Lisinopril and kidneys

I am a type 1 diabetic and was put on the Lisinopril over a year and a half ago, maybe 2 years. I have my hair coming out when I shampoo and the red patchy skin on my lower legs which is dry making it embarrassing to wear shorts or capris. It makes me feel ashamed. I have laid off both the Lisinopril and HCTZ for a few days now. I got blurry vision, and I think it has made me gain weight. I get the swelling of the angles by this or both meds. Before taking these, I didn't have the swelling. I liked reading through the replys here on this medicine or both. I tried to identify some replies with myself and what I am experiencing. I want to get off this crap and take something else if at all "Alternative" at best. I did take atenylol (sp)? before. If anyone wants to contact me, they can e-mail me at ****** because, I would like to see what others are doing differently now to take care of the situation I am going through.

wow im just got put on lisinopril added to my metformin for my type 2 ,im 25 years old and got diagnosed with type 2 1.5 years ago since on metphormin i have had a few moments were i thought i was having a heart attack because of the tightening in my chest so i went to the ER and the put me on an machine and they said my heart was fine i just have chest pain and they left it at that and sent me home telling me i have chest pain i have this same pain almost everyday and its not bad just annoying cause it worries me and my wife no that the doctor just put me on lisinopril i thing im gonna stop she put me on it to keep my kidneys from going bad, but i did some research and it says nothing about that ,this lisinopril looks to be the next big med lawsuit

I am diabetic, and was put on Lisinopril to protect my kidneys. Keep in mind that I am of healthy body weigt, and walk 5 miles a day almost every single day. Since I started this drug (20mg once daily) my sugars have skyrocketed. I have never had a fasting much over 90, and now I am waking up in the 140's and 150's. I also have a dry hacking cough is about to put me over the edge. I am frustrated to say the least. I want to try natural medicine, but am scared. I have 2 small children, and want to be around for a long time.......

I have been off of this drug Lisinopril for about 2.5 months and am still havening side effects not as bad but elevated heart rate and dizziness, tired all the time not back to myself yet. DOES ANYBODY know how long this takes to get past and what can be done to help it out of the body am getting sick of this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Tom

My doctor (PA, actually) prescribed Lisinopril a few weeks ago because I'm diabetic and she said it would help protect my kidneys as well as lower my moderately-high blood pressure. Things went well for a couple of weeks, but the past few days have been unbearable. Not much of a cough, but I feel terribly weak, exhausted, and I can hardly think at all--am very confused, and can barely write this note (strange for a professional writer, eh?). I also have trouble walking, am quite dizzy and out of breath, and have severe muscle cramps; feels almost like my nervous system is shutting down. And truly, I feel like it could kill me. I was grateful to read all of your comments; makes me know that I'm not alone. I will have to discontinue this medication, as I simply cannot function while using it. (I'm a 62-year-old female, by the way.) Thanks again for your comments, and I wish you all luck and happiness.

I have been taking Lisinopril/HCTZ now for approximately one month. Since then I have had several side effects very similar to those I have read on this website. Thank goodness my husband decided to check this drug out because I have not been myself lately.

First of all, I have been experiencing sporadic leg pain with the sensation of getting cramps on my left calf that have kept me up at night. I have not been able to get a good night's sleep because of it. This started about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I didn't understand why my leg was bothering me so much until I finally went to the doctor and he told me it was a side effect from the Lisinopril/HCTZ drug I was taking. He told me that the drug was a diuretic that acts like a water pill. It makes the kidneys work harder to get rid of the excess water in our body. When that happens, we lose minerals that cause the leg cramping. He suggested that I buy over the counter vitamins that had a lot of calcium and magnesium in it, as well as increase my levels of potassium. So, any of you that are having this problem, it is a side effect of this pill.

Other side effects that I have experienced are: stomach bloating and gas. Yesterday, my stomach bloated up so much I looked like I was six months pregnant carrying triplets! I have never looked this way before and it really depressed me. I looked absolutely awful! Furthermore, I noticed I am beginning to gain weight and inches. Although I am overweight, I was not putting on any weight or inches at all. I have been maintaining my same weight or less for years. Yet, since I have been on the drug for about one month, I have noticed the weight gain and my clothes are fitting tighter all over.

Finally, I have been more irritable and feel run down. Probably from the lack of sleep from the leg pain at night; but also from the hot flashes I have been experiencing within the last week or so. Although I am 50 years old, I have not experienced any hot flashes until now. They are so bad, I feel like I'm burning up inside. I have to open up the window or turn on the fan at night although it is cold in the room. This is also a new symptom I have never had before.

After reading other people's side effects on this website, I am convinced that I am going to stop this drug cold turkey. I was fine before and why try and fix something that doesn't need fixing? Doctors tell me that it is a preventative measure to getting a stroke or heart attack. I believe many doctors scare us into believing that we can die someday if we don't take it and that is pretty scary. But check things out first.

Thank God my husband did some research on this drug and found this website. It convinced me that I wasn't alone and this drug is really bad for you. I plan to go back to normal and watch my weight, eat healthy, exercise, and monitor my blood pressure instead. Not to mention, my blood pressure is only borderline from being normal. So, why risk it?

Martha G.

I am not sure if the Lisinopril is my problem. I have been on it for 3 yrs now. I do not have HBP -never had it. I developed Type II diabetes and am on Metformin. In the last two months, I have developed dizziness and light headedness. Also, last two months, heart palpations - and the itching is driving me crazy. Skin has developed tender sites - like the skin feels like very thin paper. I think I am going to stop it - even reading what's on this page - it may be what's causing these strange things. I did not know it was from viper venom. I also have dry mouth, but no consistent cough. Every now and then.

Help! My 86-year-old mother takes Lisinopril. She takes it in the morning and is very sluggish until around 4 p.m., when suddenly she snaps out of it and goes back to being normal. She has constant diarrhea and feels miserable most of the time. When we were in the hospital this past weekend, she was very sluggish - almost to the point of thinking she's got some kind of mental problem - when they took her BP around noon: it was 90/60. As the afternoon wore on, it rose to 120/70, then - around 4, sure enough, it was up to 140/80. She's not diabetic, so doesn't have to worry about her kidneys. She had a heart attack 7 years ago, and has slightly elevated BP. After reading some of these posts, I'm thinking her problem might be the Lisinopril. When we see her doctor Monday, I'm going to ask about it. I'll be armed with the comments on this web site, plus Internet discussions of Lisinopril side effects. I hope I can convince her doctor to put her on something else. Anyway, does this sound familiar to any of you?

I just found this site. I have had all the mentioned side affects too, but I have so many health problems besides the Diabetes I am on the Lisinopril for, that I never know if the symptoms are from a med or a health problem I have. My BP was never very high but my dr put me on this "to protect my kidneys" and said I HAVE to take a BP med to do that, or my kidneys would stop functioning. MY PROBLEM now is, I cannot get my Diabetes under control. I have been thru 2 drs and the last one just told me to get lost when I refused to go on insulin injections. At this time I do not have another dr yet. My Psoriasis has flared up again and my skin on my face is so dry I have red/scaly patches on my nose and down all around my mouth. My skin is getting drier and drier. It seems like I am drying up. I have been drinking lots of water and putting salves/lotions on my face and it is not helping. My daughter called me last night and told me to check out my BP medicine as she read that some can cause high blood sugar. My blood sugar keeps jumping all over the place. It drops to 165 then may go up to 225 the next day. Has any one else had problems with this medicine and Diabetes?
I am 63 yrs old and am in poor physical condition because of Lymes Disease and other health problems. So I do not know which of these symptoms are from this medicine or from other health problems I have. I did find out that the Diabetic medicine Metformin depletes you of B12, so I am now on spray B12 500/equal to shots. NOW I read that this medicine will deplete you of Potassium. Please let me know if you have Diabetes and this medicine makes it worse.

I have been on this drug for a year. I have never felt worse in my life. I am a 54 year old woman who works out daily and am not overweight but I have HBP. My side effects did not start until 6 months after being on this drug, so I didn't think right away that it was this drug.
I would wake up with severe leg cramps at night that would not go away. I had severe pain in the lower back and on both sides where the kidneys are. I thought I had a terminal illness. I could not function in my life at all. My dr. changed my RX to Benicar which is in the same family the results were worse than the lisinopril. I took myself off both drugs for two days and all symptoms went away except the HBP. I am now on amlodipine for two days so far so good no cramps no pain. The only side effect is flushing which is a piece of cake next to what I lived with.
I am also so happy I found this site I thought I was either dying or going crazy.

My doctor put me on Lisinopril (10 mg) a week ago. On the third day, I felt fatigue, had a cough, entire body soreness, felt feverish, with flu symptoms. My doctor told me to stop taking it for three or four days and start it up again. I did. I felt better, especially on my forth day. I started it up again on a Monday and still felt okay, but the fatigue returned. Today, which is Saturday, I woke up feeling great. I didn't take the Lisinopril until noon time and from then on I have felt very tired. I laid down for six hours, slept two. I still have the cough and have decided to take the Lisinopril at night so that I may sleep better. I go back to my doctor the 11th of October and will let you all know how that turned out.

I've been off Lisinopril for 2 weeks now. The dizziness, light headedness, and general overall flu like feelings are pretty much gone. I still have a touch of the irregular heatbeat stuff but nothing like it was. The doc is running me through some additional cardiac tests (treadmill, etc.) just to be sure. For the most part, though, I feel like way gobs better. BP really doesn't seem to have changed much but I am on a beta blocker too which helps with BP. Doc isn't thrilled with the "no Lisinopril" order from me. She says it's the best drug for protecting kidneys in diabetics. But, we're going to see how it goes.

I coughed for 3 months, sometimes I coughed so hard that I would throw up it was an awful feeling, my body ached all the time, even the bottom of my feet , It hurt so bad to try and turn over at night, I had terrible headaches my symptons were very much like chronic sinusitis andI just slowed down because I didn't feel good. I've been off this medicine for 2 months and I'm feeling better but it does make me painful in the area of my kidneys on the left side and I have blood in my urine which is also a side effect and I did have an ultrasound today, I truly believe that this medicine almost killed me.

PLEASE READ MY STORY!!!....Part 2. My Nephroligist put me on an ARB-Angiostein II Receptor Blocker-Cozaar@50mg.

He said in his opinion, " the medications on the market in both classes of ACE Inhibitors & Angiostein II Receptor Blockers (ARB's) are similar in regulating high blood pressure and helping the kidneys to function better." He went on to explain that "ARB's have less side effects, are a much better quality, and more expensive." "The insurance companies don't want to pay the higher price." "Cozaar is one of the best." I told him that's what I wanted, "The Best." I had a good feeling about this Doc. He knew what he was talking about and recommended what he felt was best for me given the problems I had with Lisinopril HCTZ. He's monitoring me closely and I'm to call him ASAP with any weird or unusual side effects.

I did more research on the ARB's and have personally concluded for the time being, that the ARB's make more sense to me in "how" the medications regulate high blood pressure. Of course there's different types of variables one must always consider before starting these medications or any other medications for that matter. Everybody's medical condition isn't the same and the medications are NOT a "one size fits all" and shouldn't be addressed as such.

I've been on the Cozaar for 3 days and so far I feel great! I'll keep you updated for any side effects. Anyone out there try any of the ARB's? If you're currently taking or have taken, I would certainly appeciate if you would please email me and let me know what your experience was like in regulating your blood pressure and/or any side effects you had.

DOES EVERYONE KNOW THIS IS A BRAZILIAN SNAKE VENOM. Just search under Lisinopril and snake venom and watch what comes up. When I took this I went to the herbal store and took herbs for my kidneys and heart, because this med I read can damage them and I did not know what damage was done after 3 months.

I am a 72 year old male,who like every one posting here, has HBP, and
was prescribed,Lisinopril. I have been on this medication for 5 years but
just now found this web site. I have had all of the symptoms described by
every one but just thought I was getting ready to die. My problem is that I
have been on the drug for so long I'm afraid to quit taking it. My blood
pressure is very good. Does any one have any solutions.

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

Been on lisinopril for about a year for high bp. Seems to help. Don't have a cough and don't seem to be feeling weak or sluggish. Do have a burning sensation on the tip of my tongue and a couple of really sore bumps have come and gone on the last few weeks. Also, I am now developing may little red cherry like blood blisters on my body just about everywhere. I've had the dermatologist look at them and he called them some kind of skin cherry and nothing to worry about. I know they are somewhat genetic and my father has a few but I am getting hundreds of them and it has been within the last 6 months. I was told this medicine dialated the artery going into the kidneys to relieve pressure. Wonder if it is dialating capalaries in my skin causing these cherrys? Anybody else got 'em?

Just started 5MG Lisinopril once a day at bedtime (about a week).
After looking up side effects, I found this site. I don't have hbp,never had. I was given this to help protect my kidneys (type1 diabetic). Side effects are: head ache, dizzy, muscle pain in legs and arms, stomach pain... This morning I was helping my daughter find her craft supplies. All of a sudden I was sitting on the floor with no sensation of getting there. I'm stopping this stuff. Google Apple Cider Vinegar uses.

I have been taking Lisiniopril for several years now for moderately high blood pressure. (10mg) I have the mild dry throat and cough but was willing to put up with it as opposed to having a stroke. What I did not count on was the fatigue, muscle and joint aches that I have developed along with feeling like I was in fog many days. Aches and discomfort in the middle of the night enough to wake me up and sometimes lasting all day (although it would subside somewhat during the day). In addition I have been having discomfort in my kidneys. I thought I was developing arthritis but was tested by my primary doctor for the gene and did not have it. Why did he not discuss the effects of this drug he had prescribed? Now that I know of other peoples experiences I am stopping this drug and will try harder to control my bp with execise and diet. My research has told me that simple diuretics will control the bp if necessary. These ACE inhibitors are nasty things...stay away!

I started taking lisinopril in June, I have been going back and forth with problems but not once was I told it possibly was the lisinopril, tests upon tests upon tests! My complaints are severe fatique, I would walk about 20 feet and feel like I walked 10 miles, it seems any old injuries I have ever had have come back and are so sore and sensitive I can barely stand it, even to brush my hair is so painful, at first i thought it was the spirlactone/hydroclothorizide I was taking ,now I think it is probably the lisinopril, I have the cough, not real severe but it is there off and on, I have been gaining weight, 3 to 4 pounds everytime I go back to the doc. hands going numb, I try to eat healthy and to chew an apple fatiqued me so much I couldn't stand it, I've been telling my doctor all this stuff and he just keeps ordering more tests and bloodwork, I'm still waiting for the results of my last bloodwork where he took me off my meds for 3 days, he suspects something wrong with my kidneys, this is very frightening, they are also saying I may be diabetic and there is no history in our family either. I still can't believe the extreme fatique and weakness, when I get up after sitting my feet and back are so painful it is pathetic, now my knees are starting to hurt too! I've had ankle problems and back injuries years ago, but the pain is so severe, it's like it just happened, I'm beside myself, I will definetly be talking to the doctor about this!! Thanks to everyone for posting this information, I would have had no idea that the lisinopril could cause all these problems, I stopped taking the spirolactone and hydro, but now am wondering if this was any of the problem at all.I also had the cramping in my legs, neck, head, still i thought it was the other drug, boy I hope I can get answers, they started me at 10 and now I'm taking 30's the doc said if it doesn't take care of the b/p the dosage can go up to 85 "so there is lots of room to work with"......... I don't think so!!!! I also am very sensitive to cold or heat, man I'm a wreck!!! I went to the doctor to feel better!!!

I have been taking Lisinopril for about 3 weeks now(20mg) as an ace inhibiter for my kidneys, and i have experienced a dry cough and a dry throat, as well as mild chest pains. Iam going to call my doctir in the morning, i cant go on like this. iam still young (33)i shouldnt be going through all of this.

I was given Lisinopril 2.5mg to help my kidneys take the protein out of my body. I was only on it a week when i got the bad cough. The first 2 days i was so tired i didn't even get out of bed (good thing it was the weekend.) I ended up calling my doctor to see about getting off the medicine. She wasn't available and neither the nurse or pharmicist would give me a straight answer about what could happen it i stop taking it. I almost started to cry when they kept giving me the run around. Which isn't normal for me...maybe some depression was kicking in? I ending up taking myself off the medicine and the very next day I felt much more alert and active, the cough has pretty much disappeared, and i feel like my old cheerful self. It's scary to think with even the low dose of this medication i was given what strong side effects can take place in such a short time.

I EXPERIENCE LIGHT HEADEDNES , WEAKNESS AND DIZZINESS. I TRY TO USE AT BED TIME BUT THE EFFECT LASTS ALL DAY LONG. I AM ON 10 MG A DAY.
THIS WAS PRESCRIBED BY MY DR. TO HELP THE HEART AND KIDNEYS DUE TO ADULT ON SET DIABETES. I AM 43.

I'm a 56 year old female. I've been on Lisinopril 40 MG for about 4 years. Since starting it I've added zoloft 50Mg for depression and HydrochLorothiazide for swelling. I walk about 8 miles a week. I've put on 40lbs, have lost all sexual interest, have continual bouts dizziness and have had terrible post nasal drip that causes such coughing it wakes me from sleep. My doctors have not checked my liver or kidneys to my knowledge. We live in such a small isolated community that there are few Doctors and only one clinic that takes my medical. It has taken care of my hypertention.

After being newly diagnosed with diabetes, Lisinopril was Rx'd to increase the function with my kidneys, to slow the protein loss. That is when I began experiencing a non functional cough. It has become an irritating event that begins suddenly and occurs randomly. It is short in duration and responds to losenges or sugar free cough drops. I wish I had this information at the outset! Looking for an alternative to this med as I do alot of public speaking and have meetings and it is quite embarrassing to begin coughing for no reason.

I too have been on Lisinopril for some time now. I was diagnosed with high bp when I was 16 due to reflex that has damaged one of my kidneys.

Like others have said, the Lisniopril was one of the first meds that actually lowered my bp, so my doctor was happy and has kept me on it.

I have noticed the fatigue, cough and the light-headedness. Those were all sides I was willing to deal with, but lately, one side effect has been unbearable.

Over the past 5 days, I have completely lost of my sense of taste. I spent last night in the ER as the doctors thought it may be neurological and I should have it looked at. The conclusion they came to is that it may be related to this bp med, and therefore, any other ACE Inhibitor.

I called my kidney doc today and have yet to hear back.

I'll let you know what I find out.

Whil eit is true that lisinopril causes a cough and other side effects...it is really too bad that only the ppl with negative side effects are writing their comments.
What ppl don't realize is that taking this med , for example if you're a diabetic, protects the kidneys. It can also reduce the risk of a heart attack and stroke. Since preventing a stroke doesn't make you feel different, no one ever says "hey today, I didin't have a stroke...I should write that in the website."
If I didn't know better and I read these comments...I'd be scared to death to try the medication not realizing what benefits it offers.

I started taking lisinopril 10mg after a full physical revealed nothing othere than slightly elevated BP. At my 3 weeks follow-up it was increased to 20mg. I had developed a dry cough and the general feeling of tiredness all day. At 6 wks HCTZ was added due to no significant drop in my BP. Exactly one week after starting the HCTZ I was back in the Dr's office with horrible flu symtoms and sent immediately to the emergency room. I was admitted in acute liver failure, jaundiced, and near coma elevated ammonia levels. I was fortunate to have a GI specialist called in that had seen this exact scenerio in a former patient and started testing and treatment right away.
He stated that this is a documented occurence to Lisinopril with the combination of HCTZ in at least 25 patients.
I was hospitalized for 13 days and have been out of work for 7 weeks. I have gallbladder surgery scheduled for next week and have a treatment plan established for the next year to cover the damage to my liver, kidneys, and bladder.
My recover is progressing and my liver is recovering rapidly. I am not able to take any medicaitons at this time due to the liver and will start treating the other organs as soon as the liver functions are within normal range.
I would make sure that anyone thinking of taking Lisinopril know the possible effects and follow up very closely with the Dr. about any symptoms.

My wife started Lisinopril 5mg last November for slight high BP. When the BP did not change, she was up'd to 10mg. Following this prescription, severe diarrhea and dehydration set in. Dr.'s blamed this on IBS. Tests were then done for IBS related symptons; Upper GI, Lower GI, and finally Colonoscopy. The Colonoscopy sent her into further dehydration, to the point of severe cramping, nausea, fatigue. After a few days I took her back to the family Dr. who sent us to the ER for the dehyrdration. In the ER, we were informed her Kidneys had stopped functioning (creatinine levels at 16.8, .08 6 months before). Since then, her kidneys have improved, but it looks like there may be permanent damage as her Creatinine level has stayed at now at 3.2.

Please watch yourself if you are getting side effects from this drug.

I've just started taking Lisnopril, I have Type 1 diabetes and am on Insulin pump. My Dr. told me that I really need to take lisnopril cause my last blood and urine test, i'm loosing protien through my kidneys, and lisnopril if taking can help protect my kidneys, I haven't had any side effects yet, and I should quit smoking as well, but I have tried that so many times I can't tell ya how hard that it is to quit, even with zyban.. I'm also taking other meds for ADHD, Straterra, and Seroquel to help me sleep.. I have had high blood pressure and the last time i checked on a pharmacy blood pressure machine, was pretty high with 100 Pulse rate.. I will report on here if I get any side effects or any good results.. ciao Matt

My husband is type 2 diabetic. He was borderline hypertensive. So, the doctor put him on Lisinopril. After about 2 months, he took a blood test and his Kidney Tests (BUN & CREAT) were highly elevated! (BUN was 46/dL - 10-20 is normal; CREAT was 2.7mg/dL - <1.3 is normal.) His doctor immediately told him to stop taking the Lisinopril. It has been about 3 weeks since he stopped taking it and his levels have not come down much. My husband is very worried that the Lisinopril did damage to his kidneys. Has anyone out there heard of this happening before? Your input, please.......

In response to # 4558 I too am taking lisinopril for kidneys. Dont like the side effects. Haven't read one posiyive note on this medication

I started taking lisinipril over a year ago. They started me out with the brand name Zestril. (For those who don't know, lisinipril and Zestril are exactly the same drug; Zestril is one of the brand names and lisinipril is the generic.) My insurance company switched me from the brand name Zestril to the generic because it is much cheaper. Anyway, I was started on 10 mg 1x/day but experienced some dizziness and strange feelings on the top of my head. The doctor ordered an ultrasound of my carotid arteries to make sure there wasn't a blockage. There wasn't, so she lowered my dosage of the med to 5 mg 1x/day and the side effect went away. Now, however, over the last several months, I have developed a rash that itches badly (in the crack of my butt, of all places). I quit taking the lisinipril on my own a couple of times, and the rash went away, then I started it again on my own, and the rash came back. I've decided to ask my doc to switch my med. It's a shame, because the lisinipril works so well for me for lowering the blood pressure. Extremely well, as a matter of fact. Also, to answer some of the other posts, yes, lisinipril is now an accepted medication for high blood pressure. It works on the kidneys and thus lowers the blood pressure. I really hate to give it up, but I can't stand the itchy rash anymore.

I've taken 20mg lisinopril and metoprolol for 3 yrs with good control. 2 wks ago at m,y checkup it was 165/90. dr doubled my dose to 40mg. My bp at 4am the next am was 220/104. Dr added clonidine .1 mg and norvasc 10mg, and furosimide. bp is 140/74 but I feel nauseous, and chest congested w/dry cough, flushed, and depressed. I've had this week, sonograms of kidneys,heart, carotids. renal flow dye test, and bloodwork, all normal. Couild the doubled lisinopril have had a reverse effect on my bp? I'm sure it's the cause of my nausea and cough.