Lisinopril and muscle cramps

I was on Lisinopril for a while until the dry hacking cough drove me crazy. It got so bad I had trouble driving. I would start coughing severely and could not stop. Had trouble with bladder control due to coughing. Went to my Urologyst, he mentioned coughing and Lisinopril. I looked it up online and immediately stopped taking it. Cough stopped in about 2 weeks. Husband has been on it for about 6 yrs and 3 wks ago started having SEVERE muscle cramping on back. Drs. give him muscle relaxers and pain killers. One of his toes is twitching (mine used to do that too) and seems to be confused and forgetful. I just told him he's not taking it any more. Lisinopril is pure poison!!!!!!!!!

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

I have read everyone's symptoms that have written their concerns on this website and I want to recommend that you contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website at: www.fda.gov and it will give you all the information you need on the side effects of this drug.

Believe me, many of the symptoms you have all described are on their list under the section that I browsed through when I looked up Lisinopril/HCTZ or ZESTORETIC (the generic kind of this drug).

This what I found:

ADVERSE REACTIONS

ZESTORETIC has been evaluated for safety in 930 patients including 100 patients treated for 50 weeks or more.

In clinical trials with ZESTORETIC no adverse experiences peculiar to this combination drug have been observed. Adverse experiences that have occurred have been limited to those that have been previously reported with lisinopril or hydrochlorothiazide.

The most frequent clinical adverse experiences in controlled trials (including open label extensions) with any combination of lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide were: dizziness (7.5%), headache (5.2%), cough (3.9%), fatigue (3.7%) and orthostatic effects (3.2%) all of which were more common than in placebo-treated patients. Generally, adverse experiences were mild and transient in nature, but see WARNINGS regarding angioedema and excessive hypotension or syncope. Discontinuation of therapy due to adverse effects was required in 4.4% of patients principally because of dizziness, cough, fatigue and muscle cramps.

Adverse experiences occurring in greater than one percent of patients treated with lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide in controlled clinical trials are shown below.

Table Percent of Patients in Controlled Studies

(For a more detailed breakdown of this chart, pls. check the fda website)

Incidence (discontinuation)

Dizziness 7.5
Headache 5.2
Cough 3.9
Fatigue 3.7
Orthostatic Effects 3.2
Diarrhea 2.5
Nausea 2.2
Upper Respiratory Infection 2.2
Muscle Cramps 2.0
Asthenia 1.8
Paresthesia 1.5
Hypotension 1.4
Vomiting 1.4
Dyspepsia 1.3
Rash 1.2
Impotence 1.2

Clinical adverse experiences occurring in 0.3% to 1.0% of patients in controlled trials and rarer, serious, possibly drug-related events reported in marketing experience are listed below:

Body as a Whole: Chest pain, abdominal pain, syncope, chest discomfort, fever, trauma, virus infection. Cardiovascular: Palpitation, orthostatic hypotension. Digestive: Gastrointestinal cramps, dry mouth, constipation, heartburn. Musculoskeletal: Back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, back strain, myalgia, foot pain. Nervous/Psychiatric: Decreased libido, vertigo,
depression, somnolence. Respiratory: Common cold, nasal congestion, influenza, bronchitis, pharyngeal pain, dyspnea, pulmonary congestion, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, pharyngeal discomfort. Skin: Flushing, pruritus, skin inflammation, diaphoresis, cutaneous pseudolymphoma. Special Senses: Blurred vision, tinnitus, otalgia. Urogenital: Urinary tract infection.

Angioedema: Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis and/or larynx has been reported rarely. (See WARNINGS.)
In rare cases, intestinal angioedema has been reported in post marketing experience.

Hypotension: In clinical trials, adverse effects relating to hypotension occurred as follows: hypotension (1.4%), orthostatic hypotension (0.5%), other orthostatic effects (3.2%). In addition syncope occurred in 0.8% of patients. (See WARNINGS.)

Cough: See PRECAUTIONS - Cough.

I found this website to be helpful information in trying to find out more about the side effects I have been experiencing after taking this drug. I also wrote in to the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration with my concerns to see what we can do to get it off the market or have it improved.

There is alot more information about the drug and its generic brand as well, but I thought this was important to put on this website. Hope this helps!

Martha

Have been suffering from bad muscle cramps in the back of my calves, Cardiologist trying to find out why. I believe it is from the Lisinopril (40 mg a day). He has taken me off of Vytorin, that hasn't helped. pharmacist believes it is from the Lisinopril, my primary doctor doesn't think so but I am glad that I have my Cardio b/c he will try anything and believes in side affects that meds can cause, since reading all the other posts I can't wait to tell him and hope that is the answer. I miss walking and right now can't go a half mile without severe pain in my leg calves

LOW POTASSIUM LEVELS,DIZZINESS,NAUSEA,VOMITING,FEELING FAINT/FAINTING,MUSCLE CRAMPS/SPASMS,FREQUENT URINATION,FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS,TIREDNESS,WEAK,HEART PALPATATIONS; I AM ONLY 30 AND FEEL LIKE A 70 YEAR OLD WOMAN.I HAVE TO HAVE MY POTASSIUM LEVEL CHECKED ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT KEEPS BOTTOMING OUT AND I WILL PASS OUT AND MY PRESSURE GETS TO LOW.BUT I NEED A BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION WITH A DIURETIC.WHAT ELSE CAN I USE I ASK YOU?

Symptoms I have:
NOTES on health since day after I started the Lisinipril.
9-03-07 – started taking Lisinopril
9-05-07 – Saw Dr. for Bladder infection (left urinalysis with doctor). Prescribed a sulfite antibiotic for bladder infection.
9-06-07 – First symptoms began; trouble urinating
9-06-07 – Called Dr. Kuebals office to let them know that I was having trouble urinating. I also asked if they got the lab test (urinalysis) back yet. The nurse let me know that I had strep in my urine (very rare she said) but they will be prescribing me macrobid and to stop the first antibiotic.
9-06-07 – Began taking macrobid
9-11-07 – Unable to urinate at all
More symptoms after a few more days of taking this drug: Heart pounding in my chest, Achy skin, panic/anxiety attacks (hard to catch breath, heavy chest), Cold feet, hot sweats and chills, urinary retention, bladder infections, ultra sensativety (body to the touch), muscle cramps, arms, legs, back and neck feel heavy. I can't even lift my arms to fold clothes they get so heavy.
9-12-07 – went to the ER to get catheterized
9-14-07 – At hospitals request (doctor at hospital) saw a urologist although he thought that this was most likely a cause of the bladder infection and that I might have some swelling around the urethra or he also suggested that it might be caused by a tear or “stretch” in the urethra from not being able to urinate due to the pain of urinating. I didn’t not think that one, because as soon as I was not able to urinate, I knew that I would need a catheter until we figured out what was wrong.
9-14-07 – Removed catheter at urologist office
9-15-07 – Early am – went to ER again to get catheterized as I was still unable to urinate
9-19-07 – Went to CT Scan requested by Urologist
9-20-07 – Nurse removed 2nd Catheter at Urology Office and said to come back by four if I still could not urinate on my own.
9-20-07 – Researched Lisinopril to find UT could be caused by Lisinopril (medications.com) and saw the side effects that some people were having with this drug. Also learned that this was a derivative of venom from a Brazilian snake (thus the symptoms of feeling achy, sick, tired, muscle weakness and urinary retention
9-20-07 – Went back to urologist to let them know that I still could not urinate and they showed me how to self catheretize. Also, as of the evening of 9-19-07 stopped Lisinopril.
Between the ER doctors, my PCP and my Urologist, they have heard me complain about all of these symptoms but they refused to connect them to the Lisinopril.

Hi all
I was dx with hbp when I was approx 15. I was then rx a Beta Blocker and had lost weight and it seemed that my bp was great no need for meds any longer and was fine till I was approx 32 years old when my bp went to 157/120 my gp asked if thier was a family hx of hbp and of course thier is and then asked what family members were taking to lower thiers and the only thing I could find out was that everyone took hctz and the gp rx this for me and it has worrked till recently when readings were 157/110, 160/100, 147/127 ect very bad I felt horrible..fast pulse headache and chest pain also a feeling as if my heart was going to pound out of my chest!!! the dr rx a med called toprol and sent me to a internal medicine specialist who kept me on the hctz and the toprol and added lisinopril to the mix...OMG what a mistake after ONE dose I felt like I was a HUGE muscle Cramp Aching all over and upset stomache a HUGE headache my legs ached SO bad that I was in tears!!! The only thing different is the Lisinopril!!!

I have been taking lisinopril for about four months and my doctor increased my meds to 20mg from 10mg. Everything was fine except the tiredness so I take it at night before bed or I could not stay awake during the day. Then I wole up with numb feet one morning and just thought it was nothing as i get swelling when the weather gets warm. well the numbness is still there two weeks later. It is very uncomfortable and is moving up my legs and my arms and legs feel very tired and weak. Last night I counted the pills remaining from the last prescription refill and sure enough the amount left coinsides with the last refill, which by the way is a different manufacturer because the pills are a different color, shape and size. I went to the doctor this week and am waiting for the blood test results. I should know today. I am active and walk five days a week and work out at the Y three times a week. Has anyone else had funny feet problems?

I've been taking Lisinopril for about 9 months, my wife for over a year. She has a terrible hacking cough day and night.
I have two finger tips that stay numb, a severe cramp that comes and goes in the left shoulder and neck. My cough did'nt last but a few months, but the muscle cramps are getting worse! My wife has started cramps in her side and legs.

I started taking Lisinopril 2.5 weeks ago and I have been having severe muscle cramps in both calf muscles and started yesterday in both forearm muscles. Dr wants me to have an MRI to check for pinched nerve but after reading the side effects and seeing muscle cramps on the list, I think it would be a waste of time and money. They never look at the side effects before scheduling new tests. Be careful.

Unusual fatigue and weakness, muscle cramps, lethargy and woke me up coughing at night which the drug, Singulair, is supposed to stop, but Lisinopril over-rode it.

In the afternoons, I would just sit in a chair and just feel very "unwell."

Okay in the a.m., but the afternoons were terrible and then it started at night, waking me up with coughing.

Then I inherited a urinary tract infection - I was not eliminating enough, so the urine backed up and caused the infection (this came from someone who is a druggist).

My doctor is on vacation and I used a walk-in medical center to get help. I'm back on hydrochlorot.

I am 42 and started BP treatment almost three months ago, I thought that I was just having side effects from the Flue shot, but now the Dr. feels that it is side effects from the Lisiniprol 10mg. My joints ache from head to toe, Cough, fever, sore throat and infamous cough. Oh what a wonderful thing! I was so excited as the blood pressure went down and was at a normal level now I am afraid to start something new. yes we decided to go off the medecine "emediately" continue 5 days of BP check and go from there., Go figure find something that helps, and BAM Alergic.. good luck to all those out there hesitant to try something new,. then to have the side effects.. I pray that the side effects will go away now that I stopped taking it, especially the joint pains and muscle cramps.. I am not overweight and pretty active but this has made it hard to move especially stairs.. Good luck

My dr. started me on 5mg lisinopril in Sept 2003 for HB - being a diabetic (borderline, on a research program) the readings for HB is lower than someone not considered to be diabetic. Because it was only 5mg, it took several months for the symptoms to gradually show up and I did not attribute them to the med, and neither did the doc. My symptoms include:
eye hemorhage
acid reflux
constatnt dry, hacking cough to the point of throwing up
increased allergic sensitivities
increase in muscle cramps
intestinal pain and cramping
unexplained, sudden sore throat and fever that developes into chest congestion
low grade fever and sweating at night
tremendous decrease in stamina - tired all of the time
difficulty in breathing, especially during any physical exertion such as yard work
unable to sleep decently due to cough
chest pain and pressure

My doc ignored the symptoms until I reported the chest pain and pressure, then he referred me to a heart specialist -- who advised that I may be having reactions to Lisinopril, but still scheduled a stress test for me (all okay). I imediately checked out the side effects, and then told my doc that I would not be taking it anymore, that I would be willing to try something else -- for 1 month.

Since this has all taken place within the last couple of weeks, I am hoping it won;t be TOO long before I lose the cough and get my stamina back.