Lisinopril and leg cramps

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!!

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 was taking Lisinopril and had severe leg cramps. I took myself off the drug. The doctor encouraged me to continue, but to cut the dose in half. This I did. I began to have sore legs at night which I attributed to being on my feet too much. Recently I took myself off Lisinopril and my sore legs vanished.

This is nothing new but goes right along with what others are saying about Lisinopril, AKA drug from Hell. I asked to be switched from Benicar due to its high cost compared to Lisinopril. My Dr. picked Lisinopril from a list my mail order pharmacy (Medco) sent as potentially less expensive than Benicar. I had zero problems with Benicar. I'm 59, male, generally in good shape. After 30 days on Lisinopril HZTC I was tired all the time, couldn't sleep very well, leg cramps, sweating like crazy. The worst part for me is joint pain that lingers on after going back to Benicar 10 days ago. The pain in one of my hip joints makes it very hard to even walk. I know it was the drug from Hell that did it. After 10 days I'm now OK except for the joint pain, which at least is not constant like it was when I was taking Lisinopril. Good luck to everyone.

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?

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Hypertension

Hello. I have been dealing with my hypertension now for approximately 1-1/2 years now and those of you that have read my findings through my previous posts know that I'm always looking for natural supplements to stay off of the lisinopril. I stumbled onto a new herb for bp. You absolutely have to try this. I went to see my doctor yesterday and I was having a really stressed out day dealing with a family crisis and my bp was 150/100. I left with a prescription, but I received my order of this stuff in the afternoon and I took the recommended two tablets twice a day and woke up this morning with my bp 108/69. This product gets shipped from India and takes approximately two weeks to arrive by registered air mail, but very much worth the wait. I have the link to order it and to read more about the herbal treatment. If you are interested, feel free to e-mail me and I will send it to you. Take care and good luck.

i was given lisinopril by my doctor for hbp,about 2 months later, i started having blurred vision,severe lower back pains,leg cramps,constipation,mood swings like i didn't care about nothing in life anymore,short head pains,breathing problems,and i almost moved out of the house with my wife because i was always depressed for no reason and i was upset because she didn't understand,this medicine is dangerous and poison.i pray that the lord will lead us and guide us to the right doctor with the right medicine. god bless you all and continue to have faith that the lord will heal us all in Jesus name.i thank him right know for revealing this to us,he is still on the throne and he still loves us.

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

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.

I'm 52 yr old female with high blood pressure and asthma. About 4weeks ago had bronchitis with massive doses of prednisone. Around the end of the prednisone my doctor switched me from enalapril to lisinopril to better control my BP. Well after the Prednisone my knees felt better than they've felt in 3 years NO pain. I 1st started noticing the leg cramps when in bed at night. Now the cramps are 3 to 4 times a night waking me up. 3-4 days ago my knees started hurting again, to the point I have to brace my (R) knee even at rest. I can barely walk. So I decided to look at my medications as a source of my pain. Calling my MD on Monday. Switching back to Enalapril until then

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?

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 Medications.com October 18th
Earlier this past summer I took this drug for ninety two days after I was prescribed this medication when I visited the doctor for a bladder infection and I was told I also had high blood pressure. No tests were done except for a urine test at that time and no follow up tests were done later. This drug not only gave me a slew of other side effects but pushed my simple bladder infection to where I no longer urinated in a normal manner regardless of the amount of fluid I added. Only after discontinuing this drug did normal urination return after a few days.
Allergic reactions were as follows. Severe debilitating stomach cramping resulting in swelling of the abdomen, and all digestive organs. Angioedema. (no pre history of this) Urine flow continued to lessen even with increased fluid intake, resulting in bladder pain and a sensation of bladder being pushed from the body. Lack of energy, flu like symptoms, insomnia, leg cramps, many bouts of rapid heart beat, some lasting for awhile, even after stopping the drug. Lack of appetite and a change in taste buds. I had several bouts of angioedema but thought it was 'something I ate, stress etc', as within a month of my diagnosis, my daughter had an extreme reaction to Ciprofloxin (see floxintoxin under that medication) and anything that was going on with me was put aside. She was debilitated by her drug reaction and was unable to walk etc, so I thought I wasn't handling stress too well as I was getting older. Each bout increased in severity leaving me lying debilitated on the couch for four days, eventually for a full week until luckily by that time my daughter was able to take care of herself and began thoroughly investigating this drug only to discover that Lisinopril was the true cause. The warnings with this drug are not very explanatory and leave so much out that should be for patients to read and digest to make their own health decisions and it takes a lot to dig deeper on the Internet to find the true adverse reactions.
We thought by stopping the drug I would get back to normal quickly and I did with the help of a herb called marshmallow which reduced the swelling after a couple of days. However after I thought I was cured I stopped marshmallow and within a couple of days had another angiodema reaction and I thought it was because there must be traces of this drug left in my system. I then took marshmallow for over two weeks and feeling fine I stopped again. Then another episode hit me with not only the stomach problems but a severe bout of coughing that lasted a couple of hours and trickled into a few days. It was then I began digging on the Internet to find the words I wanted to hear, that this drug caused long term problems. I found it by adding UK after other words and found this and much more.
ACE-INHIBITORS
A particular group of heart pills called ACE-inhibitors (the chemical names end in -pril, e.g. enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril) can occasionally cause urticaria, although they more commonly cause angioedema; about one person in 100 who takes an ACE inhibitor is likely to get this problem.  
The reaction is not caused by true allergy, allergy skin and blood tests do not show it, so why does it happen?  Reactions are thought to occur because an unwanted pharmacological effect of the drug causes the release of compounds similar to those released in an allergic reaction.  The only way of showing that a regular medication is the true cause is by stopping or changing the treatment.
To complicate matters, the angioedema attacks may not start until the individual has been taking the ACE inhibitor for months or even years making it difficult to spot the relationship. Also, attacks may continue for several weeks after the drug has been stopped.
I could not find anyone doing following to patients with adverse reactions and I think that is a very bad problem. We are on our own. I do hope this helps others and if you want copies of all my research let me know.
Now I am hoping there won't be any more bouts but I'm still taking marshmallow and when I think I have the courage I will wean myself off it slowly and watch for signs. Believe me angiodema isn't fun and you can't see it on the outside of the body which makes it difficult to understand.

i have had all these experiences with hctz and linisiprol i am not on metoprolol, i am returning to doc tomorrow to change this as well, dizzy, foggy leg cramps etc etc. i usually go to the gym 4 x a week in the last 2 weeks since all this has been the most dramatic i have hardly left the house for fear of passing out. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what may be the best one? there has to be at least one....!!! I am so sick of all my docs being in denial of any side effects, i am glad that i am reading all of this now i don't feel so CRAZY.

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

I can't say that I've had too many side effects. The worst things were the severe leg cramps. When I talked to the doctor, he suggested that I might need more potassium. On that day, I took a potassium supplement and a banana (or two) a day. The cramps have since stopped.

Keep that potassium in your system!
Hope this helps someone

My mother was given this drug, Lisinopril, because the doctor decided she had high blood pressure after she went in for a bladder infection (she's had these all her life, every now & then). The doctor also prescribed Nitrofur (please avoid THAT one like the plague - she was on the couch for a week in stomach agony). We didn't put 2 and 2 together on what was really going on until yesterday. She was on Lisinpril for 3 months and every 2-3 weeks had an episode of extreme stomach spasms, bloating and fatigue. These episodes have lasted 3-5 days each, keeping her on the couch in agony. I researched the internet and found out that Lisinopril is made from SNAKE VENOM, can you believe? Turns out lots of people have reactions from this, including coughing. There was one woman who had the exact same things as my mom and wouldn't you know it, stopped using Lisinopril and the episodes went away. Turns out this is an allergic reaction, something they say is rare, BUT I think it depends how long you take it and how sensitive you are. So my mom immediately stopped taking it. What's happening inside is something they call gastrointestinal angioedema (in layman's terms, internal hives). If you experience coughing, the hives are in your throat. If you experience the stomach pains, the hives are all in your intestinal tract and very possible more areas internally. So then I looked up and found an excerpt from "One Earth Herbal Sourcebook" on Google and found the author had experienced something similar, using ayervedic (indian) herbs to fix the problem. I couldn't find where to buy ayervedic herbs, calling Whole Foods Market with no success. Well, all over the world there are healing herbs that do similar things. So I did find 2 that would work. Marshmallow (the herb, not the campfire kind) will help relieve swelling internally. There is another herb called Goldenseal (don't use it if you have very high blood pressure as it can cause a spike) that has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Anyway, now you know what is going on inside - hives you can't see from snake venom. Take that to the doctors and see what they say. Maybe your just better off like we are to research yourself and find a natural answer from nature. I hope this can help others avoid the hell we've been through.

My tongue got thicker. I was only on Lisinopril for 5 days. I have also had severe leg cramps at bedtime and an episode of feeling disoriented. I went off this drug immediately and will never go back on it. I have never had these kinds of symptoms before.

Husband taking 10mg. He is having dizziness, confusion, memory lapse, depression, short-temper, severe leg cramps, chills, loss of appetite, constipation and severe stomach cramps. We are discontinuing this medication. He thinks it's literally killing him like being poisoned.

Am I the only one who has gained a lot of weight while on Lisinopril? I have gained over 40lbs in 3 years. I have also experienced odd muscle cramping and have never made a connection to this and Lisinopril. The pain in my ear, side of my head, and my jaw was unbelievable. ENT dr thought it was TMJ or nerve damage. He was not able to really pin down the exact cause. One month later I was bed ridden with severe back pain, which I have never had before. MRI showed nothing. Headaches are daily, cough, leg cramps, chest pain, decreased sex drive, and definitely have feelings of depression. I have never made the connection between the changes in my personality, health, and lifestyle to this medicine; but now I have. I will be immediately contacting my doctor to discuss alternatives. My BP when I started was 150/90 and now is 112/70. Please let me know if anyone has also had the weight gain like I have experienced. I know I am going to have to have hard facts to show to my doctor. Thank you.

I have been taking 40mg of Lisinopril daily for over 5 years, which has successfully lowered my blood pressure. I thought the drug was fine - however, I do occasionally experience ED, and to be sure of successful performance, I need to take 50 mg of Viagra. My testosterone levels are fine. My doctor has ascribed the ED to my 3 - 4 glasses of wine each evening - saying that if I reduced the wine intake to 2 glasses, the problem would go away. After reading these accounts, I'm not sure it is the wine. I did experience severe leg cramps at night for 2 - 3 years - but those have stopped, and I have not had any of the other symptoms mentioned.

I had been on Lisinopril for about 5 weeks, first on 40 mg. then I reduced it in half on my own, and have now decided to stop entirely and go back on Avapro. When I started it, I developed flu like symptoms and I thought I was just sick, but my body continued to fill "unwell". I had such terrible vertigo that I fell down 3 times and would get very dizzy when sitting up or bending over. Sometimes, the vertigo comes when I am sitting perfectly still! I became constipated and bloated with bouts of gas, headaches and sore throat in the evenings. My arms and legs were falling asleep during the night, so bad that I had to wake up and massage my hands and move my legs to get them circulating. Also, leg cramps have developed and cramps and shoulder pain that doesn't want to go away.I started to have to urinate all the time, as well! When I went to the doctor's office after being on it for 3 weeks, I complained that I was feeling awful (like I was going to die), depression had set in, I want to sleep all the time and have terrible vertigo, I was told that these were unusual symptoms and to try it for a few more weeks and see if these symptoms subside! Typical!!! It is thru researching blogs like these that I found that my symptoms are not at all unusual, but they are VERY ALARMING! I am a 46 year old woman and am healthy in every way. This medicine makes me feel as if I am being poisoned! I went off of it yesterday and am now doing an herbal cleanse to detox myself. I am also on fish peptides - which lowered my bp substantially in the past, but needed to find a reliable source that keeps it in stock all the time. It is safe and has no side effects.

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.

45 year old female - 10mg per day taken at night for kidney protection. CONSTANT cough to the point I sometimes gag and get a pounding headache. Sinus drainage, leg cramps at night, itching red skin, can't sleep at night, very irritable. I actually thought I had a bad cold for the last 3 months with some allergies kicking in - BS - it is the Lisinopril - I know that now after reading hundreds of people saying the same thing...I e-mailed my doctor today and told her I want off this horrible drug!

I didn't seem to have any side effects until the doctor upped my dose to 20 mg of lisinopril after 7 weeks at 10 mg.Then the gastro-intestinal effects started with gas,constipation and severe cramping for about 2 hours every night.I finally was told to quit the lisinopril and wait until side effects subside to try another approach.I would be interested in find a more natural way to control my HBP other than a drug derived from a pit viper's venom.

I ran out the other day and haven't taken Lisinopril for three days. I feel overall better! One thing. I've been fighting knee and shoulder pain something like bursitis or tendonitis and the pain seems to have diminished. Any others with this experience? It may be all in my head but what the heck!!

Approximateley 1 year ago, I went to the emergency room and was treated with lisinopril for hbp. The following day I woke up with a terrefic migraine and cramping in both legs. I learned via internet that it contains the venom of a Brazilian Piper snake. Now, one year later, I am still having the cramps. Patients should be told what is in the products that we are being given. I only had two pills but it has changed my life. I am still suffering with leg cramps. They are poisoning all of us.

I have read a ton of the posts in this category. I have been taking Lisinopril as an addition to my regular blood pressure medication for approximately 3 years, with absolutely no problems. My 10mg was increased to 20mg a week ago. Still no problems. It has only helped me. If there are any changes, I will definitely post it. I believe that symptoms can arise from reading an article. I actually know a couple people who read things, and suddenly they are convinced they have the problem or disease referenced. I call it an Epidemic of Diagnoses. Always seek a doctors advice before stopping medications. Stopping suddenly on certain drugs, can be more dangerous than taking them.

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.

I am 49 years old. I have taken Lisinopril for 8 days. The BP dropped from 175 systolic to 125 in the first two days. Last night I experienced the worst leg cramps ever in my upper thigh and groin area. I frightened my family as I screamed in agony for over an hour. Today I have continuously felt that both legs are going to cramp. I also have arthritis in my knee, which has worsened after needing to immobilize the leg with heat during cramping. My sister suggested the BP medication may have contributed to the cramps, and that's when I found this site. Thank you for all your posts. My meds are going to the police station's collection site tomorrow.

Severe leg cramps ....impotence....gout...depression.....thirst...

The leg cramps at 3 in the morning are KILLIN ME!!!!

I'm 40 yrs old and was prescribed Lisinopril on July 2. For at least a month or so I've been experiencing constipation and headaches on occasion. The leg cramps happen every night though. My scalp has been very tender in areas, my throat is sore, I have the nagging cough, my vision seems to have gotten worse, and my skin itches miserably. I have headaches, which I thought were sinus headaches, but sinus meds didn't help. Yesterday the itching got so bad, I took Benadryl, which helped...I also slept VERY well...I went to the Dr today. He looked at my arms and back which were red and splotchy. He told me to stop taking the Lisinopril and we'll watch my BP. I'm hoping that all these things go away soon. I was beginning to think it was all in my head.

I was prescribed Lisinopril 2 weeks ago (BP was 96 on the bottom). I am 32 years old. I have been sick since the second day with headaches, I am dizzy, I have been having the cold sweats (from my neck up, sounds odd, I know), insomnia, fatigue, horrible leg cramps, my neck hurts terribly on the left (it radiates a quarter way down my shoulder), itching (neck and upper back). I now have developed a fever, if it does not get better by the morning I am going to the ER (ironic because I have a Dr's appointment at 2pm 9/12/2007). I am having a hard time. I am not overweight (size 5 and 5ft9 inches tall), I eat plenty of fruits and veggies and drink more water than the law will allow, hardly any fried foods, red meat or pork are no no's. Something is wrong with this medication and if I find out it has caused me any issues, I will call a lawyer. I fell so sick and tired.

michele

how lucky am i , to have found this site...... started taking lisinopril about 5 years ago......... developed tinnitus.......... dizzy to the point, that i had to give up my garden. could not bend, and get up without almost passing out......... developed acid reflux. ( my cardiologist said it was from my hbp meds ) my reg dr. said " bull.".... he's nuts ) (sure on the staff at mass general, and he 's nuts ........)that was 6 mos. or so after starting lisinopril.......... now i have numbness from my elbow to my hands.. from my knee to my feet..........hands and feet warm...... cough........ cough has been worked up, as i am a smoker......... negative......has worsened in past year......... skin rash.. localized on back, but that all over feeling of itching........ new in past 6 months...... the big symptom.............. leg cramps......... so severe, i wake up crying at night., 3 to 4 times. so tired from no sleep..... cramps in back, hands....... after reading the comments on this site, i will call the pharmacist, and see if i can stop, or have to be weaned off........... i am 64, in excellent health . size 8....... used to run up the stairs in my home...... since starting all of the c--p, i feel as tho my health has gone downhill.......... thanks for all of the info from people like you.. this is a nasty drug.............. sue s
"

I am a 44 year old female and experienced many of the side effects as shared. I have taken Lisinopril (20MG) for 5 years. I have experienced headache, nausea, stomach pain and now blurred vision, which I thought was due to just getting older, but the onset was so sudden, within the last 3 months. I have also experienced leg cramps and dry scalp. I have family history (Mother) with heart issues (by-pass surgery), but there has to be a better non-drug alternative to control hypertension. I am going to research and share my results as soon as I find a solution. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences. I thought I was falling apart.

Immediate and accurate control of blood pressure. Mine was 165/100 now 120/80. Unfortunately, dry cough, loss of sex drive, occasional hand/leg cramps, neck pain, tingling in fingertips. I am going to try to switch to something else, even though the control was immediate.

will re-post with results.

Glad to find your site. I have been on Lisiopril for 2 years (ever since my Insurance stopped paying for my Aceon and I had to have a substitute drug for blood pressure control). I have had increasing cough and horseness for the past 12 months to the point that I now have 24 hour symptoms! I also have been having leg cramps at night the past few months.
I will stop Lisinopril TODAY. Plan to monitor my blood pressure and see what happens. Does anyone see any problem with doing this?????

anyone experience problems with urination,bladder or prostate

I have been off this poison for exactly a month now.....and my symptoms seem to be getting worse.....i ended up in the ER last weekend thinking i was having a stroke or heart attack but they couldnt find any....i have a rash on my legs and back the dr says is hives....my leg cramps never go away and still have stomach cramps and grumbling....dr says its stomach hives.....never heard of that....metallic taste in mouth sometimes and spells of feeling really ill....arms go numb etc....joints ache.....pains in hands and feet.....on the dash diet and taking supplements.....i pray i get better....

I took 10 mg of lisinopril for about two weeks. I have developed intense leg cramps at night , a numb rt foot and tingling sensation in my arms. I haven't taken the med for a week now and my symptoms persist. I saw a neurologist yesterday and passed all neuro tests. Is it possible to continue with these symptons after being off this med for a week? I am normally a very healthy, active, slender person,
age 49. Could my sympotms have been caused by the lisinopril?

I am so happy I found this site. I've been on the medication for about three weeks now. Last weekend I thought I was having a heart attack in the middle of the night and was scared to death. But I think alot of it was due to acid reflux. And I have the nagging cough as well. I'm on the phone all day at work and can barely get through a call without putting my customer on hold and having a drink of water. I've been having leg cramps as well. I'm going to call the doctor on Monday!

i am male age 72. VA hospital put me on 20mg lisinopril, terrible cough, copnstant skin itching, unexplained weight gain. i do not eat meat, dairy products, etc. and still no weight loss. i reduced to 10mg but want to go off it completely. ill never take it again. and also leg cramps.

I was on Lisinopril for little over a month in 2005. My doctor changed my prescription to Cozaar and I have been much better on it--my blood pressure even responded better. Yes, the Cozaar is much more expensive because it is name brand, but quality of life is of value.

It has taken a year for most of the Lisinopril caused problems to subside. I can walk without feeling like I am going to pass out and I don't cough and wheeze like I did. I do still have some lung problems--I cough more than I used to but it is minor and I can live with it compared to what I was like with the full blown Lisinopril cough (TB Ward, anyone?).

I still get leg cramps and have to get up at night to walk around a bit to ease them. I find if I drink milk the cramps are less often and much less intense. Possibly calcium tablets and/or Vitamin D would have the same effect.

I am not depressed any more. I was terribly down when I was on the Lisinopril. I recommend talking and talking and talking to your doctor about the depression and when it started rather than letting them put you on an anti-depressant which just masks the problem. And if a PCP puts you on an anti-depressant, make sure you see a licensed therapist. Anti-depressants need to be used in conjunction with therapy.

I still have the aching joints but they are controllable with heat and, once in a while, Tylenol.

My eyesight was affected to an extent but even that has gotten better. I got to the point that I couldn't thread a needle. But I can see to thread a needle!

I just wanted to let those of you still on Lisinopril or who have been switched from Lisinopril and are still experiencing the side effects that they do get better. I still remember the morning I got up to get ready for bed and wondered what was wrong with me--I had energy and was actually looking forward to the day. It was (and is) a wonderful feeling after a year of existing and just trying to get through the day so I could go home and go to bed.

I started on Lisinopril 3 weeks ago and have had increasing problems ever since. First, I got the cough, which I was warned about by my pharmacist and my doctor. I also started having sudden, sharp pains in the toes of my right foot, like I was having an electric shock. I also had several severe leg cramps. Then my right knee started hurting and I had not injured it in any way. I have also had very severe burning eyes, that I atributed to allergies. My ankles also stay very swollen, something that has never happened before. Within the last week I have experienced extreme shortness of breath, tiredness beyond belief, a feeling that I could lay down whereever I am at the moment and go to sleep. I had no energy whatsoever, zero. last night I went to bed at 6:00pm and got up this morning at 9:30 am that's 15-1/2 hours! That signaled the end of my taking Lisinopril, I am not taking any other medication, so that has to be the culprit.
It is now 1:20 in the afternoon and as I did not take the lisinopril this morning, I feel much,much better as far as my energy level is concerned. We will have to wait and see if any other side effects appear or disappear, I'll let you know.

I am going to print out a lot of the comments on this forum and take them to my doctor and pharmacist.

I was put on Lisinopril about 4 weeks ago. After about 3 weeks I started the coughing and now am experiencing severe leg cramps and intermitten disorientation. My blood pressure isnt extremely high (140/80) and after finding this site, I think I will try to control my blood pressure WITHOUT the aid of a doctor, by watching my salt intake, exercising and eating right. Thank God I found this website before I had been on this devilish drug too long.

Started a 20mg regimen.
Cough started within 24 hours.
Leg cramps appeared within 2 days.
Perpetual headache (and "crabby mood" went away within 2 days of starting.
Lightheadedness and queazy feeling appeared within 4 days of starting.
Quit taking it at that point. Just not worth it.

i have been taking lisinopril for a few yrs now and i am suffering from leg cramps and pain around my rib area,i am also a diabetic could this mean anything ?

I have been on Lisinopril HCTZ 20/12.5 for approx 7 months -
3 months ago I started having a "tickle" cough - my eyes would water and I have this dreadful dry cough - wakes me up at night and happens during the day which is really bad at work since I have to talk on the phone. I am stopping it today and I hope and pray this cough goes away