Lisinopril and meds

I was put on a small dosage of Lisinopril about 6 months ago for extremely HBP. At first I thought I wasn't having any ill effects but about two months after the initial does I started breaking out in hives and would have an incident every 4 or 5 days of extreme swelling in my mouth and lips. IT never dawned on me that the meds might be to blame but after extensively eliminating all other factors I called my doctor and asked to be taken off. She agreed that was a good idea and had now put me on a beta blocker instead. I actually started to relax a bit thinking my problems were over but a few days ago it happened all over again. I woke up to extreme facial swelling so now I don't know what to think. I had been off of the Lisinopril for almost three weeks when the last reaction happened, could that STILL be the culprit???

I too was given Lisinopril for high BP. The cough started within a few days, along with the post-nasal drip. I never related the symptoms to the drug until I started searching on the internet. By this time 3 months had passed and I have bought and taken every cough / cold remedy on the market. Tried using a Neti pot twice daily, cough drops, syrups to no avail. I haven't had a day without coughing every couple of hours since August and I cough to the point of vomiting. I can't sleep at night and am driving my partner nuts. Thank GOD I finally realized what was causing this cough and got my Dr. to switch my meds to Atenolol (no cough side effect). Unfortunately, I have been off Lisinopril now for 15 days and am still coughing. I've seen very little improvement. I have read in severe cases, the effects sometimes linger for MONTHS! *UGH* I think I fall into that category. I am trying to keep my sense of humor about it all and hope that I can stop coughing my Christmas!

I am sitting here in tears reading about the side effects others have had on Lisinopril. I am a 43 yr. old woman who started taking it exactly 1 year ago and about 3 months ago I started coughing at night and feeling like my throat was closing or clogged with mucous. It has just gotten worse and worse and after 2 rounds of antibiotics and various other meds....it's still worse. About a month ago I started having sore ankles out of nowhere. I have been walking like an elderly person as my ankles are so stiff and painful. Until now it had never occurred to me that it could be related to the lisinopril Yesterday my Dr. finally said that the cough is probably the Lisinopril and took me off of it. I didn't believe that this could be true so I decided to look online and these other experiences are what I found. I am just praying that it will go away......I haven't had a solid nights sleep in so long and even my dog won't sleep in my room anymore because my cough keeps waking him up. My 3 year old wakes up every time I have a coughing fit and it is terribly inconvenient during the day too. ....

I am 40 years old and was prescribed lisinopril/HCTZ 20-25 a little over two weeks ago. I went in for a little congestion and low grade fever. I am a teacher and have many kids out with the flu, swine flu, etc. and felt that I needed to get checked. I came out with 5 medications, one of which was lisinopril. I have never had bp problems in my life. I am almost certain that the nurse practicioner wrote me down for something else and the dr came in and changed. I am usually a very calm person but in the last two days have experienced what I thought was a panic attack and anxiety, horrible anxiety. I haven't been able to face my students which isn't like me at all. During the first week I took my students on a field trip and had a really great day with them- much less stress than a normal day. I got home and my bp was around 138/98. I thought that was kind of odd. It has been under control since I started taking it. On this same day, I got blistered on my face and wasn't outside much at all. I have Rosea and thought that it had been aggravated. I believe now that it was the lisinopril. I know that it has a diuretic in it, but it doesn't make me go frequently. Instead I get a sudden urge and have had two "accidents" recently. I have a sometimes dry, other times full of mucous, cough to the point of nearly gagging. My neck muscles were already stressed out and tight, but have gotten worse. I feel a tightness in my chest constently. My lips are so dry that they peel all the time. I have no appetite and when I do eat I get nauseous and almost feel like vomitting. I have been lightheaded and dizzy. I am not sleeping and feel extremely tired all the time. But these last two days have been awful. I love being around people and right now can't stand the thought of it. I am guessing that lisinopril has caused much of these problems. I am about to go see the doctor today and think they will want to put me on some sort of nerve pill. I hate that!!!! I have a plan to achieve everything that these meds are supposed to. Exercise, change my diet, go see the chiropractor, do more relaxing things for myself and take better care of me! After reading these blogs I believe that I am going to take myself off of lisinopril and see what happens. My hubby is also on it and just last week developed an oozing sore and his left cheek - could be the lisinopril. I will pray for all of you bloggers and those who are unaware. This is definitely a poison to our bodies. I think I even read that it contains snake venom. Is this true????? I will update in a few days. Good luck and God bless!

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.

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

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!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SITE! I was beginning to feel that I was getting old too quick. I have been on Lisinopril for about a week and for the past two days I have had such severe muscle and joint pain that it even hurts to type this, it is in my hands, elbows, knees, and feet, and I look like a little old lady going to the store all hunched over and barely able to walk and I'm only 29!!! I don't care what my doctor says I'm quitting this medication today and going back on my old meds. Hopefully this excruciating pain will go away.

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.

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!

10-1-09 For the past year my husband has complained of severe headaches, muscle and stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, hot flashes weight gain and severe depression.(he takes anti depression meds) He sleeps 8 to 10 hrs during the day and all night. He has seen a stomach specialist and a neurologist. He has had numerous tests done by both Drs. He had his gallbladder removed in Dec.08 He had over 100 gallstones His thyroid is very low, (has been since diagnosis 6 yrs ago) his medication has been increased 2xs in the last 2mos. He is not any better. He will see an endocrine specialist 10-5-09. I have researched for hours on the internet for anything that will help the drs. find what is causing all of these complaints. He has so many symptoms, nothing matched and from head to toe. No luck until now. He has every symptom that you good people are describing. I will most certainly use this information and share these stories with his Dr. I have seen the LIFE being sucked out of my husband. None of these "Specialists" have ever suggested that perhaps the lisinopril might be the problem. I GUARANTEE YOU I WILL!!
Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories, GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. A. A.

I am a 51 year old woman and have been taking Lisinopril for 8 months. I have a total lack of sex drive now and have felt sad and depressed often. I also have trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. I had severe dermatitis (rash on trunk and back) about four weeks ago that required medicine to clear up. I thought it might be my bra, but now, after reading a few posts, I'm thinking it's the Lisinopril, too. Shortly after the rash my thick hair started thinning quickly. I, too, am afraid to step into the shower, as so much hair comes out it clogs the drain. It feels and looks very thin now. I have not added any new routines or products to my life to be causing these symptoms, except the Lisinopril. I went through menopause at age 43, I plan to visit with my Dr. next week about switching meds.

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

I am taking 20-25mg of Lisinopril and have been for about 1 month. First, I have to say the stuff works - my blood pressure went down immediately. Recently I have noticed a dry bottom lip (neither water or chopstick helps) and I am drinking AT LEAST 12 glasses of water a day and still feel thirsty. Anyone have similar side effects?

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

I am 48 years old and have been on Lisinop/HCTZ for about 6 weeks. From the onset of taking this medicine I have experienced swelling in my legs -- from knees to ankles. Also my stomach has swelled. Now I am experiencing muscle cramps in my legs that are bothersome when I stand up or lie in bed. I never had this on my other BP meds, but my doctor switched me to Lisinop?HCTZ. The doctor thinks it could be my heart, lungs, or kidneys causing the swelling.
HELLO, take me off this stuff first!

Funny, I've been on Lisinopril for 4 yrs. & just noticed the tip of my tongue felt numb & with a weird taste. I thought it was from the Hysterectomy I had ungone a month ago. Nope it's due to the Lisinopril. So is the depression. WOW, I think it may be time to change BP Meds.

I am a 36 yr old Hispanic-female who's been on all kinds of bp meds, since my early 20's. I am not overweight nor am I diabetic. For the past year or so I have been on Lisinopril 10mg.....here lately, I feel like I am having panic attacks all the times, w/the tightening feeling in my chest....and anger so much anger. I couldn't explain to myself OR my husband why I was feeling this way. This medication has totally taken over, not just my life, but my family's as well. Thank God and all you who have posted your comments and side effects on this site. I don't know how I bumped into this site, but I am soooo glad I did!! Never before have I felt this way....and guess what??? As of tomorrow, I will NOT be taking this medication anymore and will be setting an appt w/my dr. asap!!!! Thank you all...and for those of you who say, take the meds and get over it?? WHY waste your time....obviously, all of us have some type of problem w/this med...if you don't that is great!! Get out then!!!! Have a good day....

Hello
I am 57 years old and my BP has been trying to rise for the last 2 or 3 years. Without meds it is about 145/93. I started taking lisinopril 20mg, and it helped but didn't remedy the problem. My doctor added doxazosin mesylate 4mg and raised my lisinopril to 40mg. It was better but he also added hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg. My pressure is down to 118/68 most of the time now., but my hair has really started to fall out in the last month or so. It was thinning due to age anyway, but this has really kicked it into high gear. I jog and try to eat low fat diet, otherwise healthy. Any suggestions as to what the culprit is? and what to do about it?
Thanks

One more thing...I think everyone taking BP Meds should google the FASEB Journal and read the article "From Viper's Venom to Drug Design: Treating Hypertension". Fascinating! Can't imagine going to the Doctor and saying" "Hey Doc, can you give me a shot of that Viper Venom" to lower my blood pressure"? Can you? Do you think your Neurological system has be compromised?

Without a doubt!

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 have been on 5 mg lisinopril for 5 months. Moved misplace meds for one week. Had a slight headaches, believe is was due to my busy life. Found my medication and began using it again. Since then left temple pain nonstop, headaches everyday. I was driving the other day experience blurred vision. I am make a appt to the eye dr. trying to get in to see my primary dr. being with the VA that is a task in itself, so we will see. Tired on the nonstop headaches. All my life I have never taken a whole bottle of over the counter pain reliever in one week and it does nothing for me.

I like many others had average shoulder length hair. Since I have been on Lisinopril and HCTZ my hair has thinned in the top considerably, the texture has changed from mildly kinky to borderline straight. I am concerned about putting any heat on my hair, it is soft like cotton. I cannot style it so I pull it back. My BP is well controlled on the meds, however I am only 55 and my hair has thinned like a much older woman. Does anyone know if stopping these meds will make the hair regrow once it has thinned?? Help

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.

Well, let's see now.................
I am a 48 year old female who has always been healthy.
4 months ago I went to the clinic for stomach pain that was gnawing at me. That's when my nightmare started. I was told to go straight to the local hospitals ER room because my Blood Pressure was 238/127
I was kept for 2 days in the cardiac unit. Tests were run and they all came out perfectly fine. I was then put on 50 mg toporol along with 20 mg Lisinopril. I was sent home and couldn't hardly function. Nauseous and dizzy, I was hanging onto walls just to go to the bathroom. Doctor switched me to Diovan instead of the lisinopril but insurance would not cover it. So once again I was switched to Avapro taken along with toporol.
By the second day on Avapro I was itching extremely and my skin was on fire. I called the Doctor once again and he said to Quit the Avapro and just take the Toporol alone. Well, within 4 days I ended back up in the emergency room with an elevated bp of 204/107. Once again, I was kept overnight and put on Labetelol (an alpha and Beta Blocker).
I did quite well on this med for a month and then the bp levels started to rise once again. I called the doctor this evening and was told to take 20 mg of the Lisinopril I had in the medicine cabinet along with the Labetelol.
It's been two hours and I'm starting to itch from the Lisinopril now....sigh.
Thank God I go to the clinic in the morning!!
I am really getting anxiety problems from dealing with these meds!!
Hopefully I can get everything straightened out. I am willing to hang in there until I can find something that works. It is obvious to me that I need HBP medication. I just wish They could find the right ones for me without having to go through all this . To all of you that have high BP, Hang in there. If one med doesn't work, keep trying!!
God Bless All Of You!!!!

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

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 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,

Hi, I am a 47 year old female. Last month (June 2009) I went to the doctor because I had a bad migraine that wouldn't go away. After a week of suffering I went to my Doctor and my BP was high, so she put me on Benicar. I took it for 3 days and then I refused to take it anymore. After taking it I couldn't hardly get off the couch, and I was dizzy, and had a tightness in my chest with chest pains. The doctor changed my prescription to lisinopril and the chest pains got worse along with that deadly cough. I went back to my doctor and told her that I wasn't going to take lisinopril any more because of the chest pains and the caugh. She said that she didn't think it was the medicine and she gave me an EKG and I failed it. I went 2 days later and had a nuclear stress test and failed it too, then I had a heart cath and the cardiologist said that my heart was perfect, it wasn't my heart. Needless to say it was the meds that the doctor had put me on, those nasty side effects. Now I just moniter my BP and I'm to scared to take anything because of the side effects. I wished I could make the doctor pay for all the test I had to take. She should have just listened to me when I told her it was the meds. After failing 2 test, I thought that I may be really having a heart attach, Very scary. Just listen to what we are saying " DON'T TAKE LISINOPRIL" Oh yea after heart cath I called my doctor and told her that I was not taking Lisinopril any more because that was what was causing my problems not my heart and she said just to let all meds get out of my system and come back in a week and we would try something else. yea right. She's not getting any more of my money. I've come to realize that every thing has side effects, so before I take anything else I will look it up first. Be careful what you take!

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

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

Started taking lisinopril April 6th of this year. Have had many of the symptoms listed in these posts. I just thought I was still having symptoms from being sick. I have had a lot of anxiety and depression, as well as chest pain and heart palpitations. My hands were ice cold and had severe stomach pain. My head felt very cloudy and numb. I have had every blood test possible, 2 EKG's, a brain MRI, cervical MRI and brain MRA, and a chest x-ray. So far, everything is normal. I saw this site a few weeks ago and on June 8th, I stopped taking lisinopril. I have started feeling better, not completely, but definitely better. I am supposed to go back to my doctor on the 29th. He did not agree with me that these symptoms could all be caused from this drug. He reluctantly agreed that I get off it for these 3 weeks. I am still taking Hydrochlorot with no symptoms. Not sure what to tell him when I go back. Are any of the other blood pressure drugs safe???

I HAVE NEVER been on any meds before in my life. I was given this for blood pressure and let me tell you. Depression has kicked in along with real bad thoughts. I told my doctor and she said this medicine don't do all this stuff we are saying it's doing.
I know one thing before I took this mess I wasn't feeling like this and I have my family to raise I don't care what the doctor say I am not taking this mess and I know my feelings are real!!!! This medicine should be band and I am so glad I came across this site. I was only on this medicine about 2 weeks. I quit it and my doctor I got a new one who thinks with diet I can control my b/p God Bless everyone for telling me your story I thought I was going crazy

I started having pains in my fingers about 2 months ago,the doctor suspected Lyme disease and put me on antibiotics for 10 days yet the pain in my fingers and the cramps in my hands continue to plague me and robbing me of much needed rest .I also hurt some where new everyday that last for a few days and goes away ,but the pain in my index fingers are constant. I m sick of the pain and would rather take my chances with high blood-pressure.I am so glad I found this page. it was amazing how many people have the same symptoms I have ..I am convinced that the meds are causing my pain.If anyone has any suggestions for me I will be happy to hear them.THANKS

Hi,I am a 43 year old female who has high blood pressure. I have been taking 10 mg of lisinopil for about 8 weeks. I started getting the dry cough and always felt like clearing my throat. I went to the ENT and was told that I had acid reflux. I am up most of the night coughing and choking. I am wondering after reading the complaints that this med might be causing it. I am now taking Nexium for the acid reflux but the dry cough is still happening. My high blood pressure was only 145/90 so I am thinking of going off the meds and try to get the BP down on my own.

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

I have been taking lisinopril for about 2 1/2 years now. About 4 weeks ago I was having trouble sleeping, my legs hurt real bad and when I would wake up I would have a numbing tingling sensation in my legs and feet. Went to the doctor asked her if it could be the meds and she said she didn't think so and to continue to take it. I still continue to have problems, tired, weak muscles, hurt and a raw lump in the throat feeling. She sent me for a brain mri that showed white lesions on the brain. She said it could be from high blood pressure but said my has never really been that high or it could be MS. I am right now waiting to see a neuro dr to see if I have ms but after reading all these post I am wondering if it is the lisinopril. Has any one else had these types of symptoms?

ok ive been on lisinopril for about 4 months. the cough is annoying and its not all that bad but the thing I notice most is the constipation, and its causes one more side effect that most men are afraid to talk about and thats erectile dysfunction. The doctor told me this would improve after ive been on my meds for a bit but after 4 months the ED has gotten worse. I forgot to take my meds for a couple of days and for the first time since taking this stuff things are improving. Im 39 yrs old and am in ok shape but not bad. I have a physical job and am fairly active. The ED, reduced sex drive, cough and cramping of the right calf after 4 months ?????? If I stay on this what next? Anyone else have any ED problems with this drug???.

I'm on Lisinopril-HCTZ and have been for not even a month and I'm having those coughing spells so desperately, that I almost pass out. I can't stop coughing all day and night, now another doctor says I have asthma, but I don't think I do. I think its the adverse effects of this medication. I can't eat because it feels as though my esophagus is closing up all the time, I've been living on soup mostly since I started these meds, otherwise I can't swallow. I have to get off this medication because its causing decreased lung capacity already and I've only been on it two weeks!

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 started taking lisinopril 20mg Nov. 12, 2008. I've never smoked poison ivy before, but that's how I describe the constant side effect. Sinus and upper gums, upper chest. A dull allergic feeling. Some days I am preoccupied with it, gets depressing. Does keep the BP down. I am weaning the dose down to stop. I know you're not supposed to stop taking them, but I am sick of feeling sick. I've told the doctor twice, I think he thinks I am imagining it. I don't have insurance, it cost me $300.00 out of pocket to see him for ten minutes. I hate felling trapped like this.

43 yo Male 5'9, I weighed 259 lbs 2 years ago. I am now 221 lbs. I want to be 200 lbs. Work out 3 times a week gym. Take vitamins. Diet is better than what it was.
Can't say I am not trying. But if all BP meds are like this, I will no longer take them, and just take my chances.

I have extreme sensitivities to most meds. including OTC. Taking any medication is always risky for me. Usually fall into the 1% of people taking this drug developed......
I just started taking Lisinopril last night at bedtime, only a 5 mg. tablet, starting out at half a dose. Was so tired all day could barely stay awake. Also, extremely bloated gut, lots of pain and gas and a pulled-muscle sensation BEHIND my knees Had to walk with bent knees all day to lessen the pain. Can the muscle pain really start this rapidly? Also, anyone else have pain behind their knees or just cramps in calves. Was on 5 mg. of Norvasc daily.. Would rather indure the swollen ankles from that than repeat today's pain. Will take the lisinopril for total of a week. No improvements, back to Norvasc for me.

I started Lisinopril 10mg in mid November 2008. In December I caught a particularly nasty cold, terrible cough, lost my voice for weeks but very little sinus problems. Went to urgent care on New Years Eve because I couldn't deal with the coughing anymore. They gave me a chest x-ray and breathing treatment and sent me home with a z-pack, inhaler and cough syrup. Slowly started feeling better and by mid January I had my voice back, but the cough continued. It was a cough like so many of you describe, the kind where you cough until you puke! No fun. But, I'm a smoker so I kept thinking that was why it was taking so long to get over.

March 1, 2009 I had a coughing attack while shopping. While coughingl I felt a terrible pain in my side, it was so bad I thought I was going to fall over. I knew I had broken a rib! From coughing... imagine that! When I got home I starting googling chronic cough and broken ribs. I came across reference to medications as a cause of chronic cough. The light bulb came on.

I stopped taking the Lisinopril and called the Doc in the morning. Told the nurse that I wanted to change my medication and that I needed a chest x-ray to see if I had broken a rib. Saw the doctor two days later, no hassle about changing meds, but I really had to talk her into the broken rib theory. Had my chest x-ray and sure enough, I have a broken rib.

Well, three weeks later and I feel so much better. Now I only have coughing fits 3-4 times a day instead of the 5-6 times an hour. I think I will get over this!

Too bad though, because the meds actually worked. My blood pressure was lower than it had been in years. But I think this is one cure that has side effects worse than the disease it cures.

I had been taking this for years and about three-four yrs ago they changed generic. I had horrible stomach and abdominal problems.Not diarrhea or constipation but pain swelling bloating and feeling a lump in ab. Went to cts, ultrasounds, 3 colonoscopies,endoscopy, pill camera,I went through 3 primary care doctors. Had emergency hosp.visits. Doctors.started getting to think I was crazy That made me depressed to the point I didn"t want to see anyone or go any where. Not one Dr. suggested it could be one of my meds. By accident over the Christmas holidays I ran out of my lisinopril hctz. within 3 days I felt normal again Swelling in ab stopped and most of pain.ever gonna get near that poison again.# months later Im doing a lot better I actually feel good .Its amazing I think it caused me a rare reaction called intestinal angioedema .That is basically hives on your insides. Could be dangerous if esophogeous is involved I lucked out.I did have wheezing and shortness in breathing .People Beware Its a dangerous drug.

I started taking Lisinopril about six months ago. 20mg twice a day. I have the cough. I do sing-a-longs and folk music, so the cough is a real pain. This winter my hands were so dry, the skin was pealing off. My hair felt lifeless. I wake up and can't get back to sleep. I have had a cold twice this winter. I don't know how much of this is due to the meds. I have cut back to once a day and my hands are better and my hair feels better. Some days my lower number on my BP is very low. Tired all the time. I'm going to try cutting the pills in half and cut back some more. I hate to change meds because they all seem to have serious side effects. Oh, yeah, I'm 74.
...Cariboubill

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

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

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

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

Someone, please tell me how long this coughing will last! I took Lisinopril for 4 weeks. During that time I had many of the same symptoms that I'm reading now, but didn't realize what was causing them. But after 3 weeks of a constant dry cough that led to gagging more often than not and cough attacks every hour on the hour even at night, I turned to the Internet to research tickling coughs. I too was sure I had throat cancer after experiencing lung cancer just a year ago. After reading all of these experiences from all of the people on this site, I was relieved yet furious. I called to inform my doctor of the side effect of the coughing that was keeping me from going anywhere but work (I'm a teacher so you can imagine how difficult that is). I was consuming 10 - 15 cough drops a day and night which was not helping my weight issue. She prescribed Toprol which I researched and read that it should not be taken if you have had a history of lung issues. Needless to say, I'm not going to take that either. My blood pressure is pre-hypertension so I believe I can control that myself with exercise and diet. It's been 5 days since I stopped taking the Lisinopril and the coughing has not subsided at all. I was up every hour on the hour last night and that was with taking a sleep aid.

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

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

I was on Diovan HCTZ for a number of years for my high blood pressure. It worked pretty well, keeping my b/p to around 130/80, it had been 158/90. The Diovan, since no generic is available, is expensive but I did have a prescription plan at the time. I recently retired and asked my doctor to switch me over to a generic medication to cut my cost. He put me on lisinopril hctz 20/12.5mg. I took it once a day and had great results with lowering my blood pressure. No side effects until the third month, I then began to notice a great deal of hair loss. Since I am 58, 15 years post menopausal, dye my hair, I thought maybe it was the dye (unusual since I have been using the same product for years). I started washing my hair every other day instead of daily. This did not help, I still had to vacumm my bathroom floor daily. At this point I looked up on the internet and found this site about the connection of lisinopril and hair loss. Being an RN I decided to cut the pills in half for a week and see what happened. Sure enough, my hair loss stopped. I then went to my doctor equipt with this information. I am now on HCTZ 25mg daily and taking my blood pressure 2x/day. My b/p stays around 140/80. I know I have to go back to the doctor next week to discuss what to do next because this is not working. Luckily I HAD very thick hair otherwise I would be bald. Does the hair grow back? Does anyone have any other medication they can suggest that does not have this side effect? Too bad, I was doing so good on the lisinopril with my b/p and it did not make me tired like the diovan did.