Lisinopril and dizziness

I have been taking 20mg Lisinopril for six days for 140/100 BP reduction. Muscle cramps, muscle pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears (which I already had, but this medication has made it MUCH worse),some heart palpitations...generally scary and, on balance, I am going to find some other solution. Frankly, this is like taking a slow acting poison.

Wow it's amazing how at this time there is forty seven pages of people making this up! I really think the maker of this drug should be burned at the stake, I still have palpitations after taking this drug for about 8 months . I have been off of this drug for about 8 months now and feel way better then I did while taking it. I have started a diet and exercise plan and now my bp is normally 117 over 70 , I'd say thats pretty good for still being over weight (I have lost forty two pounds so far) I am not taking any meds right now because diet and exercise has worked so far for me . And I went through hell thinking I was dying while taking this med with the palpitations , chest pain , dizziness , fatigue , tingling in my hands and feet , burning sensation in my feet , and depression . Is anyone suing the maker of this drug ? I think we should all get together and get this off the market so nobody else has to go through this !

I'm 54, started taking lisinopril in jan 09. I took for about 3 months and noticed a decrease in libido. My pressure was pretty much in control, so I stopped taking it. I started again around 1st of Aug 09. Approx 3-4 weeks later, I began to experience severe pain in my left shoulder and arm. It began to move into my neck and back. I went in for an EKG to ensure I wasn't having a stroke. It was normal. I experience dizziness and headaches. I wake in the night and my 2 left fingers on the left hand are completely numb. The pain in my neck is now moving to the right side and some shoulder pain seems to be apparent. I noticed pain in other joints as well. I'm unable to work out at the gym as I usually do due to the pain my my left arm. I highly suspect these symptoms to be caused by lisinopril. I've been taking 20mg and was just switched to 20 mgm Hct. a week ago. X-Rays were taken of my neck and shoulder last week. Haven't' heard from the doctor as of yet. I was on Diovan before I lost my job and health benefits. As a vet, the VA put me on the Lisinopril. The Diovan worked fine for me, too expensive for us vets I guess. I am discontinuing the Lisinopril as of today 10/24/09. I feel like I imagine a ninety year old would feel with these aches and all. I havent' admitted it, but I believe I'm feeling mildly depressed as well. Let's see what a week of purging this from my system does. f. D.

Glad I found you all. I have a couple questions. I am on 5mg Lisinopril and am already weaning myself off. What other meds do you recommend for blood pressure? Can we just stop taking it? I've only been on it for a couple weeks. I check my b/p daily and it is usually good. So I don't believe I have "high" b/p. I think it went up during pain and stress and my doc decided to keep it in check. I've been getting a lot of headaches and dizziness. I also have MS and Graves disease. So I'm confused and complicated.

Thanks

Started taking Lisinopril approx. 6 years. ago. Shortly afterwards I started a spiral downwards for no apparent reason. Did not connect this med. Shortly after starting it I was put on Synthroid for low thyroid. Started having loss of balance, dizziness, vision problems, muscle and nerve pain. B/P went up instead of going down. Have been to every type of Dr. (Neurologist, Dermatologist, Endocrinologist, Internist) and every nerve & muscle test and blood work came back negative. I have extreme cold in my hands and feet, increased back pain. headaches. This past week I have broken out in a rash on my torso and down both legs. The doctors answers are that I'm suffering from depression. The irony is that when the symptoms first started I questioned if I could be having a reaction to the medication and they flat out said no. After reading some of the comments as of today I am discontinuing the Lisinopril and will searce for something natural. I'm fed up with doctors and really short on cash from all the money spent trying to find an answer.

I just started taking this drug three days ago, and I am already having such bad side effects that I don't want to take it anymore. I am only 29, but have a family history of high BP, and went to the doctor last week to find out my bp was 175/90. Since starting the drug, I've been getting dizziness, but last night took the cake. I woke up around 4:30 with horrible nausea. I ran to the bathroom where I fainted while sitting on the toilet lid, wanting nothing more than to vomit. I remember waking up and looking in the mirror, and my face was as white as a sheet, as were my lips. I looked dead, and it scared the hell out of me. As I came to, I suddenly had diarrhea hit me, and once that was over, I felt better. My husband thinks my body is trying to get rid of the drug. In addition to all this, I am having palpitations and feel that my heart is beating too fast. I know that part of this is nerves, because I'm scared of taking this medication, but the fainting and nausea ARE because of the drug. I called my doctor today, and she wants me to come in to get my BP taken again. I am so scared that she won't lower the dose or (better yet) switch me to something else, because my bp always goes up at the doctor's office when I get nervous, every time. Oh, and I also started metformin last week because the doctor tested my blood sugar and it came back 250. Could it be the combination? I don't know. I just know I have only been on this stuff for a few days and already hate it and feel that it's bad for my body! It's very scary.

I have been taking Lisinopril for 3 - 4 years. I am 43 with high blood pressure. I often have a light headed feeling/dizziness. My biggest problem/concern is I find it very hard to concentrate. I feel tired often and have a foggy feeling. I have always just written this off to the stressful job that I have. Reading these posts has made me think that this bpm may be the problem. Sometimes I will forget to take my med on the weekends and, now that I think about it, I've felt great on those days. This message board has been a real eye opener. I need to talk with my Dr. If anyone has actually changed to another/more effective BPM - let me know.

I have cramps in the legs and feet often too.

I've been reading the responses to this medication, and I have to say I'm shocked. I've been experiencing most of the side effects on this site, and I thought I was starting to lose my mind.

I've always had panic and anxiety disorder, and I had developed an inner ear infection 4 months ago. This was also AFTER I quit smoking and started exercising and eating healthier. Well quitting smoking gave me horrible panic attacks that would last 3 or 4 hours at a time, and when I woke up that morning feeling dizzy I panicked because I had never experienced an inner ear infection.

I went to the hospital 3 days later because I was so dizzy and I was experiencing numbness in my face and left arm. I thought I was having either a stroke or heart attack, and it turned out my heart was just fine but my blood pressure was 195/105. They immediately put me on Lisinopril and Metoprolol to bring my BP down. They said I had high blood pressure brought about by obesity and panic disorder (no crap?).

I took the metoprolol for about a week before I started noticing my hands and feet go cold and my heart rate was dipping down into the 30's. Being someone who reads up on his medication, I knew what medication was causing what and I stopped taking it. My heart rate went back to normal and my body temperature went from 96 back to 98.6.

The only thing I was taking was Lisinopril 10mg which my doctor later increased to 20mg. After this I started feeling like I was constantly hanging upside down because my whole head felt so congested. I figured the ear infection was coming back again and didn't give it a second thought. Then the panic attacks started getting so bad, worse than I've ever had before. I was experiencing panic attacks 3 to 4 times a day (I still do, but I'm going to stop taking Lisinopril after today). The dizziness came back as more of a light-headed feeling, despite still having medium-high blood pressure. Since being on Lisinopril, my blood pressure stays in the 130/80 range, going as high as 145/90 during the day. What a help that was.

I also noticed my heart rate dip again. For 2 weeks my resting heart rate was around 51 and lower, though my blood pressure was still high. This is unusual for me, this past week my heart has been racing with a resting heart rate of around 106. I went from bradycardia to tachycardia in a matter of days. My hair has been falling out, my body temperature has been low, my heart rate is all over the place with Hell's own palpitations, I'm getting chest pains every now and then, my neck and head have been hurting, I've been coughing so hard I throw up, my stomach hurts, I have diarrhea and bad heart burn.

And on top of all of that, I'm so fatigued I can barely get out of bed half the time. And this is while eating VERY HEALTHY and walking 2 miles a day! ***? I thought maybe it was my thyroid (I'm scheduled to have blood tests for that next week), but now I'm quite convinced this "medicine" is the root of all my problems.

If I want low blood pressure, I will have to continue losing the weight, and eating less salt, because I will NEVER do this again.

I am 55 years old and began taking Lisinopril HCTZ in September of 2008. My blood pressure was 224 over 124. I was at stroke level. I have headaches, dizziness, tingling in my arms, and a chest pain that has gotten worse in the last 4 months since taking this medication. The chest pain was so severe I thought I was having a heart attack. I rushed myself to the Emergency room at the hospital. No signs of an heart attack. After my experience from severe dizziness and chest pain on yesterday, I decided this medication was going to kill me before high blood pressure does. Today I found other means to lower my blood pressure and they worked. This medication has too many side effects.

I have been taking lisinopril for almost a year and it has decreased my sex drive. It has also decreased my blood pressure which is more important. My wife would prefer me to be healthy and doing it less often than dying on top of her. The only recent major problem I have had is dizziness and vomiting. I took it a few days ago and found myself sweating and dizzy. I tried to eat something and vomited it up in a mnute or so. I think changing my diet and exercising is more important than taking snake venom to open my veins. I am going to get off this stuff and try to eat right and exercise. I am a Black male 6'2" and about 265lbs. At 44 I should not be feeling dizzy all the time. Before this drug I took barley pills which made me dizzy as well. The nausea and dizziness are terrible and I think I will come off this stuff permanently after seeing my doctor. I do get nervous when I go to the doctor but I also know that I eat too much and at the wrong time and I need to exercise more. Worrying about the economy isn't helping either.

i a on lisinopril. i have been having dizziness. i got real dizzy and i feel and my head hit a concrete floor fool force. i am now having headaches and severe dizziness now and does not want to go away. getting worse.is there anything i can take for this problem.

I am 35 years old and I have high blood pressure. I am taking Inderal and Lisinopril. I have been taking Lisinopril for about a year now. I have had a cough for almost a year now. Have had chest x-rays and ct scans that show nothing is wrong. I was taken off of Lisinopril and put on Diavan but my feet and ankles were swelling so I went back to Lisinopril .
I still have cough, dizziness, light headed, hot flashes, fatigue, weakness and chest pain. I cannot go to the grocery without everyone staring at me coughing and the people at work are getting annoyed with it. I cough to the point where I vomit. My doctor has sent me to a specialist for acid reflux and has even went as far as telling me I have sinus or allergy problems. I will be going back to the doctor next so I will be suggesting being taken off of this drug and put on something else. Thank you to everyone on here. Everyone thinks that I am crazy because I am only 35 and I have all of these symptoms but no one knows what is wrong with me.

Today is a new beginning for me after finding this site about the harmful side effects of Lisinopril and all this time I thought I was going crazy. I was put on this drug in 2006 for elevated B/P of 130/90. I had just recently completed 20 years in the Marine Corps and was in the process of starting a new career so of course I was going through a very stressful time in my life which may have been the cause of the recent spike in b/p. I went to see the doc for a checkup and she put me on 10 mg of lisinopril. I first noticed the dizziness soon after taking this drug. I was working out with some Sailors since I got a job working for the Navy and we had a bet on who would finish first in a three mile run. I thought this would be easy for me since I used to run everyday as a Marine with run times of under six minutes a mile but this time it was different. I was the first one to the half way point but then my body began to shut down to the point I could barely run. Everyone passed me by and when I crossed the finish line I had to sit down cause I thought I was going to pass. Let me remind you that this was only a three mile run, I was used to running thirty to forty miles a week. It is 2009 now and I very rarely workout due to the pain I experience afterwards. I have the constant feeling of gagging and I thought it was allergies but I refused to start medication for that. I remember the times that I used to stand up at work and shake my arms out because of the numbness in my arms and hands. I always have the funny feeling with the left side of my chest not sure if my heart is just going to give out on me. My wife always notices how I'm always massaging my chest muscle. I tell her it must be arthritis to quell her suspicious. I too had to remove my wedding ring due to the smelliness in my hands something I never had to do even while serving my country overseas. Thank you all for your posts, you have turned the light on for me to all the aliments I have been feeling these past few years. I have been off lisinopril for three weeks now and I am already feeling like my life is coming back. Hopefully, I'll be able to run that marathon that I always dreamed about. Again, Thank you all!

I am 47 year old female with 5 days of headache and high diastolic bp. Doctor prescribed lisinopril. It made me want to sit for hours without moving. I was sleepy but could not sleep, cloudy thinking, anxious, thought I was going to die, had pangs all over my body and in extremities, racing heart with difficulty catching breath, etc to all the above symptoms. I stopped it after two weeks. I had bronchitis for four weeks. Then I developed dizziness/nausea and burning in the hands and feet. After researching that, I took a B12 and that tingling symptom cleared in a few hours. I don't know if the drug changes the metabolism in your system. I still am fatigued, occasionally have racing heart, and problems with sleep. Don't know how long it may linger in the system. Can't seem to find an answer. It has been 2 months since I took it and 6 weeks since being off it. By the way, my BP is now typically 117/82 with loss of 15 pounds. I prefer to treat naturally. Look up Taurine, CoQ10 and Hawthorne and see which may be best for you.

Is anyone experiencing confusion, trouble thinking, trouble concentrating, decreased cognitive function, mental sluggishness, trouble solving problems or situations which require logical thinking, memory loss? Would love to hear from anyone experiencing any these symptoms and if so, how long were you on the drug.
Thanks!

I have only been on 20mg of Lisinopril for 3 days now and am having constant headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and very lightheaded.. I never got the headache even when my BP was up, much less any of these other symptoms. My DR. advised that if they don't go away after the 3rd day to stop taking the drug and take naproxen till I can get in to see her. Which will be this week! I refuse to take this drug with ALL of its side effects. NO OTHER DRUG I HAVE EVER TAKEN had EVER GIVEN ME THIS MUCH PROBLEMS WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS! Also, since taking this drug, I have cried more over stupid things than I can remember.

I'm a 36 years old with now real history of bp prob. but my family do. I had a few occasion with an evalted bp ove a 8 month period. I was recommend by the ER doctor to start taking amphenol first then the cardiologist recommend this one. I should have stayed skeptical about taking any meds. I just start taking the lisinopril med at10/12.5mg for 1 week now and everything I am reading i am having most of those side effects. I wished i would have checked this site out first. I sleep most of the day, stomach aches dizziness etc.

my husband is taking lisinopril for more than 7 years , and right now he is felling worse . After i read this site, I think that all he is felling ( dizziness, headache, and extreme tire all the time is because this pill.He had several blood check up , scanners every year and they found nothing at all. We're worry , but after I read some post, I will suggest him to visit the doctor and ask about a different treatment.

I started Lisinopril a 6 weeks ago at the suggestion of my Internist. The blood pressure medicine I was on (for 5 years) was too strong and causing me to have episodes of dizziness and hypotension. Since starting Lisinopril I have suffered with a severe hacking cough that is especially troublesome at night. It wakes me up almost every night and I wind up sleeping in an upright position on my lazy boy and taking strong cough medicine to suppress it. Since I am an RN, I attributed this to climate, my job (with children), and generalized stress of graduate school/work/family. I have a call into my Internist and will stop Lisinopril immediately. Thank you for this blog.

Gosh, I just got on the internet to see if some of my husband's symptoms (dizziness, muscle cramps, depression, feeling tired and short of breath all the time) could be caused by his medication. Now I'm really worried after reading all the other posts about Lisinopril. We've been trying to get something done about his symptoms for weeks now and not once has a doctor mentioned that it could be the Lisinopril or even checked his potassium levels or done an EKG. We have been told by a doctor who practices in another state that a carotid doppler should have also been done but if we ask for that, we are concerned the doctor will think we're trying to tell him/her how to do their job and then we won't get anything done. I'm afraid to take him off the Lisinopril 20mg suddenly.

My husband is a 64 year old relatively healthy man. His family doctor prescribed 20 mg. Lisinopril and 40 mg. Pravastatin to lower his blood pressure and cholesterol. He began taking both drugs on March 17, 2009 and since then has had nothing but problems. Dry hacking cough, lack of appetite, disorientation, dizziness, joint pain, leg cramps, stomach bloating and diarrhea, metallic taste in his mouth, sweating, numbness and tingling in his fingers, EXTREME fatigue (sleeping 18-20 hours a day), sore throat and swollen glands,frequent urination, itching rash on his forearms and head and just about every other bad symptom you can think of. Today I am going with him to his doctor to let her know that I took him off both drugs April 15th because I firmly believe they are toxic to his system. To date, there has been little improvement in his health, and I am wondering how long it will take for these medications to clear out of his system. In my opinion, Lisinopril is a VERY DANGEROUS DRUG and should be removed from the market. I am so angry that my energetic husband has been reduced to a state of the walking comatose. He cannot perform the simplest task without needing to rest or sleep. We can lower his cholesterol with diet and exercise, but now I'm wondering what we are going to do about his high blood pressure. It scares me to even think about adding another drug to his system without knowing what the consequences are going to be. Everything I have read in the blogs on his website indicate to me that someone is making a lot of money making people sicker. The question I'm going to ask my husband's doctor this morning is "would you give this drug to a member of your family" knowing the devastating side effects"? Then I'm going to tell her that I hope her malpractice insurance is paid up because if anything more happens to my husband, I'm going to own everything she has. And one more thing, after I hear what her response to my husband's symptoms is, I'm going to find another family doctor who takes a more conservative approach to the matter of high blood pressure and cholesterol.

NUMBNESS IN RIGHT ARM & DIZZINESS
I had taken Lisinopril for only one week.10mg my right arm went numb I have been having dizziness before the medicine and my blood pressure was high.But this pill is making me crazy.Still dizzy and now numb the doctor told me I could have MS how scary to be. Medicine is what is killing people.Plus the doctors have to run all these test eliminating things and you go around thinking you have some really bad thing or your losing your mind.My doctor also said that I maybe an anxiety type person and I'm thinking of these side effects.He had no record of numbness or dizziness.

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 rennin (the hormone that increases BP). I was then put on Lisinopril 10mg. Everything continued well for about 6 years - I also stayed in shape and ate healthy. However, throughout those 6 years, I did notice my curly hair turning straight and my incredibly (can't do nothing with) thick hair started to thin and become style able. 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 kind of 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 going to 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 have 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 blood work 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 rennin? 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 :(

I have been taking Lisinopril for two months - first month fine. Second month awful. I have the constant dizziness and as I have had problems with pancreatitus, have noticed some pain in that area - sometimes severe, sometimes just noticeable. Tried to go off it, but BP went up, so back on it and now have the headaches besides the above symptoms. I'm on vacation for another month so not sure what to do. Going to call doctor's office tomorrow and see if they can prescribe another medication and send to local WalMart. I was on Altace but wanted a WalMart $10.00/3 month prescription. What a mistake!!

I am 38 years old and have been on Lisinopril since Feb17th. I have stopped taking Lisinopril today after insomnia 4 times, dizziness every day, anxiety every day and anxiety attacks often . How long does it take to go away?

I began taking lisinopril 8 years ago(age 26) when diagnosed with aortic insufficiency. I was in excellent health physically and mentally at the time and my heart condition was and still is very minimal. This drug has literally broken down my body and I have developed chronic conditions. The minor side effects were the fatigue, dizziness, and lethargic feeling. As time went on I developed stomach issues, insomnia, skin conditions, memory loss, mood imbalance, and low platelet production. I never questioned or linked any of this with something that was considered by doctors a safe drug. After much confusion and weariness it literally dawned on me! I stopped the drug with agreement from my cardiologist, and for the first time in many, many years I am coming back to life. As the days go by and the aftermath of this drug leave my system for good, I amazed as each of my health problems disappears. I am sleeping the whole night, thinking more lucidly, and enjoying a calm stomach. I take my health seriously and I sincerely advise anyone to avoid the slow death of lisinopril.

I am a 37 year old female who has inherited my hbp. I was taking diazide, which gave me headaches, but now I take the lisinopril. I get the cough, to wear it is gagging sometimes and now I am having the palpitations. How long before you stop taking the medicine does the side effects go away. I don't like this medicine at all. My pressure is down however.......

I first started Lisinopril hctz about 3 years ago. Within the first day I had hives, a rash, itchy skin and RED RED face. Dr says it will go away. So I keep taking it. Fast forward a month and I start coughing, coughing at night so bad my husband can't sleep. It's so bad I feel like I'm choking and cough so much I am almost throwing up from the dryness and my throat being so constricted. During that time, I also start having some big whopping sinus pain and pressure. Felt like there was a tennis ball in my sinuses. Big time pain, headache. Dr says nothing wrong, just some allergies. I start taking Benadryl at night to sleep, to help with the itching, wheezing, coughing. It seems to help a bit. So I deal with all this. ALong with the coughing at times I am having trouble getting in air. Almost like I have to force it in. Not sure if it's my throat, sinuses or my chest. Next comes, some bass drum booming of my heart. I think it's so loud in my chest and my ears that others can hear it. This still happens on occasion. At times my legs feel like tree trunks or cement and I just don't have the energy to do anything. My hair started falling out in GOBS. I go to derm doctor, they say it's stress. It'll go away. Next I have kidney pain.... this goes on for a few months... come to find out I have a stone. But I never had any kidney problems before. Doctor's say it could be from the hctz and my kidneys having to work harder, but they were speculating. GP says keep taking Lisinopril hctz the benefits outweigh the side effects. I asked him if he has ever had a kidney stone he says no. I keep taking it. Leg cramps come next, bad cramps. I go to dr and he says it's my potassium, the hctz has depleted the potassium in my body and need to start on some big styrofoam potassium pills. All this goes on for almost two years. Fast forward to now. I'm still beat red in the face (and cannot handle the sun), coughing, sinuses full, itchy and bass drum beating (on occasion), heart flutters (on occasion).... four days ago I almost fainted because I was so dizzy within two hours of taking my pills in the morning. I am by no means able to sit on my butt and do nothing because of all these side effects. I have a farm to run, horses to feed and ride, hay to bale and put up, and I'm ready to get my body safe enough to start trying to get pregnant. I start doing research and find Lisinopril to be UNSAFE for a fetus. I start to think, well if it is unsafe for a fetus why is it safe for me? So then I googled side effects of Lisinopril and it brought me here. Thank God, I have a GP appointment tomorrow. I'm taking control back of my own body. I've had enough....

My experience with Lisinopril is similar to many others here. Mine is further complicated by the combination of drugs I am taking.
Due to my BPH I was taking Proscar and Doxazosin (4mg), the Doxazosin helping with hypertension as well (140/90). My doctor decided to add 5mg of Lisinopril to augment and help lower the blood pressure some more. He also liked the overall helpful aspects of the Lisinopril on the cardiological system. After about a week and a half on this regimine I was having dizzy spells and light headedness.....disconcerting when driving. I also had the infamous dry hacking cough noted my almost everyone. I stopped taking the Lisinopril and things went back to normal.
On my next visit to the doctor, he wanted me back on the Lisinopril but trying 2.5mg doses. That seemed to be OK for awhile. I have now added Flomax to my regimine and noticed the same dizziness problem. So I am staggering my pill taking which seems to be helping somewhat.
However, after three weeks on this program, I am having severe dry hacking cough episodes, 5-10 times per day. Also have to be careful when I stand up due to dizziness. Additionally, I am having sporadic insomnia problems that are out of the ordinary for me. Also, runny nose, sneezing and a tightening feeling in the chest and abdomen.....Almost like a mild flu. The tightening feeling is more like a caffeine overdose high...ergo the insomnia.
I attribute the hacking cough to the Lisinopril. The insomnia could be the same or possibly the Flomax. I'm not sure about the tightness. I plan to stop the Flomax next week when I go back to the Urologist and will stop the Lisopril at the same time and see what happens.
I would be interested in any input readers may have on my dilemma.

I am glad I visited this site... I am one of those people that take meds at first and then just "forget" and stop taking all together. I was prescribed Lisinopril 10mg- but never gave it a chance to get in my system. I think I took it for like a week (at bedtime) and would wake up with a killer migraine and nausea. Another time I felt kind of drunk with dizziness, loss of balance, etc. So I stopped taking it. Today I started feeling bad, and found out my blood pressure is pretty high,so I figured its time I buckle up and take my meds like I'm supposed to. I just happened to look the side effects up- I don't think I will be taking this again.

I take the Lisonopril and HCTZ and within a few days, I started experiencing dizziness (bad case of Vertigo), fatigue. My doctor took me off. It has been a week now, and I am still suffering from the side effects. Crappy I tell ya! I won't take that stuff anymore. God will just have to take me, because I am done. A co-worker told me her doctor prescribed it, but her grandmother said take Ordorless Garlic tablets. That was a year ago. No more High BP. I am trying that. Won't hurt.

! am a 45 yo male and have been taken in 10 mg of Lisinopril for the past 4 yrs. I am 230 lbs and my doctor tells me that he would stop prescribing Lisinopril when I lose about 20 lbs. I also need to tone down on the sugars, liquor, salt etc. which makes sense. I just realized that when I saw this website, I too at times felt the dizziness, faintness, cramps on my hands, especially when I am weight lifting and playing a quick short game of basketball with my son. I am going to stop taking this for a week and schedule a physical check-up to see where my bp stands without it. For the past half of year I have been walking 4 miles per day and trying to eat healthier. I also, have been depressed, some stomach pains, headaches are like those that seem to feel like pressure near my temples. I also play the drums on weekends and have had cramps and have experienced much tendinitis on my shoulders. Anxiety and sleep problems also affect me. I notice that when I am off my dosage, I do feel much better and more energetic. I feel though I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't take this drug.....anyways...thanks for your posts!

I've been on it for about 2 months, the first month nothing really happened...but the last month its just been getting worse and worse. Light headed, sweaty hands, cold feet, tinglinging in the fingers, heart palpitations, etc...the worst are the heart palps, and light headedness (I feel like I might pass out right now!). I stopped taking it today, my last pill was yesterday morning, so hopefully the side effects will subside today or tomorrow.

for those who went off the drug, how long did it take for the side affects to disappear?

I was on Avalide for a while did not like side effects of tiredness, vertigo like side effects, went to my doctor she took me off and put me on lisinopril 20mg I have to say I rather have the symptoms from my first BP meds than this one! have been on it 2 and a half months. It sucks! I watch what I eat exercise on a regular basis, I lost a total of two pounds in a two week time period whoopeee!!! I should have lost two pounds in the first week never mind the second week but two lousy pounds! its like an uphill battle, I am done and going back to the Avalide, oh yeah and I have that irritating dry scratchy cough I thought was due to allergies, it wakes me up or never let's me sleep through the night. This Med stinks!!!!

Guys,

Thank you for making me feel sane... I started to take Lisinopril about 12 hours ago. I have had a headache for about 10 hours straight. I feel very confused and moody. I can't concentrate. I'm only taking 5mm. I feel very tired

Amazing! Just now I decided to check on Lisinopril side effects.
Imagine my surprise when I found the first posting described me!!
Morning cough, persistent runny nose, left ear problems!!!
Also have the dizziness and faint feeling on occasion.
Have been on Lisinopril-hctz 20 for two years and my symptoms have suddenly gotten worse with headaches.

I appreciate the information this site has provided and DO BELIEVE.

I have been taking Lisinopril for 11 months. I've had psoriasis for 18 years and never did I have an outbreak on my face until the past month! After reading and doing research I've found that Lisinopril can cause outbreaks. After reading all these blogs I realized I am not crazy! I though all my symptoms like dizziness,shortness of breath and muscle aches were all in my head. I want to reach out to those that have suffered with psoriasis like I have never to take this pill! It had truly ruined my holidays and is putting my job on the line because I do not want to be seen like this.

I was on 10 mg of Lisinopril for 2 weeks. After quitting, major side effects of the drug gradually subsided (including ringing of the ears, headache, sleeplessness, nausea, fatigue, general flu-like symptoms, panic and anxiety). I'm now 2.5 weeks off the med and was feeling fine but suddenly had a flare up of sleepless night followed by 2 days of nausea, dizziness, irritability and depression. This spell came just after I played an aggressive soccer game. Does vigorous exercise trigger recurring spells?
Has this happened to anyone? How long should I expect symptoms?

I am on the lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide combined pill. I take two a day, which is 40 mg of lisinopril and 50 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. I have been on the medication for about a year, but about a month ago I started experiencing horrible nausea and a bad taste in my mouth. I also had very bad dizzy spells, to the point I nearly fell down several times. I went to my medical practitioner, who is an FNMP, and she said I had ear wax and that was what was causing the problems. Cleaned out my ears, pronounced me well and sent me home. I don't think she really listened to me, because I work in the medical field and never in my life had I heard of ear wax causing vertigo, dizziness, and profound nausea. Maybe an ear disorder. At any rate, I stopped the medicine and all the symptoms disappeared within a few days. I went to see my neurologist yesterday and my BP was 162./102. I told him about the problem with my BP medication and he told me to go home and immediately take the medication and call the doctor Monday to get the medicine changed. So I went home, took only one pill, and the symptoms immediately returned. I will just have to die of a stroke between now and Monday because I am never taking this medication again. Why don't medical practitioners listen?

I have been on Lisinopril for 2 months. About 2 weeks ago I started noticing small cough and I am dizzy off and on. I am a borderline diabetic which means I am not on medication for it. Let me tell you, Lisinopril suck! I feel like crap. I am always dizzy, I have to have things that have high sugar because my sugar level is always, always dropping. I feel really bad and it is getting worst. As of tonight, I will stop taking Lisinopril. I am due to see my doctor on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 and we will have a long talk. He is testing my blood. There is no way I will continue on this medication feeling the way that I do. I should have done research on the drugs like many of you did. My doctor assured me that Lisinopril was a good drug and it will help me with my kidneys since I am a diabetic. I believe drug has cause me more problems than what I had prior to taking it. I pray that my dizziness will stop and he will have to put me on something different. I am not over weight and I try to watch what I eat but, I will change my diet drastically and do whatever it takes to stay off HP drugs. This is really bad. I will come back with an update of what my doctor and I discuss. I thank all of you for sharing your story. I never knew that a drug could make a person feel like this.

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 doctor prescribed Lisinopril for my high BP but before I took any I read all the stories on here and was too afraid to take it.Finally I had to do something to lower my BP because I needed surgery and the surgeon would not do the operation if my BP was high.Long story short, I started the Lisinopril, have been on it now for 2 months and I'm glad I did. It not only lowered my BP to normal in one day but I did not experience all the nasty side effects mentioned on this site.The only side effects I have experienced so far are the coughing but that was mild and it has since gone away and only happened a few times and just a little dizziness occasionally upon standing from a sitting position, I sleep very well, no hair loss, not cranky,appetite is good. I'm really happy with this medication.

I am so thankful for this site. I thought maybe it was just me. For one, I am allergic to Sulfa. My doctor knows this, as does my pharmacy. Still, they give me Lisinopril with Hydrochlorothiazide which you should NOT take if you have a sulfa allergy. From day one, I started with anxiety, agitation, nausea and what felt like a racing heart - though my pulse was normal. Day three I called the doctor and they said this was normal as my body "adjusted" to the medication. It has been over two weeks and the same thing keeps happening. I tried taking the meds at night to hopefully sleep through the side effects but no - it just kept me awake. I put another call in today and have yet to receive a return call from my doctor. I hope the doctor calls me and NOT the front desk girl because I have a lot of questions and concerns. Other symptoms I have been experiencing since I started Lisinopril are sever muscle cramping last for over 24 hours, dizziness, heavy chest/racing heart beat, restlessness and less frequent urination. For a 37 yo female who has to "potty" constantly, even throughout the night, going once in an 8+ hour period is not normal! The worst side effect though is definitely the anger and agitation. I feel like I am going to burst out of my skin or die banging my head against the wall. Last night I tossed and turned for 2 hours in agitation. I thought I would surely have a heart attack from the stress. Oh yeah my BP has NOT dropped at all (tho it fluctuates on or off the meds) on the 20 mg dose. Go figure.

My first side-effect was dizziness when I would get up from squatting for a short period time...darn near fell down.

I'm glad I've read the above because I've thought that the aches in my hands were from my not taking my anti-inflammatory regularly enough.

Great thing about sharing experiences, we all profit in some way.

I'll check back to see what other symptoms others are having. Thanks to all who contribute.

In July I was prescribed Lisinopril / HCTZ 20 /12.5. Within one week I started to have side effects. These included
-pain in chest - worsened with high humidity
- trouble breathing - shortness of breath - worsened with high humidity
- slight continuous elevated temperature about 99.6 degrees
- near real fainting spells when outside in heat- granted it was hot, but I've never had these before
- loss sex drive
- urinate often
- don't sleep well
My BP did go down though about 10 to 20 points.
still that was the worst summer I've ever had.
After reading others' side effects, I stopped cold turkey and feel much better.
Did you know Lisinopril is extract of Brazilian viper venom? - no wonder I couldn't breath!
My new doctor has me on new drug: Amlodipine Besylate 2.5 mg. which I hope will do the trick.
Bottom line:if you have bad side effects stop and try another drug - there are prenty out there for BP control.

hello, am a 47 years old female and the doctor had put me on lisinopril to keep my arterial clear because i got high chole, and i got high blood pressure and this was in march of this year and so i started having problem with a dry cough that was not letting me to breath and so in July i when to a different doctor and she had told me to stop taking it and now i got more problems. right after i stop take it my left side want numb, tinging in my face,arm and leg
and i had sharp pain in the center of my chest that go t my neck,jaw,back and
i been having the following; dizziness,weakness,nausea,trouble breathing and it go on. the doctor is still doing tests and still coming up with nothing and i feel that the damage is inside my heart and that lisinopril was the cause of the problem because before that i felt just wonderful and now i feel like am going to die. if anyone read this do not let any doctor put you on the damage drug ''lisinopril'' and god bless use all who are trying to feel better from it

I am a 72 yrs old female. Put on Lisinopril-HCTZ 10-12.5mg 2 yrs. ago. Took Cozaar until drug provider (AARP) wouldn't pay for and told my doc to use Lisinopril. For a while I was ok...then the trouble started. Nausea, dizziness, headaches and swelling of legs and feet. All slow to happen. Then shortness of breath, cough and itching. Leg cramps got me up pacing and in agony several time nightly. Had a creepy feeling in the back of my neck, joint aches, tiredness, stomach PAIN, hot tingles in feet and toes late in the day. Slight weight gain, a runny nose and sneezing in the AM.. Hot one minute, cold the next. At some point I realized I had a feeling of ill-health, a def. loss of my usual feeling of well-being. I was edge, nervous and finally got depressed enough to call a psychologist. That's when I found this web site. Therapist told me to tell my doc and maybe get another BP med. instead of L. Ten days ago I stopped taking it and went back on the Cozaar...I will pay for it myself. I just want to feel good again. The mental anguish this drug has produced shouldn't happen to anyone. Also, I shouldn't have to find a web site that tells me I'm taking poison either. Last night I slept straight thru the night w/o awaking. First time in God knows when. Still some nausea but I can tell the effects of Lisinopril and lessening. Take hope all u people who have posted here...I think it will get better for you now that u don't take that snake juice anymore. I think it's good that we all stopped it before we started slithering through the grass of our front lawns. This too shall pass. Thanks for posting here for me so that I could finally feel good again. I owe you a huge debt for my sanity.

I am 25 and in shape (115 lbs) and have high bp adn kidney damage. I take toprol-xl and norvasc. I also just switched from Cozaar to Lisinopril 2 or 3 weeks ago because my insurance does not cover Cozaar anymore. Ever since I switched I've had lower than normal blood pressure, dizziness, feeling faint and then 10 days ago I started having diarrhea everyday. I thought it was a stomach virus but it doesn't seem to go away. At first I was up every 2 hours at night, then last night it was every hour for 9 hours. Does lisinopril cause diarrhea like this?

I have been on Lisinopril for 10 months and I have experienced horrible side effects. I am 48, pre-menopausal and I believed the side effects we due to my aging. I thought I was dying on this medication. I started having stomach problems, diarrhea, bloating, swelling in my throat, dizziness, cramps in my feet, constipation, weight gain, hair loss, shallow breathing, increase in my glucose levels making me pre-diabetic. Most importantly, I believe the drug contributed to the heart palpitations I experienced one month after starting the drug. I rushed to the hospital and had to wear a holter monitor for a day to monitor the irregular heart beats I was experiencing. My blood pressure was never stabilized until I started a new drug. I am now off this Lisinopril and taking a wonderful drug called Tekturna. Tekturna dropped my blood pressure down to 122/72 from 150/80. Talk to your doctor if you have experienced these side effects and demand a change.

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.