Lisinopril and high blood pressure

I have only been taking Lisinopril 10mg for 3 days now and have been experiencing stomach cramps (continual) and muscle cramps in my legs and feet. I was placed on this drug after discovering my high blood pressure in the ER. I went in for kidney stones and came out with other concerns. I also feel as if I get winded easily and feel weak. After reading all the other blogs on this site I think I'm going to discontinue this med and see if things improve. There's got to be a better way! I'm only 41 years young!

That's it!! I have had it. A couple of years ago, Dr prescribed Lisinopril HCTZ for my high blood pressure. 6 months later, 'Hey your cholesterol is really high.' So she prescribed Crestor. Then 6 months later, 'Oh Crestor can cause liver damage, we'll need to check your liver.' I know doctors mean well, but they seem to all be trained to simply prescribe a pill. The average senior citizen takes 12. Daily! I have had it. I refuse to take the lisinopril any more. Last night: zero sleep due to the cough. Hacking and coughing, trying to 'hock-up' the crap draining down my throat. The wheezing at the top of my bronchial tubes. Unable to inhale enough air to cough. Peeing in my pants. Disturbing everyone else in the house. This is just bullsh--. Hey, how about another tip: Did you know the HCTZ can cause artificial inflation in your cholesterol numbers?? Guess what: after switching 5 months ago to the lisinopril plain, not with the HCTZ... you got it cholesterol went down. Down by 80 points, too! I made no other change during that time, not in my diet, exercise or anything else. So effective today: (1) No lisinopril (I'll check my BP daily), (2) increase my Kelp and selenium for my thyroid, (3) stick on my insulin-resistant diet, (4) reduce my caffeine intake. I'll keep this site posted on my progress.

I have been off the drug 4 days now. My BP is running around 175/85. This is to high. My doctor is supposed to call me tomorrow and let me know what to do. I refuse to take the lisinopril ever again.

Hello everyone! I am a 28 yr old male, and I have now been taking this drug for about 1 1/2 yrs. What is so overwhelming to me is that I have been having some of these side effects, but it never occurred to me that they may have been caused by this medication. My side effects are not major, but they do really affect my self esteem and I think have some what depressed me a bit.

None of us have direct physical evidence that this medication is the cause, but I don't think this is a big coincidence. Below are what I believe may be side effects of this medicine:

Unlike before I now feel:

-Anxiety (im always nerves, and was blaming debt for it)
-Decrease in sexual drive (also blaming my financial problems)
-Joints popping all the time (blaming my gaut)
-Bigger forehead because of minor loss of hair (blaming age)
-Problem falling asleep (blaming financial problems)

and again im always scared, even if everything is ok (ive been holding together because on the other hand, since i was born, I have always been a very strong minded person). This is really depressing because two years ago, nothing would be scare me, I mean nothing, I was afraid of nothing. No matter what time it was, or what situation I found myself in, my buddy down south would be ready for action, now when im going to have sex, im all worried hoping that it works!, (dont get me wrong, it works like 90% of the time) but before it would work 200% of the time, i mean i was turned on by a damn broom, and now its not the same. This really *ux!

I have been blaming everything on my financial ruin that I am currently in, but am having second thoughts on what is causing all of this. This site has really opened my eyes and given me a whole new theory and even hope.

I once asked my doctor that if I went home and got on a diet, exercised and did all that was necessary, would he consider taking me off the pill or lowering my dosage and he immediately said NO. I mean he almost didn't even let me finish asking. He told me that If i wanted to go in a pine box to stop taking it. So he scared the crap out of so I have not stopped taking it. I can afford to go to different doctors because i don't have insurance or money to pay for the visit. I wonder if this doctors has advised me based on his financial convenience. I mean is it possible that a doctor may lie? I never thought doctors would lie. Im afraid of just getting off the pill, im afraid that all the doctors are going to tell me not to get off of it. my bp is usually about 130/85 some times up to 140/90.

I would appreciate peoples thoughts on what I should do?

Thanks everyone that takes part in this blog! it is really helpful for people like me that have no money to get advice.

Hope everyone makes the right decision!

Regards!

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.

My whole life 120/70. Two months ago 160/103 wtf. I am on my second month of lisinopril. I am pretty sure it has caused me to be absent minded and grouchy. I was never these before. Worse yet for me is that I am a life long runner. I live to exercise so that I can enjoy the more fun things in life. beer wine and good food. ( I am 47 years old) I ran my first marathon 26.2 miles in January. I now have trouble running three miles with out getting fatigued, dizzy and winded. This sucks!!! any advice would be appreciated.

I have been on Lisinopril 20 mg for the past 9 years. I can't believe I have taken it for such a long time. I noticed some strange chest sensations 2 years after taking it but pushed through it. Then I developed breast cancer and went through the chemo and radiation while continuing to take it. In the last 2 years and more recently in the last 3 months, I felt so many skipped beats that I had to check it out and I also have had significant hair thinning. I had a holter monitor, resting EKG, lots of bloodwork and was told that everything was normal. Normal???? Then why was I feeling so rotten and scared every time my chest decided to heave or get funny sensations in my throat. Doctors do not want to hear these types of complaints especially when you think it is related to a medication that they ordered.
So I decided to try an alternative approach. I have been taking fish oil, coenzyme 10, cholesterol nutritional supplement, Vit C, Vit E. I started these about a month ago while still taking Lisinopril. I finally stopped the Lisinopril yesterday so I'll see if I have any improvement of my symptoms.I also went to a website that showed 1% of people can have skipped heartbeats while on Lisinopril Here is the URL
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Hope this helps many of you who have similar episodes. MHS

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.

If none of the other postings tell you to get off of this drug, I certainly hope this one will. I began taking 5 mgs. of Lisinopril after visiting my Physician due to back pain. I have been a runner my whole life and went in because I had pulled my back out. I was very nervous; hence the high blood pressure….I was told by the nurse that I probably had white-coat-hypertension. Anyway, after being scared out of my mind, by this Doctor, I agreed to go on this drug, even though, at 50, I had never taken any other kind of drug in my life….HATE DRUGS! I began having heart palpitations after the first day on this drug, and one month after taking this poison, I began experiencing severe itching on my head, neck, and top of my back. I had just visited my salon and thought it was due to hair dye, which I had never had allergy to before. The itching increased and then I started getting severe cramping of my legs. I called my Dr. and was told to purchase organic shampoo/conditioner/soap, and that the leg cramps were probably Restless Leg Syndrome. He told me it was DEFINITELY NOT from the meds. He told me to let him know if the cramping got worse as there was something else that he could prescribe for it. This itching went on gradually for about 5 months. I purchased ever kind of organic shampoos, etc. with no relief, and the cramping of my legs became unbearable. Then, in April of this year, every thing starting to happen. I began itching all over my body and when I itched, it left big red welts wherever my nails hit. After about a week of this, I began breaking out in hives here and there. Went in to the Dr. and told him that I thought this medicine was doing this. This Dr. assured me again, that this would not be the cause of this and told me to take Benadryl and come back the next day so that he could see if I was any better. The Benadryl helped immensely and upon the next Dr. visit, he told me that I had come down with some sort of allergy and it was NOT due to the medicine. Went home and itched my body raw for the next week. Now the hives had turned into huge welts with water in them and my body began swelling with each new day! I stopped this poison on my own and was told to come back in to the Dr. immediately. I was put on Prednisone and told to take massive doses of Benadryl and this idiot Dr. still insisted that it was not from the Lisinopril….my ankles, arms, etc. now were almost double in size and the itching was unbearable. The seven day pack of Prednisone didn’t do a thing. I will say, though that after three days off this poison, my leg cramping subsided and my heart palpations did as well. I decided to take this in my own hands and went to see another Doctor. The Doctor I had been seeing, I found out, owned the Center where he practiced, and I believe he kept having me come back just to make more money. By now, my entire body had huge sores and pits and scales on my skin….I felt like a leper. I went to a Holistic Dr. and told him my story and he could not stop apologizing for the agony that I had been doing through. He told me this was ridiculous. His nurse asked me if I had ever heard of Johnson Steven’s Syndrome, and told me that she thought I had it. I was immediately sent to a Dermatologist and given steroid shots….which did nothing. My skin was pealing off each and ever day in flakes and I itched so bad I wished I were dead. I underwent skin biopsy’s and blood tests which came back showing that I was overwhelming reacting to some sort of allergy. This Dermatologist, who was excellent and didn’t even charge me due to his concern for what I had been through, sent me to an allergist. My small stature body had now increased 25 lbs due to water retention and sores covering my whole body. I can not put into words the agony I was in. Upon the visit to the Allergist, he recognized immediately what I had. He said he saw this type of thing, (not this bad, however), often due to the Lisinopril. Why didn’t that other QUACK Doctor stop this from the beginning…I believe it all comes down to money! Anyway, after almost 6 months of the hives, sores, etc., I am finally seeing a bit of improvement. My legs and back and back of my arms are permanently scarred…they are poke-a-dotted due to the huge hives and massive sores, and I still itch all night long if I don’t take my Benadryl. Who knows what the Benadryl will have done to me in the long run. Please, please look into this medicine and all other medicines that you take. There are holistic, natural methods of getting your ailments under control. Through my experience, I have encountered the most money-hungry, unprofessional Doctor in the world, but I have also experienced the most considerate well-intentioned Doctors. Please do your homework, and find a Doctor that has your best interest in his sight. Through this ordeal the only thing that sustained me was prayer. I have always been somewhat superficial about my looks, weight, etc. and this truly was an eye-opener. It’s amazing what these medicines can do to you, and don’t you wonder if the Pharmaceutical Companies don’t know all of this and could care less due to their hunger for money?!!!! It’s gotten to be a sad world. God Bless!!

Hi, folks, I posted back on September 22nd here, and have also responded to a few of your postings. I fear a lot of people visit once but never return here. That's a shame. An ongoing conversation might help us all.

Anyhow, I pretty thoroughly hate all the anti-hypertension drugs since every one that I've been given has caused me suffering and, in many cases, damage either temporary or permanent. I'm now on Cozaar, very expensive but I'm hoping it will prove tolerable.

One thing I would recommend is for all of you to look up a book by a research scientist, Richard Moore, Ph.D., M.D. It's called "The High Blood Pressure Solution." You can find it new or used at Amazon or perhaps even at your local bookstore or library. Dr. Moore taught at the University of Indiana, and was adjunct at the University of Vermont and also New York Stony Brook. A top level researcher. One of the great things about his book is that he explains, at the cellular level, what is the cause of most cases of hypertension. Not all, but most. The chapter on the science is high school level science, but you can skip it if you wish and still get the important stuff. After reading his book, for the first time I really understood the roles of sodium and potassium in blood pressure. It's not helped my BP very much, but at least I know what's going on. For those of you who've just recently developed high BP, it could possibly help you a LOT.

Bless you all, folks, and good luck. We all need it!

So. I have read a lot here about side effects. What have you guys switched to (i.e. what BPM are you taking now)?

Who has switched to something else and been pleased with the results?

Need specifics please on an alternative.

started taking lisinopri 5 weeks ago. feel headache, neck pain, bed leg cramps that wake me up from sleep. the worst is the anxiety, can't concentrate at work, shaking as if i am cold, can't sleep because anxiety, heart palpitations. I stop taking this 10mg yesterday because this is no life.

I greatly appreciate the comments posted on this site; I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and because I had not seen a doctor in > 3 yrs was prescribed Lisinopril to protect my kidneys. I had a concern about taking HBM because my average is 118/78 – 120/80. My prescribed dose of Lisinopril is 10MG but I cut the pills in half because I was extremely leery of possible side effects, doing so my BP is around 117/74. I will keep watch over every change that takes place in my body; and protest if things appear seriously out of sorts; thanks again for your comments, they are invaluable.

I'm a 55 year old male. I started taking Lisinopril about two years ago at the 5mg level. In April , my doctor increased it to 20mg. I had a sensitivity to sunlight at the 5mg dose. After about two weeks on the new dosage I was having speech issues. I knew what I wanted to say, but the words wouldn't come out.I had to form the words in my mind to speak.At the time I thought I had a small stroke. I went to my cardiologist as the first step. He sent me to several specialists. I've had 2 cat scans, an MRI,EKG. sonic grams.and other tests. They found no cause for the speech problem. Recently I connected the dose increase to the speech problem. I'm waiting to see my doctor to discuss the issue. Has anyone had similar problems with Lisinopril?

I was taking 20 MG of Lisinopril for approximately 1 month, getting a bp reading of about 155/95, so my doctor increased the dosage to 40 MG. About 2 weeks after that, my BP is up a lot, to about 190-200/95-110. Anyone have a similar reaction?

Oct-14-09 I found your site on Oct-1-09, read several stories with very similiar symptoms of my husbands, and at that time, wrote one of my own. Today several weeks later, I must tell you what has happened. I printed several of your stories and shared them with my husband's Dr. After his Dr. read a few, he in fact agreed that my husband might be having these reactions from the Lisinopril. He instructed my husband to stop taking the medication. It has been a little more than a week since my husband has stopped taking Lisinopril, and I am happy to report that his symptoms have decreased significantly. I had read the warnings about this drug before my husband started taking it more than a year ago, but it never occurred to me that this drug was his problem. In the past year he has seen a neurologist, stomach specialist and a endocrine specialist. Not one Dr. had even questioned the use of ths medication!! Had I not stumbled onto this site and read your stories, I know that my husband would still be taking this drug, We would still be searching for ANSWERS to the cause of his continued symptoms. It scares and saddens me to think of the many people who are taking this drug, who are suffering and don't know that the drug is causing all of their pain. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, God Bless!! A.

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.

Extreme Fatigue, Anxiety, Muscle and Joint Pain, Extreme Hair Loss, Chest Pain, Heart Palpitations, Vision Problems, Vibrating sensation on my insides, Tingling and burning in all extremities.

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 never really thought I was having a problem with Lisinopril which I have been taking regularly for 6 months. I am a 54 yr old female and going through menopause. I thought the memory problems and tiredness was due to this, never associated it with the drug. I really do not have a cough, just a kinda post nasal drip that causes me to clear my throat often and I am stuffy a lot. Now after reading these post, I wonder! I will stop for a while and see what happens. I do not think I have a blood pressure problem yet but the doc said since my mom did and mine fluctuates (most times in his office) and menopause, I should take it. Will keep posting

I am a 44 year old male, been on Lisinopril for almost 2 years. My insurance stopped paying for whatever I was on prior, and gave me this. I was told only side effect may be a dry cough. OK, never got the dry cough. Great I thought ! Last year, I developed a bilateral rash on both arms, and both sides of my waist. I dealt with it.. went away for a while, and now back with a vengeance... arms, elbows, buttocks, both sides, and chins... the scratching is unbearable.... Im guessing based on what Im reading on this site it could be the lisinopril ? Please comment back if you've had similar.....

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

WOW! My Mom is 65 and having a lot of these same issues, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, itching, tired ALL the time, depression and she is really "foggy". Her feet are so swollen she cant walk! Her Dr acts like she is just seeking attention and just orders more blood work! After reading all of your comments I am sure its the Lisinopril! Her doctor told her she should NOT stop taking the meds because she could have a stroke! I am angry he is using this scare tactic. I live 2000 miles away but I ready to make a road trip to get this madness to end! She really needs to find a new Dr and stop using this dangerous drug!
Thank you all for posting these issues!

I took Lisinopril for approximately 7 months. My main symptoms were that I could not think clearly (it has been very difficult to perform my job) and I was tired all of the time. When I finally decided to stop taking it, the fog lifted from my eyes and I had more energy. I like to have a drink once in a while and I had noticed that one of the side effects of Lisinopril was that I no longer had any tolerance for alcohol (I know I'm not supposed to drink). Drinking one beer gave me the same sensation as if I had four beers. One Friday (I was going on vacation) I decided to skip my dose so that I could go out and drink and have fun like I'm used to doing. The next morning the clarity of my thinking and my level of energy was dramatically increased. This is how I found out by accident (you could say irresponsibility) that Lisinopril was dragging me down. I have not touched Lisinopril since and I am working with my doctor on finding an alternative.

Hello. I haven't posted anything in a couple of months, but as usual, I'm always searching for more information on natural supplementation that may help your blood pressure. If you're interested, please e-mail me and I will send you the information links. Take care :-)

My mother took lisinopril and she developed the persistent cough many experience. It was so severe that she went to the ER. While she was there, they told her she had fluid retention in both lungs and didn't link this drug to the fluid retention. Instead, they told her to get a biopsy for the possibility of lung cancer. More money in their pockets for tests and biopsies? Definitely!
I definitely see the link between the drug and the cough and the fluids in her lungs. Now,she's not on that medication but she is still dealing with side effects and I feel that all these medications they tell her to take are just making her worse. Has anyone just stopped all the conventional medications of high blood pressure and perused alternative treatments with success? I'm hopeful to find out what options i have that can cure her situation instead of leaving her at the same hopeless stage of dealing with terrible side effects.

im a 26 year old male that is not overweight, but high blood pressure runs in my family. I was put on Lisinopril 12,5 about 3 weeks ago. I have been seeing spots randomly. They usually follow the same pattern. Has anyone experienced this? Its kind of freakin me out.

i have been taking lisinopril now for 2 years, i have blurred vision, im very bloated all the time ,i have put on weight,but my worse side effect is i suffer with bad stomach pain which causes me to be sick about 3 times a night its getting worse now the only thing is its just lots of acid coming from my body.when i told the doctor she thought it might be my diabetes tablets but after reading these side effects i think it could be the lisinopril tablets.

I was taking lisinopril and having optical migraines, pain behind my left eye, continued high blood pressure and had lost half the vision in my right eye. Went into the hospital bp was 240/138 having tia. After 10 years of fighting the BP problems and going from med to med, I finally figured out my problem was really with Aspartame, the artificial sweetener. Aspartame and MSG are both excitations that do terrible things to your brain. After cutting out diet soda and all other sources of the aspartame, and reading labels and staying away from MSG, and cutting out caffeine. I am off all of my meds and starting to feel normal again. It sure cuts down one the quick things you can eat, but better than being a slave to the BP meds forever. with all their side effects. Search the web for Aspartame side effects. You'll be surprised

Hi all.

I just discovered this website, and reading all these comments makes me want to comment also. I, too, am on Lisinopril and am suffering many of the side effects mentioned here.

I'm a 54-year old male, and have had high blood pressure since around 1998-99. Nothing really controls it, although I've had episodic success from time to time. I lost a lot of my hearing last year due to a BP-related disorder called "hydrops" (my right ear particularly), and my eyesight has declined from 20/20 to "mediocre" in record time (although it's been largely stable now for 5 years).

Really, everything bad started when the medications began in 2002. For example, I now have Type II diabetes, almost certainly as a result of the diuretic I was prescribed from 2002-2007. I could also tell horror stories about clonidine, Toprol, Accupril, and others.

Latest event: I ended up in the hospital ER last Wednesday for what seemed like a minor stroke. I am now suspecting the Lisinopril because the symptoms so mimic much of what folks describe here. I've never had the bad cough, but the joint aches are awful. As for the stroke (actually, a TIA -- Transient Ischemic Attack) -- we'll know for sure after the MRI tomorrow, but my regular doc and the neurologist suspect it was NOT a TIA. Then I see descriptions here of tingling, neuralgia, and other symptoms identical to what happened to me!

Sadly, I don't have any simple answers to share. I've tried to cut all sodium from my diet, and I know that's helped. I am now trying a device called the Zona Plus (******), some $300 but possibly worth it. I used it for 90 days in 2007, then gave up and went to a no-salt diet ... and my BP dropped like a stone. I thought diet would do it all, but I was wrong. I should have continued using the Zona. So now I've started a new trial of it. We'll see what 60-90 days on it PLUS a low-sodium diet can do.

There's another device called the Resperate which is also kind of spendy. Anyone tried it and had success?

I'll be seeing my doctor this week or early next, and asking him to get me off the Lisinopril. But what to replace it with? Any ideas will be welcome.

Like many of you in this forum, I'm experiencing the pins and needles feelings all over my body, especially on my arms and face. I have weird lapses in memory. I attributed the joint pain I've been feeling this past year to being a 45-year old runner. However, upon reading so many comments regarding joint pain, I can only ascertain this isn't just something caused by age and running. Is anyone of you men experiencing erectile problems? Since starting Lisinopril a year ago I've noticed performance difficulties. My doctor said that can be expected with high blood pressure and prescribed me Cialis. Good Lord is that drug awful! I'm going to flush my bottle of Lisinopril right now and call my doctor tomorrow and discuss a safer alternative to this medicine.

I forgot to mention the incessant tingling in my arms and hands and periodic numbness/tingling in my face.....but the muscle weakness and anxiety are thee worst side affects. I also just started having a cough out of no where. I am stopping this med, at 26 years old I should be able to bring down my HBP with diet, exercise, and weight loss.

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.

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

P.S. I just happened to visit the Alzheimers Association Sites Forum as I was interested in a connection between BP meds (particularly this crap) and guess what...you will not believe the those folks diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers who have taken Lisinopril for years before diagnosis...Hmmm...any connection here...bet there is...? This crap has been around since the early 80's...wonder how many people now in there 70's were taking Lisinopril in their 50's and are now suffering dementia. This is not coincidence folks. These BP meds that cross the blood brain barrier are doing more harm than good. Can't understand why if this drug can cause depression, it can't be doing other things to the brain. It is...I tell you it is....get off this crap before you're sitting in a Nursing Home and don't know your ass from a hole in the ground.

I'm a 65 year old type 2 diabetic with low-functioning thyroid. I was put on lisinopril over a year ago to prevent kidney problems. I have been on 10 mg tablets. Even before I was diagnosed with diabetes I had low blood pressure so that was not a problem.

My main side effects are hair loss, coughing, insomnia and leg cramps, joint pain. I think the lisinopril is pulling nutrients from my body. I told my family doctor about the side effects I had found but he seemed more concerned about the possibility of kidney problems than any of the side effects. I know my hair loss is not age related as both of my parents had full heads of hair when they died and my mother was also a type 2 diabetic.

My blood sugar is under control, tests usually 85-90 twice a day, last A1c was 5.5 which is quite good. I take Byetta and metformin twice a day, levothyroxine, enablex. I recently started taking magnesium as it was besides calcium plus D, a multivitamin all ordered by the doctor. I also take crestor. Feels like all I do is take pills!

My weight is 166 but I'm short, 4' 10", so still heavier than I should be for my height. I try to get exercise but have degenerative arthritis in lower spine. Funny that I developed bursitis in my right hip recently, I just thought the arthritis was spreading. Now I'm not so sure it might not be due to the lisinopril also. I stopped using it yesterday so we'll see how long it takes my body to recover from this drug.

Does anyone have any experience with how long it takes to stop coughing or for the hair to regrow after quitting lisinopril?

had gone through menopause 3 years ago. took Lisinopril hczt 20/25mg after being perscripe bed for high blood pressure 2 weeks ago. After taking it for only 1 or 2 days had bad side effects; extreme dizziness, lightheaded, tired no energy could hardly function felt tike I was buring up, nausea, extreme tender breast. Stopped meds after about 1 week and 3 days later got my period and it's been quite heavy for 3 days now. Will never take this med again, will try and go the natural route.

This is in response to someone who suggested that if you just take the pill as ordered, you will be ok. T0 put it simply , you are wrong. There are more than a few people affected by this drug. The problem is most people assume that because they have high blood pressure their health is already compromised and they put the weird symptoms and problems they have on their overall health.
I started taking Lisinopril 5 years ago and not once did my doctor connect my sudden problems to Lisinopril.
I was told I needed my right shoulder cuff repaired cause I was overweight and I believed it. I was told I had GERD cause the abdominal fat was pushing the acid into my throat. I believed it. I started having menstrual problems I was told I was getting old ( I am on ly 42 years old). I believed it.
I started having memory and concentration issues I was told I was too stressed at work. I believed it. Started having heart attack and stroke symptoms. I was told I had high blood pressure and I needed to lose weight. I believed it. My knees and joints started giving out.. again I was told I was overweight. Lose weight and I will get better. I believed it. Started having rib cage pain like shingles and I was told it might be my gall bladder. I had a HIDA scan and nothing was found.
One day last summer I felt like I was dying a slow death and I went to the hospital and was found out I was in heart failure, heart rate was irregular and kidney function was impaired.
I was admitted to the ICU for 3 days. While in the ICU I had my blackberry and I started googling all of my meds and I came across this site and I suddenly felt like a thousand pounds was lifted off my shoulders. That was the last Lisinopril pill i took and guess what? EVERY single one of the above problems have magically disappeared.

I work in a healthcare setting where people are admitted that are critically ill. Whenever I see a particular diagnosis I immediately scan their meds and what do I see? Lisinopril. People are having joints replaced, stomach surgeries, shoulder surgeries, irregular heart beats, unexplained heart attacks, people are being diagnosed with Alzheimer and dementia on this drug. People are getting brain lesions and the list goes on and on.
There are over 30 million people worldwide on this drug. If drugs were so good why are people getting sicker and sicker.
Please don't take this drug. Do what you have to do to get your blood pressure under control.

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 started taking Lisinopril two weeks ago for relief of high blood pressure. Male, 45, 260 lbs, family history of high blood pressure and stroke. After one week I began experiencing intermittent chest pain, tingling and numbness in my left hand, and sensations like shocks in my head.

I spent several sleepless nights feeling for chest pain, feeling my heart race, expecting my heart to explode and wondering if I should go to the ER.

I visited my doctor and expressed my concerns. She immediately performed an ECG and verified that my heart was functioning normally and that my blood pressure was down. She also indicated that it's not uncommon for vasoconstrictors like Lisinopril to allow stomach acids to rise in the esophagus. This can cause chest pain and affect nerves leading to the brain and to the arm. She prescribed Zantac 150 twice a day and asked me to call her at home 60 minutes after taking the first pill.

I filled the Zantac prescription (one of the $4 prescriptions you can now get most places) and took one immediately. Ten minutes the chest pain was gone. Twenty minutes later the shocks in my head were gone and my arm went from tingly and numb to just slightly achy. Thirty minutes later all of my symptoms were gone. After an hour I dutifully reported to my doc that she was a genius and on my Christmas gift list.

If you're taking Lisinopril and having chest pain obviously let your doctor know about it. Studies indicate that denial is a serious issue and a contributing cause in heart disease victims. Many of my symptoms were classic for unstable angina, which is scary. However, they are also common stomach acid symptoms for first-time users of a wide variety of high blood pressure medications. It's possible that a simple antacid could relieve your side-effects.

Now my goal is to lose 80 lbs so I can get off this medication completely. Working 90 hours a week (the highlights of which are travel, sitting at desks, and eating) isn't going to cut it any more.

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

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,

I am a 32 year old woman who has been taking 5mg of Lisinopril for almost 2 years. I have never had high blood pressure in my life but after the birth of my second child my blood pressure didn't seem to come down and with a family history of high blood pressure my doctor put me on 5mg.

I started experiencing pain in my fingers and hands about a year ago off and on. I work on a computer 40 hours a week and just put this off to typing/computer work. I have recently started experiencing pain in my ankle and foot.

I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor regarding my joint pain/Lisinopril. After reading many of your posts I have also experienced other side effects such as fluttering in chest and tingling in arms and legs. My question is do any of you have any suggestions of things I should mention to my doctor or additional things I should be aware of? I am going to ask to be taking off this medication as well. Does anyone have tips on coming off Lisinopril?

I just got prescribed this med and am now scared to death to even try it. I am taking it because I have High Protein in my Urine and will be getting kidney biopsy in week sor so after a few 24 hour union tests that never improved. Has anyone had anything good come from taking Lisinopril. I don't know what to do now. Help!

I was on Benicar for several years with no side effects whatsoever. I'm 42 with borderline high blood pressure and it worked great. I switched to Lisinopril in March/April due to the cost of Benicar and the fact I got laid off the first of the year and no longer have insurance. I discussed this with my Dr. and he recommended Lisinopril due to the cost. He did warn me the cough was a side effect but thought I would try it anyway.

At first everything was fine, but the past month has been a nightmare. Horrible cough, especially at night, the past few weeks I've got next to no sleep. I was sitting here at 1am last night unable to sleep and decided to do a search on Lisinopril side effects and found this forum. Needless to say, my eyes have been opened, as I have experienced a lot of these same side effects since starting the drug, but didn't really put it all together until reading these posts, and it's like looking into a mirror! The cough, the constant muscle pain like I exercised too much, occasion hip and leg pain I didn't have a few months ago, the "fuzzy brain" and listless feelings, I've experienced it all.

As of tonight I am stopping the drug, calling my Dr. and getting lined up for something else. As soon as I get some medical insurance back I'm back on Benicar, until then I'm getting off this stuff. I would rather watch my BP closely than keep coughing up my lungs like I'm currently doing. =)

This drug should be taken off the market. My Dr. warned me of a cough when he gave it to me but did not tell me that you would literally drown in secretions from the drainage in your throat. I have been on it 2 weeks and my quality of life has diminished considerably. During the day its as if a little man with a squirt bottle of acid is spraying my throat. At night the same thing but lying down produces uncontrollable drainage. I have to keep a spit cup by my bed and hardly get any sleep. Have tried allergy medications to no avail. I threw it in the garbage today. I would rather monitor my BP 30 times a day than live thru this.

My question is if you have been on this drug and your Dr. took you off, what did he use in its place? Would Beta Blockers be better? Who has experienced this and is now free of it? What is the alternative drug? I called my Dr.'s office today and they have Benicar waiting for me in the AM...anyone know about that one? I am desperate!

So I just read through a few of these and have to admit a similar story. I am 26 years old and have hereditary high blood pressure due to polycystic kidneys. My doctor put me on 20mg at first. I have always been an avid exerciser and after about 3 months on the drug I was in the pool swimming laps and my arms completely cramped up and started spamming, had no control whatsoever. My best friend's dad is a neurologist and his mouth about hit the floor when I told him how many mg of lisinopril my doctor had prescribed. He immediately cut my dosage in half. My symptoms have still progressed and I am officially stopping taking it because I have had heart flutters and palpitations that would scare any normal human being into thinking they're dying. I also have the shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness and tingling in all of my limbs, odd pains I have never had before in the most random places such as my forearms, calves, abdomen, and I feel like I have arthritis! NONE of this EVER bothered me before I started taking this medication and it has taken me months to actually come to the realization that these are not signs of aging or fatigue. I'm a healthy 26 year old female who exercises on average 5 days a week with low-fat high fiber diet. Point of my story: this drug claims to be the best on the market, but something tells me the doctor's push is coming from pharmaceutical endorsements!!!! Beware of the poison.

54 year old Male, Retired Marine, Very physically active, with Type II Diabetes; 5mg. Thanks for this Website. Started Lisinopril 3/25/09. Took it for 25 days, found this website and stopped taking it immediately. I had severe JOINT PAIN. It started in my hands, then feet, knees were next, then moved into my shoulders. The pain was the worst I've ever felt. Approximately 60 days after stopping the drug I went to see the Dr. after the Pharmacist told me Lisinopril should have been out of my system after 2 weeks. The Dr gave me Steroids (Prednisol) which completely eliminated ALL pain in 2 days . I was tested for Polymyalgia Rheumatica, however the my Sed Rate was normal. The blood tests did reveal that my RHEUMATIOD FACTOR is elevated (34.3 where the normal range is 0.0-20.1 IU/ML). Was told that if the pain returned, then I would be referred to a Rheumatologist. 3 Days after finishing the dosage pack of Prednisol, the pain/swelling in my hands and shoulder has returned. Going back to see the Dr today to discuss next steps.

Although the doctors don't agree, I believe Lisinopril caused this pain, and although out of my system now, triggered something that isn't going away.

The rest of this describes the roving pains I experienced.

Hand pain included swollen fingers, inability to make a fist or type on a keyboard. After light yard work on Sat., shooting burning pain up the inside of both arms. Trying to close your hands into a fist, you can feel the tendons up your arm burn with pain. Motrin did not alleviate the pain. Hot water did not help.

Pain in my knees each morning. The pain worsened over night and frequently causes you to wake up. The pain was like your knees were being squeezed in a vice. No position is comfortable. Motrin sometimes helped, but after awoken, getting back to sleep was impossible.

Feet swollen. Couldn't wear any shoes for extended periods. Loosening the laces helps, but still caused pressure which becomes unbearable and the shoes have to come off.

Shoulders; This is the strangest one. First pain was in the left shoulder, like I had impacted a brick wall at a full run (actually no trauma occurred). The pain felt like someone had stabbed it in my shoulder in the socket. At it's worst, no position is comfortable. Had to put my arm in a sling. 5 Days later, the same type pain moved to the right shoulder.

I am taking Lisinopril for high blood pressure for 5 days now. I have been experiencing depression, swollen right hand, tired, but sometimes not able to sleep..very low energy.I need to know if i should stop taking this medication or not but i can not contact my doctor until Monday. I also am taking other blood pressure medications but this one seems to have the side effects I am having.