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Lisinopril/Cough
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kay_dee_1 posted:
Has anyone out there had a bad cough as a side effect of taking Lisinopril? I have been on this med since August and have had a cough for about the same amount of time. I have been to see my DR 3 times and have been on different antibiotics, and several cough syrups. NOTHING has helped me. I guess I should have done some homework of my own, but I did not know anything of Lisinopril having cough as a side effect, until someone passed it on to me here on WebMD. My doctor said absolutely nothing about it at my visits either. Since learning of this side effect and nothing else I have tried seem to work, I have quit the Lisinopril. It has only been 3 days but there has been no change whatsoever in my cough it is still HORRIBLE!! It is affecting my family's sleep and it is affecting work as I am on the phone alot and I get 'fits' of coughing (even as I type this). Is there NE1 out there who might have any input in this area? It begins with an extreme dry sensation in my throat, following with about a minute or two uncontrollable coughing. I am 35 years old, used to be an occasional smoker (which I have quit) and have no other health problems. DR took a chest X-Ray which showed no signs of anything there. Please help!
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comp4u responded:
I started out on the same medication & I talked to my heart dr. about having a cough like when I have seasonal allergies (my throat would get dry, then it was like I had an uncontrollable cough & my eyes would even water really bad). I was taken off of Lisinopril right away & was told that I had an allergy to it. I was disappointed because it worked great on lowering my bp, but there was no way with the cough that I could keep taking it. By your email it sounds exactly like the same thing that happened while I was taking it. I would ask the dr. to try a different bp medication, since once I changed medications my cough disappeared.
 
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a911er responded:
I had the same reaction to it. A horrible cough that started almost immediately. After stopping the med and switching to altenalol, it took nearly a month for the cough to stop. I am 48 yrs old, and Strangely enough, my bp was always down at 120/74. I didn't start having trouble until I quit smoking. (and put on 20 lbs). Then it shot up 205/115. Still as usual, no symptoms. Am now on the altenalol 25mg 1x a day and its steady at 124/72. So far-so-good.been a year.

Al
 
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Hypergal10475 responded:
Well Ill be darned. Is that what it is ?????. This lingering cough that I have had for more than a month (just about the time I started taking Lisinopril. I was beginning to be worried about it and was heading straight for the drug store for cough syrups, too. I knew it was an allergy. My eyes run and there are times when I think I may have a cold. I Have a doctor's appointment next week. Will let you know what he says. but............this is my fault because I usually research my medications but was so pleased with my blood pressure regimen and numbers that I did not want to find anything wrong. with Lisinopril. My doctor was pleased too and was lowering my dosage.

Am so grateful that I am a curious adventurous computer person and that I found this message board. to enlighten my concerns a little.

Hypergal10475
 
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bufter66 responded:
I also had the same problem and like most people tried all different kinds of coiugh syrups and drops. I did some research on the web and found that this symptom is very common. I returned to the doctor and he prescribed a different medication and the cough immediately went away. I am very happy that I did research and found out on my own and I now have a new doctor.
 
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justme0606 responded:
I too have been taking this stuff for only a few months. I was however, told by my doctor that it could cause a cough. The cough is driving me INSANE! I'm trying to find another brand to take,but , it has to be in generic form so my insurance will cover it. The reason I'm looking on my own, is so I can research them, get all the information on each one, then go to my doctor and have it changed. If you manage to find one before I do, please let me know.
 
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BDPHILY responded:
Wow I guess im the lucky one here. Ive been taking lisinopril foe 17 days now and have had no problems at all with it. It droped my bp by 20 points in a week
 
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sioux506 responded:
I have been on Lisinopril since the week before Thanksgiving due to HBP, which had previously been controlled well by 20mg HCTZ for 3 or 4 years. I wasn't feeling well at all, went to a fire station and asked them to check my BP. I went right to the doctor who prescribed Lisinopril 10mg daily, and to continue the HCTZ. My BP went down to a normal level, however I then caught a nasty URI. I saw the doctor for those symptoms and recovered from that, but a dry constant cough has hung on since November. My doctor did tell me Lisinopril could cause a cough, and asked me to report that. In the meantime I've seen her 5 times since November and after a chest x-ray, nasal swab for pertussis, and CBC all tests are negative except for a Vitamin D deficiency. We're not sure if the cough is a result of the URI or Lisinopril at this point, but we're working on figuring that out. Don't give up on your doctor!
 
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darkntall responded:
My PCP switched me from Benicar to Lisinopril because the price of it was going up in my insurance plan, but Lisinopril was causing my side to hurt so she switched me back to Benicar. The Benicar works WAY better than Lisinopril. to me! I was on 10mg/day of Benicar, but she has me down to 5mg a day. I also take a strong antioxidant, which seems to be helping bring down my bp so that I dont have to take so much bp meds. She said that it was ok for me to take it along with Benicar if its not causing me any problem.
 
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grannyrfm responded:
To Bufter66

I took Lisinopril for about 14 days when I realized that that was causing my terrible cough. Like others, I tried lots of things to get rid of it, and nothing helped. I've now had it for 51/2 weeks and going to an ENT doc tomorrow. Can you tell me what medicine you took to get rid of your cough???? Thank you in advance..... grannyrfm
 
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Reta32205 responded:
I developed the cough after taking Lisinopril for 6 months. It got so bad my husband was commenting on it. I asked my doctor about it at the next appointment. He switched me to Micardis HCT. The cough took a few weeks to go away. The Micardis even does a better job with my BP, it now around 105/ 70.

The only problem now, is the BP monitors at the doctor's office pump up a couple of times because it thinks something is wrong when nothing registers by 110. It really hurts because the machines pump up to 180, too. I the assistant to take my BP manually on the last visit and it was not as painful.
 
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bpmiller39 responded:
I took Lisinopril for a couple of years and made my Dr change it as I developed the irritating bark. He did not seem aware of the cough problem until I continued to complain. Only help I found for the cough was Honeylemon Coughdrops. Takes a while to get over the cough. He was also not aware of the depression caused by Capoten until I about threatened him with bodily harm. I found it on the net but he was not aware.

Unfortunately the Lisinopril did fair job on the BP. Much more expensive Cozaar is not so effective.
 
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mamameow8 responded:
just wait!!!!!
 
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Lorp9 responded:
Hello Kay I have been reading up on this medic an and this is the same problem I have had, I was on it for a month, and have stopped taken it do to the cough I have had also, it should of cleared up after a week or two, this is what I went thou too, the cough is still there sometimes but not has bad.

So hopfuly this cleared up for you by now.
 
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dimondgirl2 responded:
I have been on Lisinopril for almost a year. My mom is also on it for a different reason but on a really small dosage. She got the cough but it has gone away. Me on the other hand people think I am dying when I cough. My dr told me that the cough is a side effect but it is very annoying. I cough to were I gag and cough up bile especially at night when I am sleeping. I have gotten my dr to decrease my dosage from 20mg to 10 mg but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I will go on a coughing spree for about 2 weeks then I will be good for a couple of weeks and then back to the cough again. My dr will not take me off the medicine until I get pregnant as it was the only medicine out of 5 that brought my bp down from 198/102 in the hospital. So I have learn to tolerate it.

Hopefully this has help some people.


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