Lisinopril and combination of the two

Hi,

I wanted to give you an update on my mom.

I posted on July 17th, 2004 as I was so angry with my mom's Dr. and the drug Lisinopril.

He finally took her off the Lisinopril, and kept her on Hydrochlorothiazide. However after he did some more blood work (at my insistence, as I suspected that she was dehydrated) he ordered an electrolyte blood test. He told her he doubted that she was dehydrated due to the combination of the drugs, as she had been on the Hydrochlorothiazide for years without problems. However, he told us he was ordering the blood tests STAT. If the test revealed any of her electrolytes were low, then he would immediately take her off the hydro....... pill too.

Well, he called us that evening and told Mom to IMMEDIATELY stop taking the hydro........pill too! Mom WAS dehydrated as a result of the combination of the two drugs. The Lisinopril was the main cause of her problems and when he added it to her other BP pill, it caused her body to become totally off balance.

I just want to tell you that since she is now off BOTH pills (she still takes Cardizem for BP and Angina), she is finally back to her normal self. We just returned from a 2 week European Cruise which was wonderful but VERY busy and active, as we visited a new country practically every day. Mom was able to do every tour (with lots of walking) and was able return to the ship, get "dolled up" and was one of the first ones at our dinner table. :)

I know that every one is different and that Lisinopril may be just the right drug for some of you. However, if you are a tiny person (my mom is 4'9" and weighs only 90 lbs), then be very careful of the dosage.

Also be aware of any new symptoms once you take ANY new drug, and write the symptoms down. If they last more than one week then call your Dr. and ask him/her to change your meds.

My mom's cough has completely stopped, her eyes no longer water, her exhaustion is gone :) and she no longer feels like a "Mack Truck" hit her, making her body ache all over.

I thank God that I live right around the corner from Mom. She was convinced that it was just allergies as her Dr. had suggested, and thought it was "silly" that I insisted we go back to the Dr. for more blood tests. If I had not lived close by and had not seen her every day, I would not have known how serious her condition had become.

Even though we went to her Dr. several times with complaints of the cough, the watery eyes, the aches etc., the Dr. insisted it was allergies, and referred her to an ophthalmologist for some eye drops (which did absolutely nothing for her watery eyes).

So, a happy ending here - but only because she stopped taking the drug, which caused an enhancement of the hydro......water pill, causing the dehydration.

So just be aware of your body.