Lisinopril and sleep

I have been taking lisinopril for more than 5 years now and just happened upon this site the other day. After reading all the posts I was amazed to see so many others describe the same side effects that I have had for years now, ie) pain in my chest and left arm that has led me to think I am having a heart attack. I have had 3 EKGs over the past several years and every time it was normal but the pain has persisted and to the point of not being able to sleep at night and constantly wondering if I am having a heart attack, it has been incredibly frustrating!!! So when I found this site I was very relieved to know that I am not alone here. I have also recently discovered a natural product that has helped many lower their BP, it is called Pro-Argi9 Plus, you can check it out at this link, ******, it could change your life as it has for many.

I have been taking Lisinopril for years. Also I've taken numerous tests to find out why I'm so fatigued, sleep all day and more tired afer sleeping even,severe knee pain at night when laying down only... I had also put on a huge amount of weight in a month or two when I started taking it now that I come to think of it. Oh my gosh. As I continued reading everyone's posts I wanted to cry. Has this been my problem after all these years? I sleep my life away for the last few years and I'm only 40. Before I started taking it, I worked out extreme 36 hours a week and worked 50 to 60 hours a week. Now my day is trying to get up to make it to work on time for 8 or 9 hours! I've already sent an email to my endocrinologist to request a different prescription and I am not using Lisinopril anymore!! Are there any class action suits for this? This has really taken a lot from me. I only hope this is my answer, which it sounds like it is! Thank you so much for sharing your stories. I will return after time to reveal my results!

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 have been taking it for almost a week. I was swimming and got this awful leg cramp and had to get out of the pool. I got some potass. pills and took a couple before I noticed it wasn't recommended. Dear me! I couldn't go to sleep last night and rolled a lot and just couldn't relax I'm hoping things get better in the next few days. My back was hurting a lot today so don't know if there is a relationship or not. I hope this gets better as this medication did take it down a lot from 166 to 110.

I'm just not used to taking medication at all, but want to live awhile.

I just started taking it, but yawn a lot. I couldn't sleep last night so don't know if it is from the medicine or not. I can't get up too quickly after being in bed for awhile as I feel light headed. My appetite has decreased and probably depressed as I don't feel energetic at all. I will probably talk with my doctor about this even though it has taken my blood pressure down a lot.

I recently back in April of this year received Cyberknife radiation for Adenocarcinoma with metastasis to my brain. After surgery to remove my brain tumor in March of 2009. I went though whole brain radiation and the Cyberknife to my lung. The doctor was very adamant that as the lung heals from radiation you will develop what they call wet lung or neumonesis sp? This will have to be treated separately, or severe coughing would continue. My primary care doctor in the mean time put me on Lisinopril 20 mg for hypertension. I have not gotten a good nights sleep in 2.5 months since, then came the pneumonosis. This cough persist to this day waking me from what little sleep I do get, and amazingly am now suffering from joint pain especial in my hips. It's to the point I can't even cross my legs anymore it hurts. When discussing this with my primary she says its in my head as of today and reading this site and side effects I am taking myself off of Lisinopril and will seek a second opinion, even a third if need be thank you all so much for posting your side effects from this drug.

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 have been on lisinopril for almost 3 months started out with 20 mg a day and my doctor upped my dose to 40 mg a day after going back for a check bp was still high I guess. About a month ago was out in the sun for about 6 hours and ever since then my head has been flaking and itching and has some scabs on it I also have some red rash on the back of my neck. Has anyone else experience this? I can't get it to stop either I tried using Head and Shoulders for 2 weeks like the doctor told me but it doesn't help. Any suggestions?

49 year old African American, this is the worst experience I have ever had, constant coughing, diarrhea, throwing up after my evening meal, headaches and always tired, been off the medication for a week and everything is gone away but the coughing which is less common now that it was. I can finally sleep and not stay up all night coughing, don't take this stuff.

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.

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.

headache, leg pain, sleep problems-waking up several times at night, constantly tired, depressed, excessive saliva, now no saliva, swelling
parotid gland, neck swelling. Fatigue is unbelievable! Can't seem to do everyday chores. Has anyone else had swelling of parotid glands?

I am a 52 year old female and began taking 20mg. of lisinopril about 6 weeks ago. My blood pressure was very high 174/111. I feel terrible on this drug! I'm tired all the time, zero energy. I either can't sleep or sleep too much. I am a smoker but my coughing seems worse. I have a very dry mouth at night, I feel very depressed, crying a lot. Granted, I just lost my beloved nephew to suicide in May, but I can't shake the depression I feel. I am allergic to bee and wasp stings and was never asked this by the doctor. I'm going back next week and asking for a different medication

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.

It's 4:42 a.m. Can't sleep. Keep coughing when start to doze off then. Shortness of breath. Was cold now hot.. Started searching internet for side effects found this site. I am taking 40mg of this started only 4 days ago. coughing up the clear stuff. started today. runny nose. have the same spitting episodes. I may go to ER. Trying to make it through the night to call dr. in the morning. I am unemployed...can't afford ER. have to visit clinic. Very hot. I wish I had known about these side effects would never have taken this medicine.

I started taking Lisinopril two weeks ago for relief of high blood pressure. Male, 45, 260 lbs, family history of high blood pressure and stroke. After one week I began experiencing intermittent chest pain, tingling and numbness in my left hand, and sensations like shocks in my head.

I spent several sleepless nights feeling for chest pain, feeling my heart race, expecting my heart to explode and wondering if I should go to the ER.

I visited my doctor and expressed my concerns. She immediately performed an ECG and verified that my heart was functioning normally and that my blood pressure was down. She also indicated that it's not uncommon for vasoconstrictors like Lisinopril to allow stomach acids to rise in the esophagus. This can cause chest pain and affect nerves leading to the brain and to the arm. She prescribed Zantac 150 twice a day and asked me to call her at home 60 minutes after taking the first pill.

I filled the Zantac prescription (one of the $4 prescriptions you can now get most places) and took one immediately. Ten minutes the chest pain was gone. Twenty minutes later the shocks in my head were gone and my arm went from tingly and numb to just slightly achy. Thirty minutes later all of my symptoms were gone. After an hour I dutifully reported to my doc that she was a genius and on my Christmas gift list.

If you're taking Lisinopril and having chest pain obviously let your doctor know about it. Studies indicate that denial is a serious issue and a contributing cause in heart disease victims. Many of my symptoms were classic for unstable angina, which is scary. However, they are also common stomach acid symptoms for first-time users of a wide variety of high blood pressure medications. It's possible that a simple antacid could relieve your side-effects.

Now my goal is to lose 80 lbs so I can get off this medication completely. Working 90 hours a week (the highlights of which are travel, sitting at desks, and eating) isn't going to cut it any more.

well im a 19 year old female. i know that sounds crazy but i have really high blood pressure.usually 140/90 they think its due to the small left kidney thy tried me on different kinds..but my feet ad face would swell. they told me they wanted to stick me other best out there..but didn't want to stick me on it without being on birth control.. ad just turned 18 at the time and didn't want to be on it yet.soo they stuck me on ic atenolol. they started out at 25 mg . the dosage ended up going ay up to 150. it is the highest te medicine goes. so i decided to go on birth control to try this pill that would apparently be the most effective.thinking that i would just go n this new pill i went in to change medication... they had me stay on the 150 of ic atenolol plus 5 mg of ic lisinopril. then they raised it up to 10mg of the lisinopril. i had a problem with forgetting t take it. but these past 2 months i ave remembered everyday. so when i started getting chest pains and pains in my arms that felt like i ha just gotten a shot by huge needle. i though maybe it was because ijuss started retaking it... ut its been over a month and ive gained 10pounds..have been nauseated, dizzy,loss of energy, and the pains in my arms and i didn't sleep at all last night because of te tightness in y chest.i was scared to death that if i went to sleep i would have a heart attack in my sleep or something. ad then whil laying there. i jumped because i felt shock in my lower back.. i thought was going crazy so i got online to look up side effects and came across this. and now im calling my doctor to get taken off the ic lisinopril..and now maybe the atenolol to because i am afraid of blood pressure medication

I started taking this garbage in May of 2009. I would go to the Dr and my BP would be 180/110. Let me say im still on Lisinopril BUT stopping tomorrow. Let me tell you my story.

35 year old male, diabetic and HBP. After years of not taking care of my self i went to the doc, i started taking Lisinopril. With in weeks i got a hacking cough and my BP was still crazy high. They up'ed my dose to 20MG and then hell started.

Constant blinding chest pain, strange electrical shocks in my back and head, went to ER and was admitted, they said i may have had a PAST hart attack Weeks of in and out of the hospital a 3 day stay in the cardiac ICU! Then i had a CT angiogram with dye and that reviled MY HART WAS FINE. I still had this horrible pain in the chest and legs and hands and my gut, electrical shocks and night mares and freak out for no reason at all. Problems with erections and slow hart beat. Unreal panic attack that i think i was about to die or GO insane. The past few days i have had intense pains in my upped back and gut. I went to have some blood work done to see how my new diet is doing. All the numbers were amazing, BUT my LIVER IS HURTING! Now i do not see a doctor for 5 day to review it all BUT i know this pill has mad my life hell for the past 2 months. MY LIVER WAS FINE BEFORE i took this pill.

I was able to make my diabetes VANISH with diet, i must try that with HBP. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PILL.

I have been on lisinopril for a few months now, as of this past Monday I stopped taking it. I am 55 years old, blood pressure was not going down extremely fast just being on Hydrochlorothiazide, but not over the border line either. Doctor suggested Lisinopril to lower my blood pressure lower in addition to the other.

I immediately developed the cough. I have also since been to the doctor for what I thought were symptoms leading up to a heart attack or stroke. Nausea, rapid heart beat, lots of anxiety feelings, even when trying to sleep, light headed, a sudden feeling of just going to fall. They have completed an EKG and a treadmill stress test, nothing showed anything abnormal.

I am convinced it is the Lisinopril. Also, when I questioned my Doctor a while back that my blood pressure was now very low, like 107/71 on some days, he did not seem to concerned, he suggested I take one or the other every other day, so much for follow up on the patient. Did not even bother to check to see if it made a difference.

I agree with the other people, Doctors do not seem to take you serious when trying to describe your symptoms especially if you are a smoker. I know smoking is bad, but if I were not a smoker would I be treated a whole lot different. I just know that I want to see the difference being off of Lisinopril then I will approach my Doctor.

I was on Benicar for several years with no side effects whatsoever. I'm 42 with borderline high blood pressure and it worked great. I switched to Lisinopril in March/April due to the cost of Benicar and the fact I got laid off the first of the year and no longer have insurance. I discussed this with my Dr. and he recommended Lisinopril due to the cost. He did warn me the cough was a side effect but thought I would try it anyway.

At first everything was fine, but the past month has been a nightmare. Horrible cough, especially at night, the past few weeks I've got next to no sleep. I was sitting here at 1am last night unable to sleep and decided to do a search on Lisinopril side effects and found this forum. Needless to say, my eyes have been opened, as I have experienced a lot of these same side effects since starting the drug, but didn't really put it all together until reading these posts, and it's like looking into a mirror! The cough, the constant muscle pain like I exercised too much, occasion hip and leg pain I didn't have a few months ago, the "fuzzy brain" and listless feelings, I've experienced it all.

As of tonight I am stopping the drug, calling my Dr. and getting lined up for something else. As soon as I get some medical insurance back I'm back on Benicar, until then I'm getting off this stuff. I would rather watch my BP closely than keep coughing up my lungs like I'm currently doing. =)

This drug should be taken off the market. My Dr. warned me of a cough when he gave it to me but did not tell me that you would literally drown in secretions from the drainage in your throat. I have been on it 2 weeks and my quality of life has diminished considerably. During the day its as if a little man with a squirt bottle of acid is spraying my throat. At night the same thing but lying down produces uncontrollable drainage. I have to keep a spit cup by my bed and hardly get any sleep. Have tried allergy medications to no avail. I threw it in the garbage today. I would rather monitor my BP 30 times a day than live thru this.

My question is if you have been on this drug and your Dr. took you off, what did he use in its place? Would Beta Blockers be better? Who has experienced this and is now free of it? What is the alternative drug? I called my Dr.'s office today and they have Benicar waiting for me in the AM...anyone know about that one? I am desperate!

59 year old female. A history of hypertension started on Lisinopril in April of 2009..I am so GLAD I found this site! I have developed a severe chronic cough. This cough keeps me up at night ( and everyone else in the home)
Severe soreness in every joint in every part of my body. I can not sleep, serious fatigue, I have had mental confusion, short term memory loss I NEVER had the mental confusion or memory loss. I went to my Dr. 2xs he put me on antibiotics, told me I possibly had aspirated mucous in my lungs or had "silent reflux" no matter what I have taked or done none of the above symptoms lessened. Therefore, I started to do my own research and wound up here on this site. I am going to my doctor tomorrow informing him of the side effects ( which I would have thought he knew) and asked to be put on another medication for my hypertension. My question I have that there does not seem to be a easy answer is how long will it take to reverse all these symptoms? Truthfully I put all these symptoms in to the "just getting older" category. Thank You so much for sharing

I am taking Lisinopril for high blood pressure for 5 days now. I have been experiencing depression, swollen right hand, tired, but sometimes not able to sleep..very low energy.I need to know if i should stop taking this medication or not but i can not contact my doctor until Monday. I also am taking other blood pressure medications but this one seems to have the side effects I am having.

I am 47 year old female with 5 days of headache and high diastolic bp. Doctor prescribed lisinopril. It made me want to sit for hours without moving. I was sleepy but could not sleep, cloudy thinking, anxious, thought I was going to die, had pangs all over my body and in extremities, racing heart with difficulty catching breath, etc to all the above symptoms. I stopped it after two weeks. I had bronchitis for four weeks. Then I developed dizziness/nausea and burning in the hands and feet. After researching that, I took a B12 and that tingling symptom cleared in a few hours. I don't know if the drug changes the metabolism in your system. I still am fatigued, occasionally have racing heart, and problems with sleep. Don't know how long it may linger in the system. Can't seem to find an answer. It has been 2 months since I took it and 6 weeks since being off it. By the way, my BP is now typically 117/82 with loss of 15 pounds. I prefer to treat naturally. Look up Taurine, CoQ10 and Hawthorne and see which may be best for you.

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.

55 yr old female, taking this medication for couple of months...these
are my side effects...tired all the time,severe anxiety, can't sleep, my
legs ache and I am in pain, dry cough, headache and depression.

Alright here goes. Im 25 y/o male have had high blood pressure since I was about 15. Last week my doctor took me off Norvasc and put me on 20mg Lisinopril. I have been taking this drug for only 4 days and am experiencing extreme fatigue, muscle aches, insomnia. I am so tired but I cant sleep. The pain in my legs is terrible when I lay down. I feel like a zombie. I just called my doctor and am waiting for a response from him. I don't want to believe it is the lisinopril causing this but what else could it be. I feel like i am dying............

I have been taking lisinopril for about one month. Shortly after taking this drug I began to experience muscle aches and pain. Just figured because I do a lot of yard work this was the problem. I have been "eating" Goody powders and Vicodin and Motrin.. still no real relief for the muscle pain. I cannot sleep at night..this is why I am up now. The pain is so intense that I cannot sleep.Right now I Have no pain..but, just as sure as I lay down the pain will come. Thought about going to the ER but I decided to do research first.I take the pill at night because I could not function too well in the day. Felt sleepy, mood altered..just could not do it. I am not taking it anymore beginning tomorrow. The trash is the best place for this drug.I've noticed tonight tingling in my legs and foot as well as aches in my fingers. I'm done with this drug. I know what's best for me. So glad that I found this site. Kinda thought that I was nuts too.

I have only been on 20mg of Lisinopril for 3 days now and am having constant headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and very lightheaded.. I never got the headache even when my BP was up, much less any of these other symptoms. My DR. advised that if they don't go away after the 3rd day to stop taking the drug and take naproxen till I can get in to see her. Which will be this week! I refuse to take this drug with ALL of its side effects. NO OTHER DRUG I HAVE EVER TAKEN had EVER GIVEN ME THIS MUCH PROBLEMS WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS! Also, since taking this drug, I have cried more over stupid things than I can remember.

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.

Hello folks.I am a 63 year old male and began taking 10 mg.of Lisinopril 2 years ago. Eight months ago it was increased to 40 mg.a day.I experienced incredible fatigue(sleeping 18 to 20 hours a day),depression,I became severely anemic and was hospitalized for 3 days and given 3 units of whole blood.I became hypothyroidic and had rib cage pain.My legs and knee joints hurt so badly that I was almost unable to walk.I couldn't sleep through a night without waking up gasping for breath.My mental processes became extremely foggy and I was unable to concentrate.This is hard to believe but I sometimes was too tired to watch television.Although I am sure that not all people experience these symptoms,be advised that it can happen.I am now off of Lisinopril and have recovered my health.This horrible "medication" needs to be looked at more deeply by the FDA.

I am a 42 year old male. I have been on Lisinopril for two years. I developed sore muscles and joint pain. I was so tired I wanted to sleep all the time. My blood sugar was up. Some one mentioned to me that some blood pressure meds can cause blood sugar to rise. I quit taking the Lisinopril for a day to see what would happen to my sugar. It went down, and then I noticed that my joint pain was gone and, my muscle pain and soreness was gone and I had much more energy. I go see my doctor tomorrow for other options.
The drug made me so tired over the years I could not exercise and I have put on 25 more pounds
side effects
depression, muscle and joint pain, muscle stiffness, tired, weakness, dizzy

I was on this medication for 2 weeks. I have never been so tired. The other day I could hardly walk I hurt so bad and was so weak. My hips hurt, I had the cough. No appetite and all I wanted was sleep. I went to the Dr. and he took me off the medication. However I don't think the physicians are aware how bad the side effects are. They kind of look at you like your over reacting. I really thought I was falling apart and had something bad. So thank you everyone for this site. I feel so much better now.

Has anyone out there who has been on lisinopril gotten very sore tender breasts? I recently increased the dose from 10mg. to 15 mg. because my BP was getting higher and it seems like I've had this stinging aching sensation in my breasts since then? I've also had a tickling cough since I've been on it--worse at night.

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.

Been on Lisinopril for a month and wake up at night and can't get back to sleep. I always sleep great. On the weekends I used to be able to sleep till noon if I want. But Now. Felt like I was having some kind of panic attacks. My doctor put me on sleeping pills. Now I wake up and hour or two before I need to and feel like I drank a pot of coffee. I am going to stop taking Lisinopril for a couple of days and call my doctor...

I wrote yesterday afternoon about my experiences. When I tried to sleep last night the coughing started and I still felt anxious/panicky (which is unlike me) so much so that I left the light on for awhile. I took two Tylenol PM's or I would have never slept. I feel better today, but I'm still lethargic. I don't think I'll take any more of these. I'm going to stick with water pills and restrict my diet so that I'll lose weight quickly.

I just switched to Benicar....lisinopril was driving me crazy with the constant cough and not being able to sleep at night. I hate this 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

My wife talked me into going to the doctor yesterday for the first time in nine years. I started having a bad cough and fever with weakness since Sunday. Normally I don't get sick very often and if I do I'm able to pray through it where it doesn't linger on. However; this time the cough pretty much went away but the fever did not. While at the doctor, they took my blood pressure and said it was 156/96. The doctor said they needed to put me on medication right away. I suggested that I knew that I needed to lose weight and eat better which I recently have done. I had taken my blood pressure a few months ago and was 167 over 100 so there had been some improvement. I went ahead and filled the prescription for 20 mg of Lisinopril. I took one yesterday. I had much difficulty going to sleep which I don't have a problem with normally. I have a trembling sensation going on in my back still today. Because of these symptoms I google searched this drug to find out more about it. Because of all the testimonies, I will be discontinuing taking this. Give your life to the Lord and He will give you His. God bless.

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?

throat tightening, SEVERE thirst, hands swelling, loss of feeling in hands and arms, muscle aches, have a history of severe dehydration but my doctor somehow missed that warning, it is Friday 4 AM, so also have the sleep disturbance. I am only on 5 mg, just started taking this med on Monday-4 days ago.

Okay, I got off this Drug after talking to my doctor. If you are getting the cough get off of it. Contact your Doctor ASAP because it only gets worst . In my case it was really bad.They script it because it cheap.

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.

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

Hello everyone, I started taking Lisinopril about 1 year ago and the side effects started immediately. The coughing, headaches, restless nights and low sex drive were the main sides effects for me. I noticed my hair texture felt different. It felt dry and stripped as if it was over processed and I have had all natural hair for over four years. About 6 six months of taking Lisinopril I realized my hair was thinning on the right side of my head and also the same side where I have those terrible headaches when I take the medication. So I don't take it any longer. I also have Sleep Apnea which contributes to HBP. This is another reason I discontinued use of this medication. I decided that losing lbs. and taking supplements will be the first 2 steps to healing. I don't suggest anyone follow my practice, I just didn't want to take any more chances with hair loss and I can't do anything during the day until the headache is gone. I've only been exercising and taking supplements for a month. My BP is still a little high but every week it is getting closer to normal. Thanks P.M.

My experience with Lisinopril is similar to many others here. Mine is further complicated by the combination of drugs I am taking.
Due to my BPH I was taking Proscar and Doxazosin (4mg), the Doxazosin helping with hypertension as well (140/90). My doctor decided to add 5mg of Lisinopril to augment and help lower the blood pressure some more. He also liked the overall helpful aspects of the Lisinopril on the cardiological system. After about a week and a half on this regimine I was having dizzy spells and light headedness.....disconcerting when driving. I also had the infamous dry hacking cough noted my almost everyone. I stopped taking the Lisinopril and things went back to normal.
On my next visit to the doctor, he wanted me back on the Lisinopril but trying 2.5mg doses. That seemed to be OK for awhile. I have now added Flomax to my regimine and noticed the same dizziness problem. So I am staggering my pill taking which seems to be helping somewhat.
However, after three weeks on this program, I am having severe dry hacking cough episodes, 5-10 times per day. Also have to be careful when I stand up due to dizziness. Additionally, I am having sporadic insomnia problems that are out of the ordinary for me. Also, runny nose, sneezing and a tightening feeling in the chest and abdomen.....Almost like a mild flu. The tightening feeling is more like a caffeine overdose high...ergo the insomnia.
I attribute the hacking cough to the Lisinopril. The insomnia could be the same or possibly the Flomax. I'm not sure about the tightness. I plan to stop the Flomax next week when I go back to the Urologist and will stop the Lisopril at the same time and see what happens.
I would be interested in any input readers may have on my dilemma.

Several weeks ago my OB/GYN prescribed Lisinopril after another drug didn't achieve desired results. Very soon after I began to take it I developed a persistent dry cough, itchy skin, and sleep problems. I didn't connect these symptoms to the lisinopril but last evening at a dinner date my friend noted my coughing and related that another friend has similar problems and was also taking lisinopril. My husband then searched the internet and found this website. I have now stopped taking it and will see my doctor ASAP to pursue other treatment for my hypertension. After reading many of the postings here, it seems that at the very least, more research and/or testing is in order for this drug. Makes one wonder if there are other covert effects that could cause serious damage.

! am a 45 yo male and have been taken in 10 mg of Lisinopril for the past 4 yrs. I am 230 lbs and my doctor tells me that he would stop prescribing Lisinopril when I lose about 20 lbs. I also need to tone down on the sugars, liquor, salt etc. which makes sense. I just realized that when I saw this website, I too at times felt the dizziness, faintness, cramps on my hands, especially when I am weight lifting and playing a quick short game of basketball with my son. I am going to stop taking this for a week and schedule a physical check-up to see where my bp stands without it. For the past half of year I have been walking 4 miles per day and trying to eat healthier. I also, have been depressed, some stomach pains, headaches are like those that seem to feel like pressure near my temples. I also play the drums on weekends and have had cramps and have experienced much tendinitis on my shoulders. Anxiety and sleep problems also affect me. I notice that when I am off my dosage, I do feel much better and more energetic. I feel though I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't take this drug.....anyways...thanks for your posts!