Lisinopril and doctors

I to can say that Lisinopril has caused me to have the worst coughing ever. I work as a receptionist and sometimes I have to but the call on hold to be able to cough. This is terrible I spoke to my doctor and he just gave me a prescription for another medication. My sister in law told me as well that Lisinopril made her cough. I have not taken it for 3 days now trying to clear up before starting the new medication but I am still coughing from the it, hopefully it will stop soon as this is driving me crazy. I now find myself having this ugly white flem that at times when coughing spits out of my mouth. This is so terrible, doctors must tell you this when given you this prescription not after the fact. Good Luck to all.

I am 51 year old woman and have been on Lisinopril 5mg and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg for many years now, about 8 (not sure). I got the dry cough to start with and then it vanished, to be replaced with a productive cough. I get, at any time, but thankfully not all the time, a constant need t clear my throat and a wheezing in my breath. I am producing copious amounts of mucus and this is what sets it off. It most often happens after eating or after I have been sedentary for a long time so I get it a lot when in bed. I cough until it all clears away but sometimes I am sick, or I cough myself dizzy and come over all peculiar. It is not a listed side effect but I never had this before. My hair has suddenly thinned, hairdresser told me he has notice a big change in my hair (am menopausal but not through it yet, I suppose my age and meo could be cause of thinning hair). I suffer from terrible stiffness in my feet. Sometimes I can hardly walk as my legs and feet as so fatigued. I will limp upstairs one at a time. Other days I can s[rint up! No regular pattern but I have started using a walking stick often as one ankle is very weak and can give way. Could it be the Lisinopril? I had three day bout of my taste buds going haywire about four years ago but it righted itself. Now I have it again, only not quite so bad. I can taste tea and coffee and savory foodstuff mostly as normal but sweet things either are tasteless or bitter. I don't know if I should go doctors or not. Does anyone else get this constant hacking cough due to excess mucus suddenly being produced. Tenalady are making too much money out of me due to this, lol!

I just happened to do some research about lisinopril, and happened to stumble into this website. I am 43 years old, newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetics, i also have a history of hypertension and migraine which is under control. my physician just switch my medication from Norvasc to lisinopril, Im already on my 3rd week of taking it, 20mg a day, however, i noticed that i have more frequent headaches, more of a migraine headache that pulsate in one side of my head, i tried taking some over the counter medicine, but with no relief, i went back to see my doctor, and i was given some sumatriptan for the migraine, but at the back of my mind, i already suspected that the lisinopril might have triggered my migraine headaches, i have a relief when i take the sumatriptan, however the migraines keeps coming back. and its been seven days already, i was not able to work one day, because the migraine made me nauseated and vomit. i was doing well with my other medication, and never had migraine like this that last for 7 days up to now.after reading the comments. i have second thought of taking this medication.it seem like it might be the one that triggers my migraine headache. what do you think?

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 am a male 60 years old, with the male problem of enlarged prostate. Since this time last year (Sept.2008), I have been on Lisinopril, 5mg. first then 10mg. I have experienced many of the symptoms already described on the website - headaches, depression, getting up 3/4 times a night to empty my bladder. I feel my life is running away with me and have had several consultations with doctors at my surgery but still the symptoms are getting worse. I feel it is time to put a stop to the medication of Lisinopril, having read many of the reviews tonight and have seen the similarity of what others have gone through.

I AM A 71 YEAR OLD MALE I HAVE BEEN ON LISINOPRIL FOR ALMOST A YEAR, THREE WEEKS AGO MY DOCTOR INCREASED MY DOSE FROM 10MG TO 20MG THREE DAYS AGO I STARTED TO GET LEG TINGLING AND CRAMPS, THEN I BROKE OUT ON MY UPPER LEG WITH SOME BRIGHT RED SPOTS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HALF DOLLAR, THERE ARE SMALL BLACK SPOTS IN THEM AND THEY HURT LIKE RAW NERVE ENDS, IT IS VERY HARD TO WALK WITH THE PAIN OF MY PANT LEG RUBBING AND KILLING ME.
ALSO MY WIFE IS YOUNGER THAN ME , SEX DRIVE WENT OUT THE WINDOW, I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF MY AGE. BEEN THERE DONE THAT. I AM GOING TO TRY TO GET OFF OF THAT STUFF TOO.

Was prescribed HCTZ and started taking it off and on in early August. Pain in the butt cutting the pills in half. Started to feel weird feeling in my left ear and cheek and then numbness spreading up my face, forehead and scalp.(I did have a few beers the weekend before this happened) Took myself to ER. MRI, CT, full blood work, thyroid check, EKG, heart and lung xray. ALL PERFECTLY NORMAL. Of course I was diagnosed with possible MS, Belle's Palsy, and was told I might just be wired weird.

Went to primary the following day for follow up and was told that my blood pressure may have been the cause of the episode. Prescribed Lisinopril and started taking it immediately 10/12.5. Started feeling good pretty quick, but noticed a few crazy dreams and almost like I was falling.

Missed a few doses and and had a few beers over the labor day weekend. Started meds on Monday but started feeling pins and needles coming back in different parts of my body. Continued to take meds and then went camping. Had a few beers around the fire. Woke up next morning with slight case of Vertigo. Continued with meds through the weekend and have felt dizzy, dumb, tired, my eyes don't move correctly, my left arm has felt numb and swollen, my left cheek tingles and I feel so swollen in my gland area under my ears. Knee pain too.

I didn't take a dose today, and I feel 100% better. Still tingly and numb in spots, but better. A little anxious and my heart feels like it's beating really deep and fast. BP is 154/82 after going down quite a bit on the drug.

Anyone else had trouble with the alcohol? Any similar symptoms? This site has calmed me down as I've always been a worrier/hypocondriac type. any response or idea would be really appreciated. Thanks everyone...good luck!

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and went to an Endocrinologist and he put me on Lisinopril to protect my kidney function from any more damage from the Diabetes. He says it was minor damage that i had but taking the Lisinopril was an added precaution. I am 61 years old and have had no cough from this drug, but my ribcage and lung area, especially at night are in pain. I called him and he told me he doubts that the pain is from Lisinopril because it wasn't one of the usual side effects. I am to be off of it for a week to see.How is it that these doctors don't know that this is a side effect when there are people all over this website with the same complaints. I welcome any reply at ******

I am a 60 year old male. I have a bad heart, type 2 diabetes, damage to my heart from a heart attack in 2006. i have a pacer/defibrillator in me.
now after reading all these post i am wondering. i have been taking this medicine since 1996 when then i was told i had my 2nd heart attack and i did not know i even had my first. This medication was given to me for either an alfa or bata blocker, was on 5mg.. now i am on 2 1/2 that i take at night. i take a total of 19 pills a day and 5 shots of insulin, i have bad teeth and now the rest of them have to come out and i have to have bone mass ground down just to get some false teeth. wow i am in great shape huh..lol
well since the little history on me, this is what i am going thru now. i wake up with this deep cough and it gets to a point were i am gagging, after i get the what i call the hair ball out i feel a little better, then i have to keep blowing my nose to get the mucus out of my nasal cavity, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE THIS MORNING WITH THIS and i did die 4 times in 3 days in 2006 when i had this last heart attack. I see my caro Dr. on the 11th of this month, and i am gonna ask to go off this crap. my bp is normally anywhere from 90/55 to 114/65. and before i was taking this medicine and my attacks in 96, my bp was normally 124 over 70. now i can understand that this medicine is suppose to help protect my kidneys, but the way i am dry heaving and coughing one day they are gonna with everything else in this body cavity come out thru my mouth.
i am horrified off all the ppl and post i have read about this little blue pill i take and it is not for keeping wood either, that floated down the river. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE A POST ...YOU HAVE MADE ME QUESTION THIS MEDICATION AND I AM GOING TO DO MORE AND MORE RESEARCH ON ITS SIDE EFFECTS.

I sympathies with all the sufferers experiencing the severe side effects from Lisinopril. I have been using this Lisinopril for the last two days and it is getting my nerve system punchy every now and then. It is as if someone is pinching you on your arms.

Why is this drug being allowed to stay on the market and be prescribed by doctors? Where is the FDA regulatory role in ensuring the safety of this drug? Can any Doctor worth his/her salt give a direct answer to this question?

It's 4:42 a.m. Can't sleep. Keep coughing when start to doze off then. Shortness of breath. Was cold now hot.. Started searching internet for side effects found this site. I am taking 40mg of this started only 4 days ago. coughing up the clear stuff. started today. runny nose. have the same spitting episodes. I may go to ER. Trying to make it through the night to call dr. in the morning. I am unemployed...can't afford ER. have to visit clinic. Very hot. I wish I had known about these side effects would never have taken this medicine.

I am 33 yrs old. One night I was sleeping and about 12am, I woke up with my heart racing and I was having a squeezing feeling in my chest. I went to the ER and my blood pressure was extremely high. However, when they were running tests on me, they found that I hadn't had a heart attack and I was diabetic. The doctor gave me a stack of prescriptions to start taking. A few months later I went to see a different doctor, one that accepts my discount plan, and he took me off everything but metformin and 5 mg/day lisinopril. Since that night, the beginning of March, I am not the same person. I am keeping my diabetes under control, and my blood glucose is always in normal range. My last A1C test was 5.8. However, I am to the point of paranoia concerning the dead tingling feeling that I have in my feet. It is very on and off. There one minute then gone the next. It's not a feeling of numbness, because I can feel the slightest touch. Now from very little research I have already come to a conclusion that its the lisinopril. THE COUGH is enough to make me depressed and moody on its own, but now I'm thinking that my major mood swings are also coming from this drug. I cry all the time because I am worried that the diabetes is effecting my feet and that is what the doctors tell most people. My doctor said that I haven't been diabetic long enough to worry about neuropathy and that the sensation in my feet could be from a million things. Then almost every website I've looked at so far has hardly anything good to say about Lisinopril. I want to stop taking it, but don't have the money to afford an expensive medicine. what should I do? My blood pressure is usually around 102/68-70

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.

I have been using Lisinopril for just about a month and have not had any of these absurd side effects that everyone keeps talking about. This medication has lowered my blood pressure dramatically. The only side effect that I did experience for the first two weeks was nausea and diarrhea. Other than that I seem to be perfectly fine. As long as you take it how you are supposed to and don't miss a dosage, you are fine. We are not doctors and we can but shouldn't make the decision to stop a medication. It is life threatening and you should get a second opinion if you are not happy with your "experience" with the medication.

I cant Walk this crap disabled me! I have nerve damage to my left knee.Dont take this crap.Period It can Kill you.there are a bunch of greedy people making a ton of money on the sale of this crap.We seem to have no Rights??? I was i a lot of pain like someone shot my knee off pain.Plus my lower left leg too all the way from ankle to my Thigh joint.It really sucks too when doctor blows you off.I went and sen another one for second opinion he had never seen a Knee swollen 5 times the size of other right knee.Class action Lawsuit anyone.I,d sign on.I was forced to take this poison.by insurance company.I was on Benicar for last two years.that worked for me.But for costs I was told I had to change over or die was my choices.Well to save a couple bucks its going to cost a lot more getting my extra doctors bills.plus attorneys fees I hope.

So here is the caveat, I am not sure these symptoms really are related to Lisinopril or not, but they all started about three weeks after taking 10 mg a day. Waking at night with rib pain, hip and low back pain. At first this was only at night, for several months (the pain was very intense). The pain would move from rib, to right hip, to low back (mid), left hip seeming to make no sense. I have had every test under the sun, MRI, CTSCAN etc. Now rheumatologist believes I have a thing called Ankolosing Spondolytis which is an auto immune disease in which the body attacks the large joints of the body (I tested positive for the HNLAB27 marker). I will be having a special MRI to test for AS.

So maybe Lisinopril has played no part in this, but I think it is very coincidental that this all started when I started taking the Lisiniprol. I am wondering if Lisinopril could have been the trigger for AS (if it is AS). Until this started I was in excellent health, 40 year old mom of 4!!

I don't have any of the side-effects that are mentioned. The drug is designed to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. If you do not exercise or are over weight, your days are already numbered if you have had a heart attack. A persons has to exercise appropriately and get their heart back into shape or they will remain unhealthy. One person mentioned that their BP was 129/142. That is a very high BP. Yes it reduces you ability to do the same rigorous exercise. Reducing the drug (breaking it in half), taking it after your evening meal helped me. The pronounced effect is for about 8 hours after taking the drug. Taking it at about 5-7:00 PM or right before you go to bed works well, because it reduced your Heart rate and BP. Taking it in the morning after taking coffee is a mess-up. A number of drugs should not be taken when you want you most energy. The lingering effects are reduced. Certainly everyone is affected differently. I am 59, I have my heart attack at 56. The exercise, weight loss, and salt reduction are very important for anyone. Fluid retention increases blood pressure. If you are on Lisinopril and eat a lot of salty seasoned foods, your body will not react normally and you will feel terrible and have the combined effects of excess sodium on the systems in the body, especially nerve responses. I can not explain the coughing and gagging. I have GERD and keep it under control with Acidifex; however, after loosing about 10 pounds, (I weight 187 at 5'11'') I do not seem to need the drug.

Stop taking the drug and you may die, taking drugs off the market because a few people have problems is stupid. More people have died from tobacco and excess alcohol than all acidents, wars, murder, and the like, and we have done very little in comparison to deep pocket drug companies.
I understand how the drug works and how it doe3s not work. If you don't do what the doctors says....everything, especially dieting properly, exercising, and reducing stress,

If you do not think your doctor is listening...find another. In mho doctors are to ready and will to prescribe medications for issues. Ive been off Lisinopril for two days now and feel really weird. I went to the ER thinking I was having a stroke. Turns out it must be a Sinus\ear infection that was throwing my balance of...like being on a boat 24\7 and sea sick non stop. Anyway while in the hospital they said my BP was high and put me on 20 mg of Lisinopril. I am not sure how much of what I am feeling has been caused by this drug or the infection. All I know if that I feel "out of it" today. Can anyone else who has stopped using this drug tell me what they went through

I have been on lisinopril for a few months now, as of this past Monday I stopped taking it. I am 55 years old, blood pressure was not going down extremely fast just being on Hydrochlorothiazide, but not over the border line either. Doctor suggested Lisinopril to lower my blood pressure lower in addition to the other.

I immediately developed the cough. I have also since been to the doctor for what I thought were symptoms leading up to a heart attack or stroke. Nausea, rapid heart beat, lots of anxiety feelings, even when trying to sleep, light headed, a sudden feeling of just going to fall. They have completed an EKG and a treadmill stress test, nothing showed anything abnormal.

I am convinced it is the Lisinopril. Also, when I questioned my Doctor a while back that my blood pressure was now very low, like 107/71 on some days, he did not seem to concerned, he suggested I take one or the other every other day, so much for follow up on the patient. Did not even bother to check to see if it made a difference.

I agree with the other people, Doctors do not seem to take you serious when trying to describe your symptoms especially if you are a smoker. I know smoking is bad, but if I were not a smoker would I be treated a whole lot different. I just know that I want to see the difference being off of Lisinopril then I will approach my Doctor.

It feels like someone has taken a blow dryer to my windpipe. Feels like small grains of sand are in my airway and I start coughing suddenly and VIOLENTLY.. Yes, people in public look at you and start stepping back like they think you have something like TB and are contagious. Sleeping is out of the question. Laying down starts the barking cough. I am glad to hear someone else has the issue with excess saliva. I thought I was imaging this - it's as if I am drinking saliva and I vomit up clear mucous - to the point that I was considering going to the ER to ask them to check me for lung cancer or something. I cough so fast and hard that I have started vomiting and because it occurs so fast, I have had to throw up in the trashcan by my desk (attractive!) and the doctors I work for have come running into my office to see if I was "coughing a lung up". My chest is sore sore from all the coughing. My bronchial tubes burn like someone has been scrubbing them with brillo pads. This drug is nasty. Steer clear. Ask for something else till you get it right and then lose weight/get in shape so you can stop taking all this crap. Like the saying goes: "If I'd known I was gonna live this long - I'd taken better care of myself."

Alright, listen. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for those who have found this site. My story was posted on June 20th. I would have to say that I cannot trust any doctors for anything since then. This web site has saved me money from the idiot doctors and my insanity. Really. It is so scary that when you go to the doctor they will never investigate your meds you are taking and will send you through many tests and prescribe you medicine that you don't need. I went through 4 different doctors multiple times that prescribed many different things with no effect to my condition. I went off Lisinopril and went back on Diovan and it took 8 days before I noticed any improvement. During those 8 days I got more depressed because I didn't feel any better. Then my symptoms started going away. My anxiety and coughing started to decrease. By the second week i did not need the help of sleeping pills to knock me out due to the anxiety at night and the gagging and coughing decreased.Since then I am almost back to normal. I still though have some symptoms of coughing, but not that bad. If you found this site and taking Lisinopril, please take note that your doctor is probably wrong. You are not going to die. Get off the da#m med and start living again. It may take longer than me. Don't get discouraged.It may take more than a month or so. Stay strong. I am pissed off and would love to beat the s&it out of the ones that created Lisinopril. I know we are the small % that has the effects, but get it off the market. People are dead from this med and the others are going though Hell......I feel for the ones who have had family members that have died from allergic reactions. I had an undiagnosed throat swelling that took me to the ER. I know what it was now...Take care, stay strong, get off Lisinopril, enjoy the rest of your life...

I have been on lisinopril for over 3 years - 5 mg/day. I am a 52 year old female in great shape and exercise daily. For over a year now I have had muscle aches, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, foggy brain feeling, insomnia, fatigue, some tingling in extremities. I also sometimes get these spells where all these symptoms come on at once. It's very strange. Been to numerous doctors including, PCP, 2 neurologists and a rheumatologist and after many tests they all come up with nothing. After reading posts at this site I think it may be the Lisinopril and with my PCP's permission stopped taking it 11 days ago. My blood pressure is fine - I am monitoring it daily. My symptoms still remain. Does anyone know how long these symptoms may continue? I am grateful for any additional information you could provide.

Hello everyone. I too am experiencing the same problems described here from Lisinopril. On January 1st of this year, ( 2009 ) I was taken to the hospital emergency room and admitted into the hospital under the assumption that I was having congestive heart failure. After a barrage of tests it was determined that I have diabetes and I was already taking hydrochlorothiazide ( 50 mgs ) for water retention. I was prescribed Lisinopril ( 10 mgs ) and told to cut my hydrochlorothiazide in half. Everything was fine for about a month and then it started...
I had noticed on the bottle of Lisinopril that the one side effect in some patients was a dry cough but disregarded it since it didn't seem to be affecting me. After being on Lisinopril for a month, I began having this awful dusty feeling in my throat. It actually feels like someone has a bellows filled with dust which they've placed in my mouth and released a spray of dust which caused me to have this feeling of needing to cough almost to the point of choking. I don't have this cough all day long. It only happens intermittently throughout the day. Sometimes when I am standing or sitting but mostly when I am laying down in bed. I've also noticed that it seems to have somewhat of a consistent schedule. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I would take the pill every morning around the same time. However, I've stopped taking it about a week and a half ago and still seem to have somewhat of a pattern of when the coughs occur. Strange.
Another thing I noticed is that I've seemed to have an excessive amount of saliva which would also cause me to choke at times. Have any of you experienced excessive saliva with this medication?
I've been trying to lose weight without success and I'm wondering if Lisinopril has something to do with that as well. After reading all of these comments on this forum, I am wondering if doctors as well as The American Medical Association should take a closer look as to whether the side effects of this medication out weigh the benefits and/or what this medicine is supposed to be helping the patient with. So far I see no positive effects from this medication.

I am a 51 year old black male. I went to my doctor and she prescribed 50mg ic lisinopril for my HBP. I went to the pharmacy and got the drug. I decided to find out about the side effects before starting the drug. After reading all these scary stories, I have changed my mind from even starting this drug until I meet my doctor and show her what I have read. Is there anything else I can do to bring my blood pressure down other taking a drug? Because all these prescription or over the counter drugs have some side effects that would make you more sick than what doctors prescribe it for. Thanks for all the stories

I was on Lisinopril for 6 years, and feel as if I was robbed of those years of my life. I experienced depression, anxiety, racing heart, body heaviness, abnormal EKG's, chronic hives on hands and feet, extreme hives all over my body off and on, swelling of face, lips, eyes, hands and feet, extreme fatigue, and insomnia. I was sent to cardiologists, allergy specialists, psychiatrists, and then pain specialists when, after 2 years of Lisinopril, I developed extreme lower back pain. None of these doctors ever mentioned that any of these symptoms could be side effects of the Lisinopril. After 6 years, I one day ran out of the Lisinopril and did not have the money for a refill, and after only 3 days without the medication, all of the symptoms stopped, except for the low back pain. I felt like a totally new person, and was able to resume my life once again. Though I still suffer from extreme low back pain, I'd take that any day over all the other debilitating symptoms. I'm still not so sure that the Lisinopril did not induce the problems in my back, which continue even after 3 years off the Lisinopril. (As a side-note, my doctor put me back on the Lisinopril 3 months after I quit it, and within 3 days ALL the symptoms came back. Needless to say, I stopped it immediately.)

Ok...now I am really angry. I posted in early June. I am 7-8 weeks out from stopping the drug (only took for 2 weeks) and, while I feel better in the am, I continue to have "attacks" mostly at the end of the day after work or when going to sleep. I have minimal dry mouth/cough (keep drinking water/peeing constantly but ok because I am eating foods to dump water which is why doc wanted me on this poison to begin with). The feeling woozy and nausea has subsided. I continue to have racing heart (happens when about to fall asleep and causes anxiety/insomnia), sharp pains all over the chest and in left arm (constantly think I am having a heart attack/stroke), tingling/burning in hands/feet, and to top it off shooting warm burning pain (very annoying) up and down legs (this is new). My doc told me to get off all my supplements (because he knows nothing about them and thinks they are complicating the picture...now I think he is ignorant). I restarted my CoQ10 which is protective for the heart and the racing has stopped so far (been a few days). In my research, most of the symptoms fall under "peripheral neuropathy" which can be caused by toxicity from drugs. Natural treatments suggest making the body more alkaline and detoxing the organs by eating nutritious foods (organic when you can), exercise, drinking lots of water (with lemon and cucumber slices which make the body alkaline and purify the organs) and taking alpha lipoic acid. To treat the neuropathy make sure you are getting enough vitamin C, E, and B complex with B6, B12 and folate/folic acid (I take B100 caps). Please research these before taking anything and make sure its right for you. I used to say check with your doc but, in my experience, most don't know about natural treatments. I will post again in a week to let you guys know how its going. Best of luck to all.

I began taking Lisinopril back in early February. Within days, I developed a horrible cough, that was so severe, it induced vomiting - not food, just a clear sticky mucous. The vomiting happened 5-6 times per day following a stressful coughing bout. I saw my PCP, was diagnosed with a "bad cold", prescribed cough medicine and inhaler and sent on my merry way. The vomiting was happening while I was driving or sitting at my desk at work; it would come on so suddenly that I rarely had time to get to the bathroom. When this didn't clear up after several weeks, my PCP took me off the Lisinopril for about 10 days, but there didn't seem to be any change in the symptoms, so went back on the Lisinopril. I have had Abdominal, ENT, and Brain CT Scans to investigate the cause of this problem as I am a breast cancer survivor. Thankfully, the scans were clear. I have also had an Endoscopy, and have seen an allergist. I also developed a metallic taste in my mouth that was horrible. After doing research on the Internet and speaking with others who have also experienced similar symptoms, I contacted my PCP and took myself off the Lisinopril in mid-April. The coughing has been reduced, and the volume and frequency of the vomiting mucous has reduced as well. Here I am seven weeks off the medication and I am still have side effects. One of my doctors said that it could take several more months to see a complete improvement. Had I been aware of the potential for these side effects I would have never gone on this medication in the first place. I do know folks, however, that take Lisinopril without any side effects, so it works great for some. My BP is now creeping up again, and I am not sure what replacement drug will work best for me.

I am a 62 year old female and started taking Prinil, which contains Lisinopril, 3 months ago. On the second day the dry cough started and also my vocal cords felt paralyzed. After 12 days I was told to stop taking the medication. I still have a very hoarse voice and problems with my speech. Have been to two throat specialists and there is nothing wrong with my throat. Has anyone had such symptoms. If so please reply.

This my second posting for this drug I feel has caused me more harm than good. I posted earlier telling my age of 57 and have been on this crap for 8yrs plus.
I suppose it is a lot to do with me never having complaints to the my doctors involved ,
just assumed these doctors knew what they were doing . I am so sorry for not finding this site sooner. Folks , as I previously stated , joints, weight gain , etc
are just a few symptoms this stuff causes.
I've been off it for ten days, can't really express how much better I'm feeling.
All I can recommend ,if there is another alternative, take it. This stuff was awful for me.

Don't take this medicine!!!! I was on this stuff for only four days and by the third day I was like a zombie. Every muscle in my body was killing me I felt like I had run a marathon. I couldn't think straight I was lethargic. My mood was terrible. It all started on the third day. I stopped taking it today and already I am starting to feel like my old self again. I am only 25 y/o I cant believe the negative side effects could out weigh the benefits of taking this drug. I also can't believe doctors prescribe this stuff. My only assurance was the fact that as soon as I told my doctor about how I was feeling he told me to stop taking it and just take my water pill. I am going back tomorrow to get prescribed something else. Hopefully that goes well........

i am 30 yrs old and started taking lisinopril 20 mg along with 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide about 6 weeks ago and then lisinopril was raised to 40 mg and i dont know whats worse the high blood pressure or the side affects that im getting,tired all the time,that damn cough,shortness of breathe,diarrhea,and nausea and a racing pulse that when i was watching tv went up to 135 and my insides just started to shake.im starting to get a little scared with my high pulse .if anyone else has the high pulse due to lisinopril p;ease let me know,thank you

I have been on lisinopril since december 08 for hypertention. My symptoms didn't appear immediatly. But as time went by, I started to notice extreme fatigue and a dry hacking cough. I ignored it at first because I was diagnosed in april of 08 with myastenia gravis. I thought it was just complications with my illness. So I told my internist about my symptoms and of course at first he wanted to blame it on allergies and sinus. I have never been so bothered with allergies in all of my 39 years so I new it had to be the pill. I have recently been to my doctor with continued complaints so he has taken me off of the pill and wants to see me back in 2weeks.

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.

i am 43 years old and pretty healthy.A couple weeks ago I had a "spell" and went to the doc. they said high blood pressure 198/178. they put me on LISINOPRIL 20 mg. i have severe headaches and nausea and vomiting. has anyone experienced the nausea?? or Vomiting??

I have been on lisiniprol with hctz on 10mg dose since October 2008. My BP averaged around 144/95 before taking the med, now averages about 122/78. The problem i am having is this constant "tickle" in my throat which has been giving me coughing fits. When i breathe in deep i can feel a sensation to cough, sometimes my throat feels tight and sore, the first time i felt this was December 2008 and the doctor said it was a touch of post nasal drip and this was before i have read stuff on this board. Has anyone else experienced this kind of sensation in the throat? sometimes when i talk i even have to cough, i experimented once and did not take my dose and it seemed my throat felt better but then noticed my bp went right back up, i guess i better tell the doctor to get me off of this drug. She did tell me that the cough was part of the side effect. thanks and hope someone answers this.

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.

Hi, about seven years ago I complained to my doctor of noticing a little thinning at the top of my head. They referred me to a dermatologist who thought it was female hair pattern loss. It was minimal and he said that he rarely saw it get much worse in women. He suggested minoxidil. A year later, I relocated and the doctors at the health clinic noticed my blood pressure was slightly elevated. They put me on HCTZ. I am into healthy organic eating and was disturbed by the need to be on medication. They said HCTZ was a mild diuretic and never mentioned that hair loss is associated with it. After five years on HCTZ my hair loss is severe. I have lost half my hair and it is dry and brittle, no matter what styling products I use. I had long beautiful thick glossy natural hair, but the texture of my hair has totally changed. A few days ago, frustrated by the continual hair loss, I began searching for my own answers. In my first web search, I pulled up many connections to HCTZ and hair loss, including this site. As others have said, I am mad at myself for not taking my health care into my own hands sooner. I have stopped HCTZ and my blood pressure is being controlled by diet, exercise, and drinking plenty of water. What I would like to know-- is HCTZ hair loss reversible? Are there any reputable natural solutions to hair regrowth. (And minoxidil has been disappointing.) Thanks for your comments. They have helped immensely. GG.

GET AWAY FROM THIS DANGEROUS DRUG AS FAST AS YOU CAN . After 2 years of 40mg/day I could hardly walk due to severe joint pain. 3 different doctors all told me this drug was well tolerated and acted like I was stupid for complaining. All of them gave me the same speech and drew the same diagram on paper about why Lisinopril was the best drug out there. It amazed me that the drug companies had these guys so brainwashed.

When I told the doctor about some of these posts he said "Yeah, you can find any answer you want on the internet. People don't know what's going on" They wanted to give me more drugs to counteract the joint pain. They didn't know why my energy level was at an all-time low. It surely couldn't have been their wonder drug.

Needless to say, once I got away from this stuff I started feeling immediately better. I now take 5mg Norvasc and my blood pressure has dropped dramatically. I have lost weight, my joints are back to normal, I have energy. DON'T LET THE DOCTORS TALK YOU INTO LISINOPRIL .
IT'S YOUR LIFE.

One person here said:
>My MD attributes the issues to aging. I going for a second opinion and third if necessary. I am told by my MD that there are no studies showing these side affects for this medications.<
"Aging" is the oldest excuse in the book for not investigating a medical problem. That LAZINESS. Doctors can get lazy, like any other worker.
The reason there are "no studies showing these side effects" is that studies are rarely done once a drug is FDA approved. They wouldn't do the studies at all if the FDA didn't require it for approval. When they do the pre-approval studies, they are careful to select people who have few health problems; they are not studying a good cross-section of the general population. It's AFTER a drug is on the market that the REAL side effect profile shows up. Doctors don't like to blame drugs for symptoms because they are part of the system that pushes drugs on the public. They don't want to get caught up in a malpractice suit, but pushing drugs is their bread and butter. Sad, but true. Slowly, more of them are turning toward more natural approaches to disease management. However, YOU remain your own best advocate.
I am going back to taking natural supplements like Hawthorne leaves and flowers (stronger than berry.) I resisted the drugs for years, and after reading all this stuff, I remember why. My mother struggled for years with the side effects. I'd rather die slowly of hypertension!

I've been on Lisinopril 20mg for a week now. I have been having the hoarseness, leg cramps, tired (no energy), getting no sleep, and cough. But what worries me most is my blood pressure has dropped to what I think is TO LOW, (example: 87/60, 90/58, 96/66 89/68. I called my dr. 2 days ago and explained my concerns. They told me to cut my 20mg pill in half and we will decide what to do at my next appt. which is in a few days. Even after cutting the pill in half, my bp is still running 96/67, 98/66. Should I demand to be taken off the Lisinopril and be put on a different medication?

Oh my god! I am so glad I looked this up. I had been on 20 mg Lisinopril for 1 year and it was not lowering my blood pressure and I noticed I was more tired than usual and was coughing at night a little bit. I went into the doctor and he increased my dosage to 40 mg. I told him about my coughing and he said "Its probably not the Lisinopril." My blood pressure went down but my coughing has increased and my throat feels like it is closing up. I have to keep cough drops by my bed just to get through the night. I wake up every couple of hours and my nose is very stuffy. My glands are swollen and you could tell by looking at me. I have been experiencing more frequent headaches as well. Not sure if my weight gain it also a side effect but I have put on 10lbs since being on it. I decided to stop taking it yesterday and today my throat feels a little better and I can swallow easier. I am going in on Monday to get a different drug, hopefully one without all these side effects.

I am a 52 year young female with sudden onset of high blood pressure. Was seen by a Cardiologist and given the usual tests such as EKG, treadmill, and so on. My tests were fine and he put me on Lisinopril HCTZ 20-25mg. After taking this medication for one week my blood pressure was within normal limits however my pulse races at times and I must sit down until it passes. I have been experiencing pain in upper back when taking a deep breath and mild chest discomfort. Further tests are underway to determine if I am having lung problems such as pulmonary hypertension. Has anyone had similar symptoms? Thank you

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 31 year old male, in decent shape (play basketball, volleyball, workout at least 3 times a week) but I have a family history of high blood pressure and have had it myself as long as I've been tested. Went to cardiologist as a check up on my slightly enlarged heart, long story short, ended up on Metoprolol (25mg) beginning of 2008 and have been fine but no real help with bp. Then was put Lisinopril (5mg) a few months ago and my blood pressure was great at last checkup. However during that time I had a couple of weeks where I was very dizzy, that sort of feeling your brain is taking a second to keep up with your head as you get up, along with a fogginess and what seemed like sinus issues but I chalked it up to weaning off of a small dosage of Zoloft I had taken for over a year. I also developed "the cough" everyone refers to, but since it is winter in New England I chalked it up to dry heat, even though it was a choking cough unlike any I've ever had before. Also during that time I seemed to completely lose my sex drive, again figuring it was just something to do with the Zoloft or general anxiety. Then in the past week I started getting a constant headache, having really interrupted sleep, very foggy and out of it, tired, dehydrated, constipation, nausea, all things that I would normally associate with allergies or some kind of sinus/flu, but yet I couldn't really pinpoint anything that would be causing it.

Then I finally started looking up things about the meds I was taking and came upon this site, and guess what? Everything and every way I was feeling was described in hundreds and hundreds of posts on this site. I don't think my side affects were quite as strong as some have experienced (for instance the cough is very infrequent, like twice a day) but I have only begun my journey with Lisinopril. So despite the warnings, I decided to stop taking it a few nights ago, and almost instantly I began feeling better the next day and since then.

I have since called my cardiologist and he has recommended I switch to Diovan, basically saying that based just on the cough symptom alone, he wants me off of Lisinopril as this is a known side affect. Now I am left debating whether or not I want to continue down this path of trying different combinations of pills to poison my body in order to lower my bp. It seems like others have noted marked differences between taking Diovan and Lisinopril, where the Diovan has been much more tolerable than Lisinopril (with a great decrease in any side-affects) but I'm 31 and although I know it will be very difficult to reduce my bp on my own (believe me, I've tried) maybe I'm too young to start with the "last resort" of these toxins. Just reading about the possibility that Lisinopril was robbing my body of zinc or other minerals, so that my immune system is greatly weakened, likely being the cause for most of the symptoms, is enough to ward me off of pills altogether. It's a sad statement on the state of health care in America when I am left to basically make such an important decision on my own, because I can't trust that my doctors aren't just working in the interest of the drug companies to boost their income. I don't want to have to choose between a silent killer and a horrible existence filled with "side-affects".

In the end, based on some of the reports on here, I think starting on 40mg of Diovan will be fine, but I will certainly be VERY wary of anything unusual and immediately find other options.

I am a 35 year old woman and my doctor put me on lisinopril 10 mg at first I had the cough that I see almost everyone gets,but I could deal with that then I started getting very tired all the time,I had started working out and was feeling better since I had been diagnosed with hbp,I ws following the dash diet ,it is said to be real good for hbp.I started taking lisinopril in may and by November I was a complete mess, My doctor never told me of any side effects so I read the little paper that the drug store give you on the side effects but it does not do this justice!I was so weak and tired I could not get out of bed,On thanksgiving I went to the hospital and told them I have no energy I feel sick all the time and dizzy,of course they sent me home thinking I was insane because I was crying ,I felt depressed all the time I did not know what was going on .About two weeks later very close to Christmas I started having palpitations at first I just thought it was stress from the holiday then they came more often ,I was so scared I went to my doc. told her I was have palpitations and she blamed it on my weight! ok now I am overweight but I have lost almost forty pounds and was walking four days a week ,then I said to her do you think it could be the lisinopril ,then she said something I will never forget she said well who put you on lisinopril? I was done then I said well you put me on the drug ,her face went white she said oh yes you should stop taking it I will give you a different one ,so I went home and took it for week and the palpitations kept getting worse so I went back to her and told her I was still having palpitations so then she gave me an e.k.g. and found nothing of course.I told her I was going to stop taking the meds all together and she then said she wanted to see me in two weeks ,In the meantime my boyfriend made an appointment for me to see a heart doc. ,he took another e.k.g.(did I mention I have no insurance)and said there was nothing he could do that I need an echo and a holter moniter for 24 hours to tell him whats going on .I had been off work for a month now so I had no money left so I started crying but my boyfriend paid for the tests to be done which cost a pretty penny .I am still waiting for the results of those tests yet but the more I think about it the more I wonder if I was having lisinopril panic attacks?I have stopped taking all blood pressure meds and my bp is most of the time 120/80 sometimes it is lower sometimes it is higher but I would rather not deal with the side effects of the drug until I really need them!

Side effects seem to be different with two different brands of Lisinopril.

First maker is International Labs Inc. seems to give me the heavy chest along with more sluggish feeling. Which results in some Ed problems as well. Terrible gas.

Where as I have some Lisinopril from Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. which seems to be better.

I was told by someone that the makers may use different fillers to make the pills which I could be reacting too ?

Has anyone else found this to be true, Plus what brands does everyone else get ?

Either way I have been on this Lisinopril for 5 weeks now not liking it much but did get past the terrible couch scratchy throat feel by drinking some milk first to coat my throat, someone told me and it did work.

Waiting to see what troubles show up next with taking this long term. Not sure I can afford the blood work it will require when they soaked me 625 plus 222 dollars for two visits to get this 4 dollar pill.

Maybe they just prescribe this to lower our pressure for when the bills show up for us Unlucky Unemployed people without Health Insurance !!

49 year old male started 4 years ago at 20mg and 10mg HCTZ. some results in lowering BP. 2 years ago MD upped it to 40mg because BP inching up. quit smoking 3 years ago, not one puff since. After MD upped mg the side affects have really kicked in. I experience all the side effects listed on this site with the exception of the cough which I started with but went away after a couple months. I have had stress tests, Holter monitor for heart arrhythmias, mri, blood work, stool samples, colonoscopy, and all sorts of other tests all coming saying I'm ok, yet I don't feel ok, I get progressively worse. After 4 weeks of 5 day a week exercising with weights and aerobics to get in shape to return to racquetball I have had it. I couldn't last 45 minutes my second day out. I felt like I was hit by a truck and it took a couple days to recover.
My MD attributes the issues to aging. I going for a second opinion and third if necessary. I am told by my MD that there are no studies showing these side affects for this medications. However I look at this web site and find it hard to believe that these doctors just haven't seen any evidence of what we are all suffering from. Why don't doctors really listen to patients. We are asked to listen to our own bodies and told we know our bodies better than anyone, yet when we bring up these issues we are treated like children.
No real answers, just questions

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....

For just over two years I suffered with chronic sinus infections and I could not understand what the cause of it could be. My doctors (two sinus specialists and also GP) did not even know about this side effect of Lisinopril. I was on antibiotics five times last year. The sinus specialists told me I must go for sinus surgery. I tried to remember when my sinus problems started and tried to link it to something else. Then I realized that I started taking Lisinopril in September 2006. Shortly after this I had my first severe sinus infection and I almost had pneumonia from it. Shortly after I recovered (after taking a strong course of antibiotics) it was not three weeks then I had it again. I had sinus problems the whole of 2007 and 2008. I decided to do some research on the internet to see if the infections are related to Lisinopril. I was shocked to discover that so many people reported the same side effects. I requested my GP to change my BP medication to a different group (Non-ACE Inhibitor). I cannot believe the difference. No more sinus infections! Also, I had flu once so far and I managed to recover from it without the use of antibiotics. This is a real breakthrough for me. I am just glad that I found this forum.
JM, South Africa

I too have light headedness,dizziness,cough & ED problems. have been on Lisinopril 3 Months. Hated the stuff. Finally got my Doctor to change. Trying Diovan now.Why can't someone do something about this drug? Doctors just won't believe anyone! After 1 week I do feel a lot better,never really realized just how bad I actually felt on it.We'll see how the Diovan works,but am I early of this one too.