site I will try to get off it ASAP.

I hav been taking lisonopril now for four weeks. I feel very depressed--everyone keeps telling me that it is not the medicine, but nothing else has changed in my life.

I had stomach pain, pain in chest, tightness in throat, then horrible rash. After a month on prednisone I started breaking out as I decreased the dosage. I told my doctor I thought it was the Lisinopril and I stopped taking it. I'm feeling better now after being off of it for a week, but still not 100% o.k. I talked to the pharmacist and she said, "You must be allergic to sulfa". I am very allergic to it and have always listed this on the forms in the doctors' offices. Apparently there is some relation between lisinopril and sulfa.

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.

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.

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 10mg every morning for about 1 1/2 months. I have been developing many different side effects, but primarily they consist of muscle cramps (painful!) in the legs/calves, numbness of feet with pain when walking, severe itching (it feels almost like ants walking all over my body), and horrible belching and flatulence. I did not connect it to the Lisinopril until I had ruled out all the other medications I have been taking and then coming across a web site that outlined the symptoms I have been experiencing. Why the symptoms occurred gradually and not all at the same time is bewildering, but it is definitely an allergic reaction of some type. I have discontinued the medication as of today and will call my Dr. in the morning and discuss (Yeah, like he'll really come to the phone!) The constellation of symptoms only highlights the strong and potentially life-threatening symptoms that could have occurred. A major anaphylactic reaction could have led to difficulty breathing, atrial fibrillation and probably death. The doctors who prescribe medications are not always aware of the potential harm that could result from the side effects of the meds they prescribe. It is vitally important that we report all symptoms to our doctors and/or pharmacists, nurses, etc. This drug may need to be further investigated. (An FDA approved drug which results in severe side effects can be pulled from the market and doctors told not to prescribe it while a further investigation is completed. Reading the previous posts, it is apparent that many individuals are having similar problems.
The itching is the WORST!!
My advice to anyone having even the slightest symptoms or if you are experiencing more severe reactions to report this to anyone who will listen. If your individual MD finds nothing wrong, invite him/her to imagine how devastating the symptoms can be and literally demand discontinuation of the drug and a prescription for a safer, effective drug.
The advertising campaigns for the drug companies constitute a very massive push to prescribe any and/or all of the meds brought to the marketplace with little regard for those of us who are suffering. This must not be allowed to continue. The unfortunate aspect of discontinuing this med is that the high blood pressure I currently have was fairly controlled by the Lisinopril, but the side effects are impossible and either a new med will be prescribed by my doctor (if he won't listen and/or try to understand, it is time to find a more enlightened physician!) Our fates rest on the combined efforts of all of us to bring the dangers of this med to the forefront. Our hypertension may not be controlled for a few days (until a doctor can prescribe a new one), but the alternative of continuing the med and ignoring or making light of the side effects is far worse.!

I started taking this drug 4 months ago, for the last 2 months had stomach pains I thought I was just sick. like others I have been to the ER twice for chest pains, ekg normal, mri normal. four different doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. I came upon this site 3 weeks ago and figured it out. After 2 weeks stomach pains went away. the chest pains aren't as bad, they are slowly going away, I hope. but I still am getting them a little. Thank you all who have posted on this page. I thought I was dieing for a while there. I will never take this again. I am most upset at the doctors, not even thinking it could be my meds. I had to order my doc to take me off. then I got a little better. could someone post how long it took the chest pains to sub-side completely. thanks again to all of you, this site is a god send.

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.