Lisinopril and prednisone

I was prescribed Lisinopril by my doctor. I am a diabetic so my doctor told me this medicine would protect my kidneys(although my kidneys are fine). I was prescribed this medication at the end of February beginning March of 2009.About two weeks into taking the medication I got the first reaction I started getting these rashes that would come and go,then my lips would tingle and get numb then they would instantly swell at that point. When this first happened I thought maybe it was food I had eaten. I bought Benadryl and after a few hours it went away. (second attack) A few days later the symptoms worsened the rashes got worse and the swelling in my face got even more worse. Still thinking it was the food I ate I took more benadryl. This time the swelling lasted overnight the next morning I was fine.(third attack) About four days after that I was sitting at home talking with family and my face got very itchy around the lips my chest started to feel tight then instantly my lips got gigantic. My family members got scared and advised me to stop the benadryl and call my doctor fast. That night when I got home I called my doctor they were closed but the emergency nurse told me to come and see my doctor the next day. When I saw my doctor he immediately told me it was the Lisinopril that was causing the attacks and that I should discontinue using it and that my next attack may be fatal but I should be fine, keep taking the benadryl he told me. I got home and immediately trashed the Lisinopril. Just when I thought it was all over a week later (fourth attack) I get home after work watching television all of a sudden I get this terrible itch all over my body like bugs were on me, I hopped in the shower got done still this terrible itch all over. My lips tingled like crazy all of a sudden my body was full of bumps/hives everywhere my eyes were swollen shut, throat felt like it was closing up, couldn't hardly breathe, my lips were bigger than ever before. I was rushed to the emergency room, before I left I had taken 4 benadryl 25 mil tablets when I got to the emergency room I was seen almost immediately they pulled me in a side room gave me 2 shots of benadryl a shot of another medicine don't remember the name,a shot of pepcid,plus two pills I can't think of at the moment. I was in the ER for five hours waiting for the swelling in my body to go down,well the hives went away but my lips were swollen for at least 72 hours. I was diagnosed in the ER with Angioedema. I saw my doctor within 24 hours of my ER visit he prescribed me an epi pen he also made me get a life alert bracelet and told me to always keep benadryl with me. He told me the medicine should be out of my system it shouldn't happen again but just in case it does I should keep the epi pen handy,the bracelet,and benadryl always beside me.Well since that visit I have been taking benadryl every single day because I keep hive/rashes, now the edema is spreading it's not just the lips I get this painful swelling in different spots on my body. As I am writing this @ 2a.m I have to take off work today June 3rd 2009 because my lips are so swollen they feel like they are about to burst. I can't afford to miss all of these days of work and I definitely can't afford an emergency room visit which are $150.00 each visit so I have to wait and see my doctor @ 9:15 a.m. I refuse to go to work in this condition these breakouts are affecting my life for the worse. This is just a brief synopsis it is really much worse than this though. I am 31 years old and when I have these attacks people look @ me frightened like i'm contagious or something.I went from being only allergic to morphine which gave me hives once, and that was minor to having allergic reactions almost everyday along with a lot of other symptoms to this drug. I really hope something can be done about this. PLEASE TAKE THIS HORRIBLE DRUG OFF THE MARKET!!!!

Took this medication with hydrochlorothiazide due to high blood pressure. Two weeks ago I took a nap Friday evening after school (I teach school from 8 to 4:30), and woke up with half my face and tongue swollen. I thought it must have been a food allergy.
This Friday, while at the gym, my tongue started swelling on one side. By the time I got home, my neck was swelling on that side. I called the doctor and got a dose pack of prednisone and went and picked it up. I took the first 6 pills at 8:30. 2 hours later the other side of my tongue was 3-4 inches thick and my neck was swelling to the point it was equal to or outside my head. I took another 4 pills and a benadryl.
I almost went to the hospital, but held out because of the out of pocket expense with my insurance. Finally, about 2 the swelling of my tongue subsided. I tried to lie down around 4 a.m., but couldn't breath due to swelling in throat. Had to sit up all night.
Now, Sunday afternoon, I still have some swelling in my throat. I was never warned that such side effects were possible. I wonder how many people have been effected and if the FDA has any idea of the numbers.
swelling of tongue,
swelling of neck,
trouble breathing,
trouble swallowing.
I had been on this medicine for 3 months. I'll never take another blood pressure medicine. And, I have to find a new doctor that I trust.

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 have been on this about two or three months. In the last two months I developed hoarseness, laryngitis, and loss of voice. I sound like Mickey Mouse or like I have been sucking helium.

Any one else have these symptoms?

I also have powerful leg and foot cramps at night but may have had this before.

HELP

I have stopped for about 2 weeks now and no improvement. Anyone have an idea how long this could last? I need my voice for work.

HELP

have been on Lisinopril/HCTZ for over a year with no side effects. Last week I switched to Cartia XL because I am 29 and wanted to try to have a baby. The Cartia made me severely depressed so after four days I switched back to my Lisinopril/HCTZ until my follow-up appt. in three weeks. I took the Lisinopril/ HCTZ for two days. The first day I had a weezy cough. The second day I broke out in a rash that was unaffected by benadryl. I looked in OVID medical journal database and found that the symptoms of Lisinopril rash are rashes confined to the trunk, neck, and proximal limbs (closest to body) and are unaffected by Benadryl (because the rash is caused by luekotriene and not histamine reaction). I went to urgent care today and they gave me a benadryl shot and three prednisone pills with no effect. Then they gave me a IV drip with Zantac (the heartburn medicine but also can help with rashes). It helped some but I am back at home and the rash looks worse and still itches. This is horrible.

Oh My Gosh - as I sit here with abdominal cramps typing my experience - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I started taking Lisinopril in late April 2008. On May 2 I had severe abdominal cramps and massive vomiting for 8 hours. Finally got myself to ER after I sent my family on to our vacation (I joined 2 days later). The ER attributed it to food poisoning. Lo and behold, I had another "attack" on May 9th. Back to ER I went (my husband witnessed my attack and insisted I go). They took X-rays and MRI - found intestinal inflammation but didn't know why. My internest send me to gastro dr. Third attack hit on June 5th and gastro doctor sent me to major hospital ER. They, too, did MRI & blood work. Looked at gall bladder, pancreas, stomach, intestines, etc. They found intestinal inflammation. Gastro Dr. took more blood and did more test (CT, MRI, Colonoscopy, Endoscopy). He couldn't find anything so he sent me to rheumatologist. She did add'l blood work and genetic testing. She though I had an auto-immune disorder - like Mediterranean Familial Fever! Please...! But all her tests came back negative. She too had no answers, only treatment for symptoms - Colchicine and Prednisone. Yuk. After having my 8th debilitating attack yesterday (since May), I've had enough. I went to the Web and found this wonderful site - along with some others with helpful info. I don't have confirmation that the lisinopril is causing this - but it sure sounds like it. I am a 49 yr old female and I've had no "life changing" events in my life (except for this nastiness) and have been on no other meds. I find it interesting that out of all the doctors I've seen - and all knew of the lisinopril - that none suspected this as a side effect.

September 25,2008 I was told to increase my dosage of Lisinopril from 10 mg to 20 mg and suddenly awoke on October 2, 2008 with a extremely swollen top lip, the degree was enough to get me into the ER room where I was issued Prednisone and Hydroxyzine with Famotidine which I had to take over the course of a few days to a week.

I was on Lisiniprol for 91 days as an ACE inhibitor for diabetes and kidney protection. All was find except for a constant feeling of burning blood all the time. It was tolerable though.

But on day 91 I developed hives. 14 days after that I was broken out from scalp to sole of my feet -- feeling miserable and no relief in site.

Dr. told me that I was allergic to something and to take benadryl. 3 doctors later I was told that I had hives and had to learn to live with it. He increased my benadryl.

I took myself off all my meds except insulin -- not knowing what was going on. I researched and discovered the this drug should NOT have been given to me because I also have SJOGRENS (an autoimmune disease akin to Lupus).

The hives got worse, my benadryl was increased by the drs. Finally I passed out due to benadryl toxicisity (overdosed) and they put me on prednisone.

To this day -- 6 months later -- I still have hive outbreaks that are miserable. I have missed a day from work every 7-10 days. The prednisone helps, but as a diabetic it sends y blood sugars through the roof. My rheumo has put me on doxepin (an antidepressant) because it has an antihystamine property that seems to be helping.

It is also useful for the rheumotoid arthritis that comes from Sjogrens and such. I am sleepy a lot -- but that could be from the doxepin.

I will never take Lisiniprol or any other ACE inhibitor. I am suffering and the worse part of it: the doctors and medical profession don't care and simply tell me to learn to live with it.

I have been io Lisinopril for several months, and the only side effect I can say is a VERY ANNOYING rash on the inside of my upper thighs. It comes and goes and gets worse with warmth, like a heat rash. I also have now developed a rash on my butt that is looks to me like shingles. Very itchy, to the point of bleeding from scratching. I treated with diaper rash ointment and triple antibiotic ointment to not much improvement. Reently tried a jock itch ointment which seems to be working. Also took myself off Lisinopril 2 days ago, and things are getting better, but very slowly........

Was previously on Micardis HCT; dr. switched to generic Lisinopril HCTZ 12.5 in 11/07 when I went on Medicare & was concerned about cost of Micardis. Since that time I've put on 10 lbs. and had increased pain/muscle fatigue and general lethargy. Unusual, as I've exercised 4-5 days per wk. (incl. aerobics/strength trng/flexibility.) for 20+ yrs. Also, frequently, have problems swallowing pills due to feeling of obstruction in esaphogus tube. In July '08 I awakened to slight numbness/tingling in lips and my lips then proceeded to the swell to the point of pain and my lips (in profile) protruded further than my nose. I received steroid injection and prescription for steroid pack. Diagnosis was possible allergic reaction to new cosmetic product. Today (9/3/08) I woke up with the same symptoms and again had to go to the dr.for a steroid injection & meds. Diagnosis this time (different dr.) was possible side effects of "blood pressure meds." Has anyone else experienced edema of the lips, wt. gain, and problems swallowing?

My husband started on Lisinopril - 6/11/08. He also takes Coreg generic. He also takes Crestor. However, before taking Lisinopril, he had a persistent cough dating back to March. He was placed in prednisone for five days - 6/14/08. He has had chest pain, numbing of different sections of his legs, arm numbness. But, today, he threatened to attack me with a remote control and wished a tv to fall on my head.
This is psychotic behavior. Has anyone else experienced violent eposides and incoherant moments?

I am a 56 year old woman and my doctor started me on 10 mg Lisinopril in March. Within 24 hours of starting it I developed a very annoying cough. At my next doctors visit she told me my bp was not down enough and wanted to increase the dosage. When I asked her if the cough could be from the Lisinopril she gave me some samples of Benecar HCT. The only problem I had with that was muscle weakness and some palpitations that went away after a few days. When I got the prescription filled I found that my insurance didn't cover it and it was quite expensive so I called my doctor back and she wanted me to try the Lisinopril again at 20mg and see what happened. That very same night the cough came back with a vengeance, along with dizziness. I decided to try to tough it out but after ten days now the cough is so bad it's unbearable. It keeps me up at night and I cough till I gag and cry. On several occasions I have coughed until I vomited. I couldn't take it any more and stopped taking it two days ago. I called my doctor today and she told me to stop taking it and now we're going to try Norvasc.

I've been having ringing in my ears (tinnitus) which started at about the same time I started taking Lisinopril. Has anyone else experienced this side effect?

I have been on Lisinopril-HCTZ 20/25 for about 5 weeks now and I have noticed a little dry cough recently and a constant runny nose. Since 3-15-08 I notice that my left ear has been losing some hearing and today the 18 of march it feels like I have something jammed in there and everything is severly muffled.I was just on Lisinopril at first and on 3-11-08 the Dr put me on Lisinopril-HTCZ 20/25 and this started 4 days after I started the drug I have not taken it today and don't plan on it after I I have read what I have just read. I am going back to see my Dr. this after noon.