Lisinopril and chest pains

My post is going to read similarly to all the other posts. It's 2:45 a.m. and I got up, feeling like I was having a heart attack. I went online to see if I could learn more about Lisinopril. I've been taking 10mg for just over two weeks. I've been short of breath, wheezing, sore throat just started, had chest pains and palpitations, lowered body temperature, and mild anxiety. I was put on this medication to lower significantly elevated blood pressure -- at times as high as 212/106. That scared me! I don't want to have a stroke and yet, on this medication, I feel terrible. My BP is lower which is good and my headaches have subsided, but considering the side effects I've already experienced, I'm reluctant to continue with this drug. I see my doctor on in a couple of days and I'm hoping she has a better option. I also take Atenolol and am wondering if upping that dosage is a viable option as I've had no notable side effects with that drug. Thank you all for your posts.

well im a 19 year old female. i know that sounds crazy but i have really high blood pressure.usually 140/90 they think its due to the small left kidney thy tried me on different kinds..but my feet ad face would swell. they told me they wanted to stick me other best out there..but didn't want to stick me on it without being on birth control.. ad just turned 18 at the time and didn't want to be on it yet.soo they stuck me on ic atenolol. they started out at 25 mg . the dosage ended up going ay up to 150. it is the highest te medicine goes. so i decided to go on birth control to try this pill that would apparently be the most effective.thinking that i would just go n this new pill i went in to change medication... they had me stay on the 150 of ic atenolol plus 5 mg of ic lisinopril. then they raised it up to 10mg of the lisinopril. i had a problem with forgetting t take it. but these past 2 months i ave remembered everyday. so when i started getting chest pains and pains in my arms that felt like i ha just gotten a shot by huge needle. i though maybe it was because ijuss started retaking it... ut its been over a month and ive gained 10pounds..have been nauseated, dizzy,loss of energy, and the pains in my arms and i didn't sleep at all last night because of te tightness in y chest.i was scared to death that if i went to sleep i would have a heart attack in my sleep or something. ad then whil laying there. i jumped because i felt shock in my lower back.. i thought was going crazy so i got online to look up side effects and came across this. and now im calling my doctor to get taken off the ic lisinopril..and now maybe the atenolol to because i am afraid of blood pressure medication

Hi, I am a 47 year old female. Last month (June 2009) I went to the doctor because I had a bad migraine that wouldn't go away. After a week of suffering I went to my Doctor and my BP was high, so she put me on Benicar. I took it for 3 days and then I refused to take it anymore. After taking it I couldn't hardly get off the couch, and I was dizzy, and had a tightness in my chest with chest pains. The doctor changed my prescription to lisinopril and the chest pains got worse along with that deadly cough. I went back to my doctor and told her that I wasn't going to take lisinopril any more because of the chest pains and the caugh. She said that she didn't think it was the medicine and she gave me an EKG and I failed it. I went 2 days later and had a nuclear stress test and failed it too, then I had a heart cath and the cardiologist said that my heart was perfect, it wasn't my heart. Needless to say it was the meds that the doctor had put me on, those nasty side effects. Now I just moniter my BP and I'm to scared to take anything because of the side effects. I wished I could make the doctor pay for all the test I had to take. She should have just listened to me when I told her it was the meds. After failing 2 test, I thought that I may be really having a heart attach, Very scary. Just listen to what we are saying " DON'T TAKE LISINOPRIL" Oh yea after heart cath I called my doctor and told her that I was not taking Lisinopril any more because that was what was causing my problems not my heart and she said just to let all meds get out of my system and come back in a week and we would try something else. yea right. She's not getting any more of my money. I've come to realize that every thing has side effects, so before I take anything else I will look it up first. Be careful what you take!

Hi. I posted two times in June, took lisinopril 2 weeks in April and was having side-effects 7-8 weeks out. I began a simple detox (lemon in my water, lots of water, more vegetables), took some supplements/vitamins and the racing heart, tingling, chest pains diminished greatly. My blood pressure became near normal on its own over May/June but shot back up sky high the day I went back to the doctor on June 22!! (of course). It is slowly normalizing again. My bloodwork showed high liver enzymes and that is why I believe that it took so long for the drug to clear my system. Lisinopril did not cause the high liver enzymes as I had that before the drug was prescribed. It is processed mainly by the kidneys so could cause problems there.

I believe that my body was in trouble and the elevated liver enzymes and bp were the first signs. I think the lisinopril took me over the edge. I had one very bad panic attack at night this week with racing heart, horrible chest pain, left sided tingling and bilateral hands/feet tingling. I really thought I was dying. I had never had these symptoms before starting that drug but now I think that maybe I was in a hypoglycemic state. All this to say that, in my research, I came across books by Dr. Sandra Cabot (Unlock the Secrets that Keep You Fat, The Liver Cleansing Diet) that explains a lot of the problems I am having (which many of you have mentioned also). These are systemic, affect the vital organs/functions of the body (ability to lose weight, high bp, achy joints, etc), and are pre-diabetic/pre-liver disease states. The book gave me a lot of hope because we can get our bodies back in working order through proper diet, exercise, and supplements. Dr. Cabot has a great website too. Google her and check it out.

I am a 41 year old Black Male, retired Army, athletic, and active. I was treated for HBP on 31 may 09. After taking the meds (Lisinopril) for about 2-3 weeks, I developed a chronic dry cough 24/7. It feels like something is always stuck in my throat or sticking me in the side or back of my throat. I am having chest pains also. sometimes I feel depressed for no reason and very irritable. I has sex with a woman a couple weeks after I had the meds. I really thought she had given me an STD or HIV or something. I even went and got checked for everything and made her do the same. I am glad I found this site. Thank you all.

Started taking lisinopril April 6th of this year. Have had many of the symptoms listed in these posts. I just thought I was still having symptoms from being sick. I have had a lot of anxiety and depression, as well as chest pain and heart palpitations. My hands were ice cold and had severe stomach pain. My head felt very cloudy and numb. I have had every blood test possible, 2 EKG's, a brain MRI, cervical MRI and brain MRA, and a chest x-ray. So far, everything is normal. I saw this site a few weeks ago and on June 8th, I stopped taking lisinopril. I have started feeling better, not completely, but definitely better. I am supposed to go back to my doctor on the 29th. He did not agree with me that these symptoms could all be caused from this drug. He reluctantly agreed that I get off it for these 3 weeks. I am still taking Hydrochlorot with no symptoms. Not sure what to tell him when I go back. Are any of the other blood pressure drugs safe???

I took 20 mgs a day for 5 days in September of 2006. I developed a terrible cough, but worse than that, severe chest pains & shortness of breath upon exertion. I still can't go up & down stairs; my pain is brutal and it's going on 3 years since it all began. Before I took the lisinopril, I hadn't been having any chest pains or trouble breathing.

Is there any hope of recovery? My doctors all say they've never heard of this kind of side effect; that lisinopril is a very common drug; it's clear that I have reduced lung function & definite pain & symptoms, but there is no way to isolate the exact thing causing it or to figure out how to make it go away; just to control the symptoms.

My theory: the lisinopril triggered an autoimmune response in which my body physically tries to reject my own lungs. Any thoughts on that one? I had been taking cozaar as an ACE inhibitor to slow the rate of my renal failure; I have type 1 diabetes and hypoparathyroidism, and while I needed meds before this episode, all I had to do then was manage my diabetes & I was able to live normally. Since this, it's been nearly impossible to do ANYthing. I am at the end of my rope & I want this to stop. But 3 years later, and while the shortness of breath is improved, the pain is actually worse now. I could sure use some advice & support. I'm on my way this week to get set up with a new dr. because we've moved, and I'm going to have to go through this whole thing again. Also - I'm trying to compile a list of other people who have had side effects with chest pain & shortness of breath. Also anxiety & panic attacks as collateral damage.

My experience with Lisinopril has been awful. Severe headaches, Bad chest pains to where I thought I was having a heart attack, Severe depression. Didn't even want to get dressed and face my day. Shortness of breath and fatigue. The headaches were the worse. Felt like my eyes were going to burst out of my head. I couldn't think straight. The fatigue was so bad I found myself falling asleep while driving. I took myself off this medicine one day and I feel like a new person.

hello, patches here. Just to update my previous posting. Having stopped taking lisinopril over the past couple of weeks i now have no bloating and can wear rings again as my fingers are slimmer and my tummy is no longer solid bloat, the black tarry loose stools also have stopped but i still have bouts of urticaria from time to time. I wonder if anyone knows how long it takes to get this poison out of the system. Also i got chest pains from the amlodipine and the doctor conducted an ecg and blood test which both came back ok so it must have been the amlodipine. She has now given me candesartan but i have not started to take it yet as she said to wait until after the Christmas break in case i had a bad reaction when there were no doctors at the surgery. I can't believe i am the only one suffering this way and would like to hear from others and maybe someone can give me positive feedback. My blood pressure has gone up as i am not on any medication. Yesterday i felt very ill indeed - dizzy and panicky and later on had a bad rash on my arm and back of neck. today is slightly better so wonder, again, if i had a virus or if it is still the effects of the lisinopril. if anyone can advise i would be so grateful. many thanks.

I've been on Lisinopril-HCTZ 10-12.5 for 8 months now. I hate it. So far I've experienced:

- dry cough
- headaches
- chest pains (under my left rib cage area. Its a sudden sharp pain that lasts maybe 2 seconds, then its gone. It'll do that a few times a day)
- stuffy nose (doctor told me it was allergies. Put me on allergy medication, have been on it for 2 months, and it hasn't helped)
- trouble breathing
- rashes
- fatigue (doctor assured me it would go away after a few weeks, but it hasn't)
- dizziness
- no menstrual cycle (this medication has stopped my periods all together)

I've had it with this crap. My primary doctor wasn't the one who put me on it. I haven't been able to see my primary doctor because I don't have insurance and couldn't afford it. I've been going to a community clinic. I'm willing to pay to see my primary doctor than continue going there. At least I'll know I'll be taken seriously.

My husband P., is a truck driver and by law your blood pressure should be 139/80 so you can maintain a license. He went to the Dr. and he prescribed lisinopril. After a week or so it took down his blood pressure, but was experiencing heavy chest and coughing. It was miserable to watch... He went back another time and told him that he had huge hand size boil like things all over his legs and chest. Mind you he only took half the dosage. Then on July 26th he had severe chest pains and went to the minor emergency room. He was sweating so hard that it soaked his shirts immediately. They put him in an ambulance and sent him to the emergency room, They ran test after test, and couldn't understand why the couldn't bring down his blood pressure. It was horrifying to say the least. They let him leave around 430 pm. Paul had tried many times to tell them (the doctor) and he said it was a normal side effect... at the cost of two weeks out of work 2,500.00 lost and then a 13,000.00 hospital and testing bill they say well sorry.... We then went to a natural path and she put him on all natural pills and his blood pressure is near normal and no side effects. we looked up lisinopril and one of the side effects is chest pains. Why would a doctor do that...???? when confronted, they said " oh it can't be the drug." what ever. We are facing financial ruin over the whole thing.

I am a 56 year old woman who has been taking lisinopril for over 5 years! I have been taken by ambulance to the er and have fainted several times. Also experienced hives for months at a time and severe muscle weakness. The pins and needles feelings i could live with until it felt like someone was sticking me with a knife! I visited a heart dr. last week and he told me to immediately get off this medicine. I will go back and see him tomorrow and will be switched to a new medicine. I wish I had found this forum sooner. By ginao

Horrific muscle cramps, twitches or fluttering in my heart/chest. Aches, pains, depression, feeling old, having lots of hair come out each day, thinking it looks like more than it should be, swollen stomach/bladder/uterus, urge to pee even when my bladder is empty. Cramps in my bladder/abdomen. Some dizziness and weird vision episodes.

They had me add these in a separate area - these are just the majority of what I can think of. Part 2 to my post.

I have been on Lisinopril for about 10 months. I have really not felt well the whole time and have developed some side effects that i have gotten use to and just lived with and couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I had fatigue, problems concentrating, headaches, chest pain, blurred vision, body aches and overall didn't feel like doing anything. I also noticed a small rash on my stomach/chest when i would get out of the shower but figured it must have been soap or something. I even tried not using soap and it would still be there. Friends and family started telling me I never feel good etc. So about 3 weeks ago I got really sick with diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, chest pains etc. Kept thinking i had a virus or something. A few times i was so sick I layed on the floor wondering what is wrong with me. Finally got into my doctor today and he also said it was a virus. A few people said they thought i was my blood pressure pills including my chiropractor. The doctor ran a sleu of tests today and i should get the results tomorrow. I have also had itching all over my body and a vaginal infection so i thought that would not go away. From reading all of this I realize everything is a reaction to the medication and I did not take a dose tonight but 2 benadryl instead. I always noticed throughout this that i always felt better towards the evening of course because that was when my medication was due. I will not be taking anymore of this and I am not happy that so many people are being given this everyday without any knowledge. Thank goodness people are responding and telling their stories so we don't think we are going crazy and hopefully feel better and maybe save a life!

I am a 60year old female who was admitted to Mayo clinic after experiencing a hypertensive encephalopathy seizure. I was placed on lisinopril to try to bring my blood pressure under control. I have been on as many as five different medications per day with none controlling my extreme high blood pressure. After taking lisinopril for two days I developed a severe headache with floaters. My face became very swollen, especially my eyes, with unbearable itching and soreness. I also have had chest pains and it feels like my throat and insides are raw. My stomach hurts and it is hard to eat. I have only taken two lisinopril tablets and will not be taking any more. I see my doctor tomorrow and expect to be given a different medication. So far I have had no luck with any blood pressure medicine and I have tried about ten different kinds. If any one has had any luck with a prescription drug or an alternative remedy, I would love to hear from you.Thanks, Evelyn

I went over to Lisinopril when I transfered insurance carriers recently. The new carrier was going to charge the max allowed for using Altace and Lisinopril is way cheaper. So I went back to Lisinopril and have been on it for about a month. When I first tried it many months ago I had a sick gall bladder that has now been removed. The side effects at that time include a rash on my chin, burning urine and crotch area. Within two days of stopping, the symptoms were gone. Since I don't have the gall bladder problem I decide to try it again to save money (ha). After a week I notice my BP was increasing. I was taking 10 mg so I went up to 20 mg of Lisinopril and that didn't work - my BP kept going up! I keep talking more of the stuff and my BP keeps going up. This morning I took 40 mg and my PB was 200/90 and I suddenly thought it's the meds as there is no reason in the world that my BP should be going up crazily like this. Then I found this side and several folks mentioned their BP had gone UP. No more Lisinopril for me. I'm so glad I found this site! Thanks all for being independent thinkers and sharing your stories!

Approximately 3 months ago, I was prescribed a daily 10 mg dosage of Lisinopril which I've been taking before bed. Last night was the last straw... I anxiously took another baby Aspirin and lay there wondering if I needed to wake my husband. I really thought that maybe I was preventing or reducing a heart attack as my chest pains had become un-nerving. This has been going on for weeks on and off.

To name a few, various other symptoms combined with last night’s symptom-related anxiety are telling..... Coughing, chest pains, nausea, vomiting, light headedness, headaches (including Ice-Pick headaches), numbness in my toes, nasty stomach aches, and the very tangible anxiety and stress caused by some of the symptoms, particularly the chest pains. I’m so appreciative to have found this site and I truly thank God. To read the postings and matched other’s experiences with my own... It’s a real wake-up call! Last night, I vowed to start exercising daily & eating better. I’m going back to see the Doctor to evaluate and get off this med. I am relatively young but overweight and inactive with only recent elevated BP, which is believed to be transitory and stress related. Regardless, I just read...“if you're overweight, losing weight usually helps lower blood pressure. Regular exercise is a good way to lose weight. It also seems to lower high blood pressure by itself” (http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/risk/092.html). As the saying goes, “The “cure” can be worse than the cause”.... might well be true with me and Lisinopril. I hope this post will help as so many others did for me. Now I’m off for my walk.... Blessings and health to you all.

I have been on lisinopril since august of 07. I have had no side affects except for a little dry cough every once in awhile. about a month and a half ago I started getting blurred vision, short term memory loss,(It took me about 5 minutes to remember what I had for dinner the night before) shortness of breath and the sharp pains along my left rib cage. I think I have figured out why I started getting these symptoms so late in my treatment of HBP. I believe it was due to the recent intake of a salt substitute. I saw on the warnings for lisinopril that you should avoid salt substitutes. I now stopped taking this medication and now my vision is back to normal and the chest pains and memory loss has gone away. I hoped this helps anybody that has had these symptoms because it is something I dont want me or anybody to go through again!!!!!!!!!!!!!( DON'T TAKE SALT SUBSTITUTES ON THIS DRUG)

59 year old female, overweight.

My nightmare with 40 mg. Lisinopril started 3 months ago with the dry, hacking cough which got bad enough for me to gag & left me short of breath. I stopped this med completely after reading the horror stories here. Had little effect in lowering blood pressure.

I felt achy all over - thought I had the flu or a nagging cold which wouldn't let go, yet no temperature or other symptoms. Been coughing for 3 months. Some numbness in left hand fingers. Very tired all the time with no desire to do anything.

Depression got much worse, I felt like I was dying or had cancer and just felt like I wanted to end it all to get relief.

Had moving chest pains and some pain in left arm. Bad stomach/intestinal pains with bloating, gas & cramps. Some dizziness & light-headed feelings.

Reading the posts on this forum has been a Godsend; I wish I had found it sooner. My mom just got a prescription for Lisinopril; I told her to not take it - it's poison. Referred her to this page. When I read the same symptoms over & over on these pages, this is a red flag. Only wish the doctors would take heed of this - in fact I plan to tell my doctor tomorrow to come here & read these postings - they are an eye opener and could well save others from the horror of Lisinopril.

I'm planning on weaning myself off all prescription meds and start an herbal/alternative lifestyle. I stopped this stuff cold turkey when I read all the posts here & am feeling somewhat better altho I still have the nagging cough. Truth to tell I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Male, age 39, bp at worst 148/88 in Dr.'s office, 137/78 at worst at home, both parents had history of heart disease before passing away at age 67, 20 mg. of lisinopril.

Side effects experienced during the 9 months on this stuff: Anxiety, CHEST PAIN!, tingling in hands and feet, pounding heartbeat at night, drowsiness, stomach discomfort.

First, let me say that the medication worked in keeping my blood pressure down. I was in the 115/65 range at best, 130/80 at worst (rarely).

BUT, this stuff made me feel like absolute crap and led to many sleepless night due to anxiety. I would have chest pains along my rib cage. The pain wasn't usually in the same spot, but moved around. These sharp, stabbing pain episodes lasted anywhere from 2 minutes (pain coming every 30 seconds or so) to the entire afternoon (resulting in two trips to the ER where the EKG was normal).

With a history of heart disease in my family, I'm very aware of chest pain of any kind, and this drove me nuts until I found this website. I thought I was having heart attacks! My doctor had no idea that chest pain could be a side effect of this drug and when I told him it was #4 on the list of most side effect complaints, he was shocked. He thought it was well tolerated.

I went off the 20 mgs for about a month and then the doctor talked me into going back on 10 mgs after a doctor.'s visit and a 148/88 reading. I was fine for the first day, then the anxiety and chest pains returned along with the drowsiness (couldn't make it past 7 PM without falling asleep in the lazy-boy). Enough of this crap! I threw out the bottle. No more.

Last week, I was prescribed to take Lasix, along with Klor-Don (potassium supplement) for Congestive Heart Failure. Also Levaquin for pneumonia.

I returned to doctor, to state that the Lasix was not having an effect on my urinary habits at all.

SO, the doctor prescribed 60mg Lasix per day, 30mg Klor-Don per day, with an additional 5mg og Lisinopril per day.

Now, everything I read about Lisinopril, is that it should not be taken with Lasix, or any potassium additive stuff.

Plus all the side symptoms that lead to my first prescriptions, are exactly the side effects of Lisinopril. How in the world would I ever know anything was working?

Also, my BP is 108/81. Doesn't look high to me.

Any thoughts? I watched my Dad wither away after being presented additional prescriptions when ones weren't working. To me, it complicated his problems. I'm not about to get into the same piss*** contest with doctors & prescriptions.

I am a reasonably healthy 57 year old male, 6' 1", 220 lbs. I started taking Lisinopril 10mg about 1 year old for HPB. My BP was all over the chart, but averaged at about 160/80. After being on Lisinopril for about 1 week, I noticed that my BP would be about 130/70 in the mornings, but jump back up to about 150/75 in the evenings. I have never achieved the 120/70 range that others talk about. It was also at this time that I developed the tickle and dry cough. I lose sleep by waking up coughing. The cough also comes on at any time, day or night. Sometimes I cough until I feel my head is going to explode. I never cough up anything. Always dry.

Over the last year, I have had other side effects that have come and gone and come back again. Among them have been itchy skin, numbness in fingers and toes, chest pains (EKG's and stress tests were fine), stomach pains, back pain, jaw pain, pounding heartbeat, racing heartbeat, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, vivid dreams (when I sleep), feelings of dread and recurring thoughts of something happening to family members.

Since I do not have any prescription coverage in my insurance, I was happy to find a $4.00 drug, but now that the refills have run out, I think that I will ask the doctor for something else.

ON this poison Lisinopril for 2 mts
Anxiety which is extreme Shortness of breath, with or without exertion
Pounding of heart, irregular heartbeat, upset stomach, food tastes different, sweating, chest pains, arm and shoulder pain, felt like I was going to die,
am still on 5 mg per day but after reading the above I shall not be taking it
again.

John P

Started 10 mg Lisinopril, after 4 days I couldn't catch my breath. Had to sit and not even talk, in order to get oxygen in. Couldn't sleep, would wake up gasping for air. Would take 2 breaths and the 3rd would be a yawn to get oxygen in. It's been 5 days since I quit taking Lisinopril, and my breathing finally feels normal. And the doctor said this is not a side effect of the drug, just a coincidence.

In fairness, I have two friends who have been on it 15 and 20 years respectively. Also a 95 year old aunt, and she suffers from shortness of breath but blames it on other things. I wonder.

A doctor at my health club said his patients have had great success with Resperate, a biofeedback machine, for blood pressure. Will give that a try next.

Not being able to get a full night's rest is the worst effect for me. Have recently noticed stronger numbness in the pinky finger and lower arm. Doctor thinks that is an irritated Ulnar nerve. Random chest pains have caused me enough concern to go to the emergency room twice. Second time led to a heart catheterization. No blockage, so the cardilogist said "now you can have all the chest pain you want". Gee, great.

I checked the website http://www.lisinopril.com/lisinopril_pictures/ and see there are 5 or 6 manufacturers of this generic. I'm sure they'd say all generics are alike, but maybe I should try a different pharmacy with a different generic brand. Six people can use the same recipe for chocolate chip cookies and end up with 6 different tasting cookies.

I may ask my doctor about prescribing the real deal instead of the generic. I see very few side effects listed on this site for those. Of course, that could be because most health insurance plans want to pay for the generics.

I have read a ton of the posts in this category. I have been taking Lisinopril as an addition to my regular blood pressure medication for approximately 3 years, with absolutely no problems. My 10mg was increased to 20mg a week ago. Still no problems. It has only helped me. If there are any changes, I will definitely post it. I believe that symptoms can arise from reading an article. I actually know a couple people who read things, and suddenly they are convinced they have the problem or disease referenced. I call it an Epidemic of Diagnoses. Always seek a doctors advice before stopping medications. Stopping suddenly on certain drugs, can be more dangerous than taking them.

I was prescribed lisinopril after I underwent open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement last July. Initially I was on 40mg, and was successively reduced to 5mg, which is where I am now. Basically, my dosage would be lowered after I would start to complain about side effects (dizziness, fatigue...), which my cardiologist would attribute to my recovery -- i.e. my blood pressure would stabilize, hence the higher dosage would lower it too much). Well, now I'm down to 5mg, and I feel worse than ever. I'm dizzy all the time, I have severe aches in my joints -- particularly in my knees and elbows, stiffness in my hands, pain in my feet, extreme fatigue, weakness in my arms, shortness of breath, and mild chest pains. My cardiologist maintains that it's not the lisinopril, yet after running full bloods, my primary doctor can't find a single thing wrong with me. I tried getting off the lisinopril for a little over a week, but I didn't feel any better. So, my question is this: does anyone else feel as crappy as I do, and how long does it take to get this drug out of your system? I'm only 34 yrs old, I'm not overweight or otherwise out of shape, and this is really affecting my ability to work and to spend quality time with my wife and 10 month old son. Ugh.

I had a pain and lump in my throat for months and feeling sick and weak and tired and pain all over my body, Shortness of Breath, Chest Pains, i did did all kinds of test barium meal, endoscopy, CT scan, ECG, Ultra Sound u name it and all negative, i stopped taking lisinopril for 2 days because i ran out , the pain in my throat immediately dissapered, i got my energy back ,the bloating feels better and i dont feel like i was dying and feeling like i was 90 years old (I am 42yrs old) LISINOPRIL IS BAD. and should be taken off the market. I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to find out what was wrong with me Thank God i ran out of it.

Hello. I started taking lisinopril 20 mg about 1.5 months ago because of hbp and I also started taking toprol for rapid heart beat 1/2 a month before that. Although it did lower my hbp it made me feel lousy. I started getting anxiety all the time, aches in my body (stomach etc), nausea, dizziness, spaced out, and numbness in my hands. My father passed away about 2.5 months ago and so I figured that the anxiety was something normal given the circumstances. I thought that the other side effects were part of the anxiety. I felt as thought I was going to go crazy or die. I also started to become a hypocondriac thinking that if I had a pain in my stomach it might be stomach cancer etc. It was not until I found this site that I see that lisinopril and/or the toprol might be the thing that is causing me to feel lousy. I was always healthy and I never had anxiety. I understand that I shoud feel a little anxiety and sadness because of my father, but I don't feel a little anxiety, I get intense panic attacks. I feel as thought I can't get back to normal, I just feel as though I'm not myself. I want to stop this meds as soon as possible before I, too, get worse side effects. Please let me know if you all think that it is the medications or is this just part of the griving process. All I know is that I started taking this pills and all this started to happen.

I have been taking Lisinopril for several years. I am 52 years old. I have had terrible scratchiness and coughing at night. As soon as I lay down it starts. I am sweating terribly for no reason. I worked with a personal trainer all last year but could not lose any weight. I have gained weighed and very large waist. After reading this column I feel that all of these side effects are coming from taking this pill. I am also taking Zocor so that is what I am looking up next. Have a dr. appt. this week and I am getting off all of this..... I am so excited to think that there is a reason why I couldn't lose any weight and only gain. My stomach also looks bloated quite a bit. Does the sweating relate to anyone else out there? I didn't hear too much on that from other writers. Please let me know!

Summary of what I've read so far...

On emotional level:
1. Anxiety/Depression
2. Fear of having throat/lung cancer
3. Fear of having a heart attack/failure/angina
4. Short temperedness
5. Vivid dreams/nightmares
6. Thoughts of suicide
7. Feel like we're going to die soon

On physical level:
1. Tingling/ pins and needles, on arms and fingers
2. Leg pains (cramp, etc...)
3. Chest pains ( various description...)
4. Shortness of breath
5. Back/neck pain
6. Trouble sleeping
7. Coughing, itchy/scratchy throat
8. Loss of sex drive
9. Dizziness
10. Lack of energy / feeling exhausted / fatigue
11. Muscle/joint aches
12. Night sweats / cold sweats
13. Hair loss
14. Nausea
15. Abdominal pain
16. Swollen feet/ankle
17. Palpitations

Alternative medicine without or minimal side effects...
so far, DIOVAN has been recommended.
I'm calling my doc tomorrow and will insist on DIOVAN...lol.

Feel free to add to this list.

Better health to you all.

God bless!!

It's 3:00 in the morning and I am awake again convinced I must have heart failure. I've been on Lisinopril for several months and recently have experienced swelling of the tongue, throat, and face. I also have hair loss, shortness of breath, fatigue, and tingling in my arms. Until I found this site I had no clue as to the cause of these symptoms. Actually, afraid to go to the doctor for fear that I had some potentially fatal heart condition or worse. Now, however, I'm making an appointment tomorrow right after throwing those pills into the trash. I think I can sleep now. Thanks for input.

My husband went on Lisinopril in Feb 07, his bp went down and was regulated his headaches almost left but then he had sinus surgery in mar or apr. He has now developed muscle twitching and now the "doctors" say he has Motor Neuron Disease.... I refuse to believe after reading everyone's side affects that this 41 year old with no family history of this other than 1/2 siblings with high bp that he has this disease. He has experienced neck stiffness like it is broken (had MRI) no broken bones or slipped disc, he has had the chills, hw has vision blurred issues, heaviness in his legs, left side of his body more prominent than the right, he has crazy dreams and thoughts, he feels like he is dying, he doesn't however have any coughs, he has anxiety which they put him on anti depressant. After reading others comment I researched this med, it was developed by venom in a poisonous Brazilian snake. My husband as a child would get bitten by wasps, fire ants etc.. they would rush him to ER for meds and he used to take shots if stung, swells up like a balloon. So in my theory this med has the snake bite affects and I believe this has caused him to have this neuron disease but I can't prove it. His muscles twitch all the time. I believe this drug has been slowly poisoning him to a eventually paralysis to death. I have begged the doctor to take him off. He has but now he is on Atenolol, which is not much better but has no snake venom or ACE inhibitors. Please people email me. I am desperate we need to band together.
Thanks you Joann

I stopped taking Lisinopril after a year of waiting for the side effects to lessen.
Started out with 20mg. and my bp was 90/58. I felt like I was going to pass out, had chest pains, no energy, shortness of breath, and had the feeling that my eyes had just been dialated. The eye thing happened twice while I was driving.
As per MD's orders I cut the pills in half to 10mg. Same symptoms. So, I qauartered that down to 2.5. I still felt somewhat less but still terrible.
Finally I stopped a month ago and am felling much, much better. Still not 100 percent.
Taking hydrocholithaizide and atenolol(not sure about those spellings) and my bp is 130/80. I'm ok with that even if the medical profession isn't.
As far as I'm concerned this poison should be taken off the market. It made my life miserable for year.

THIS STUFF IS DANGEROUS!!!!!

Started taking lisonipril about 3 months ago...first month was like everyone on here has said...dizzy, palpations, chest pains, excessive tiredness....but doctor told me it was helping my blood pressure so hang in there.

In the last 2 weeks I have had severe swelling of the eyes, back of the head...diagnosis....angioedema caused by the lisinopril (ACE inhibitor). My stomach feels absolutely horrible..I feel like vommiting most days. I not someone that has been to the doctor more than 5 times in my life ...now 37, I have been about 8 times since lisinopril.

STAY AWAY!!!!

NO MORE LISONOPRIL FOR ME!!!!

nashvillecop

ok i wrote a few post down (25y/o cutting his pillls in half)

had ugly side effects with 10mg.. (heart pounding, retrograde ejaculation)
after 4 days of cutting my pills in half from the 10mg to the 5 my symptoms have gotten better... the cough has gone.. right now i have a raspy breathing that comes and goes.. I do have some weird stomach pain stometimes like if someones pulling on my stomach and it feels like a slight discomfort... I been monitoring my blood pressure and it has been excellent.. spanning from 116/65 to 135/81 highest.. My heart beat was a little fast yesterday but now im pretty good.. i have random chest pains still.. Should i be feeling this if im just getting treated for hypertension.. I mean i didnt have a heart attack and my EKG showed borderline normal. i had a slight arythmia.. They said nothing serious..
Im kinda scared cuz well like my girlfriends dad just died of a heart attack instantly (first attack hes ever had) and he was a healthy guy abs, worked out everything.. he had chest pains all the time and would go to the doc and they would tell him hes fine.. just had high blood pressure.. these kinda stories make me nervous :( anyone have any insight?

Started taking lisinopril in july 06. Within two weeks had to go on nexium.About three months started having chest pains & shortness of breath.Had stress test the whole nine yards everything was great. Cardiologist took me off the meds,been off for about two months symptoms slowly fading. B.P. is 125/77

I am guest #35597
I was in lisiniopril had the usual side effects went to the dr last week he put me on diovan 80 mg went thru the weekend
after having to cut pills in half but had heaches, severe chest pains most commonly occured when laying down, finally had to give it up so I called back my dr. he subscribed diltyeazem
180 mg. don't know the effects of it but i do know that after
one day of the lisinopril i fellt better not as fatiqued wanting to sleep all the time had diminished,

I have been taking lisinopril for 9 months I have dizziness
tirdness, bad chest pains shortness of breath body aches bones ache all the time. headaches, shoulder aches back aches. that stuff is horrible I went to the doctors because I thought it was my heart everything is fine. I am still taking the pill but I am going to stop. The side effects is horrible. I was on 10 mgs a day but was increased to 20 mgs a day I can no longer handle this medicine cant sleep at night stay tired all the time. The side effects is horrible. I am not myseld anymore.

My story started back on July 28 2006, went to work and experienced an afib attack. went to the Doctor on the 31st. ekg was normal but my blood pressure was high 162/100 so the Doctor put me on 10mg of Lisinopril, felt bad during the week, thought it was just getting adjusted to a new med. Went back work had very bad shortness of breath, chest pains, and lightheadedness. now It has been 2.5 months of being out of work from these problems and in bed 95% of the day, not being able to do any activity without severe shortness of breath and now over $20,000 in test on the heart and lungs( which was normal) doctors said its probably anxiety( its not) so after my heart cath I stopped taking the lisinopril and with in a few days I was a different person, up doing well, my color is back. I feel so much better even returning to work this week. my bp is normal too. Not one Doctor ever even considered lisinopril as the problem. my trust in most doctors have been shaken to say the least.

After being on Lisinopril for 2 weeks, I experienced severe chest pains. Then I began having a persistant dry cough, left arm soreness, unable to sleep at night, hives, severe heartburn, and just plain feeling unwell. I thought I had pnuemonia or bronchitis. My doctor advised it was the Lisinopril and had me stop taking it immediately. I have been off of it for 1 week but am still experiencing the cough and heartburn and joint pain. How long does it take for this stuff to get out of your system? I wish I had never taken this stuff.

I was prescribed Lisinopril 10mg just a few days ago by an ER doctor to treat hypertension after I started having chest pains and had a BP of 171/110 (even though I'm only 25) and I'm already noticing stomach cramps. It feels kinda like I'm really hungry, but there isn't the growling sensation, just stabbing pains. I see a few people listed that they feel bloated, but no one has mentioned stomach cramps. Has anyone else had this side effect with Lisinopril?

Coughing, chest pains, loss of sleep. joint pains, dizzy ,

heavy pains in chest pains, and in shoulder. I don't have high blood pressure , in fact I have low blood preesure. what am I taking this for.

I have been taking 20mg of Lisinopril for about 6 months. At first my blood pressure came down to an acceptable level, but now seems to be creeping up again. I know this means a higher dosage, but I am reluctant to take it as I have developed ....not a cough as such, but when I go to bed especially, it feels like I have a lump of mucus in my throat and have to keep swollowing, but it doesn't go away. This is accompanied by a burning in my throat which I get any time of the day. Last night I had terrible chest pains together with all the other stuff I didn't sleep a wink! when I reported these symptoms to my doctor she said I has asthma and gave me an inhaler to use, but this has not got rid of my symptoms. I am sure it is the lisinopril.

I have been on Lisinopril/HCTZ 20/12.5 twice a day for about three months now. I have been experiencing chest pains, head aches, and fatigue but had not attributed it to this medication, due to the side effects creeping up on me over time, until I read many of the posts on this website. My blood pressure without medication runs around 180/120 at its highest. On lisinopril it runs about 145/80. I am 32 years old and was diagnosed with hypertension when I went in for a reconstruction of a broken nose. The only immediate side effects I noticed was tremors and some muscle weakness.

I was prompted to check side effects for this medicine when my father's doctor recently doubled his dose. He takes Lisinopril as well. (I think he takes 40 mgs per day now along with another bp medication). According to my mother he started the heavier dose yesterday evening and took it again this morning and had to LEAVE WORK due to exhaustion. (He starts work at 8:00 am) He slept out in his car until 1:00 in the afternoon, worked until 4:00 and came home angry, confused, tired, said he felt like he had the flu, couldn't eat and I naturally got worried and decided to check for side effects, and I'm glad I did, man this stuff is bad news!

Has anyone had any good results with natural treatments?

Thanks,

JWC

chest pains, irregular heart beat
-- had no side effects on very low dose, but
needed more to control pressure.
now sometimes the cough, and burning
feeling, sometimes pain in chest

started taking lisinopril about 3 to 4 weeks ago for high bp, and this stuff has to go. blacked out at the gym while working out, feel like someone unpluged me, no energy at all. Headaches havent stopped since I started takin this crap,eyes feel like baseballs, having chest pains,and a lot more other side effects like spending a lot of time on the throne if ya know what I mean. I am a student and cant function at school. going to see the quack who put me on this stuff in the morning and ring his neck.

well, Iam only 17 with elevated BP, My doc has started me off with Norvasc 5mg, then switched to Lisinopril 5mg, then 10mg, and now I am the 20 mg. I don't like it, its hard for me to function at school, i get some king of bad chest pains, and hard pressure on my stomach/ribs, i have ecemza and it was beginning to heal up and get better but since I went up it have gotten worse, my BP has lowered a lot is usually 135/110, I am 5-2' and weigh only 135, Ihave gotten these bruise looking things on my legs, puffy legs, lump in my throat, bad cough, mucus in throat, bad headaches, and many other things. I can also see that mostly everyone that left a message is unhappy with this medicine and is way older than me.