Can ACE Inhibitors Cause Constant Coughing?

A few years ago my husband was put on Altace. The coughing started up "TOO SOON" and went on and on and on. His sister mentioned that when SHE had been placed on Altace she, also, started that horrid coughing. When my husband mentioned his cough to our doctor, he was placed on enalopril and the coughing finally stopped. I had the same coughing problem when on Altace.
Sheila Anne

I also take lisinopril and did cough when I first started taking it. But now, after being on it for several years, I don't cough as much -- but I do still notice it with strenuous exercise.

I had the exact same problem, especially with a bp/diuretic pill -(maxide, diazide) Switched to atenolol, also benicar. I knew something wasn't right because my problem began with just a cough, no cold symptoms, and I could barely finish a sentence without coughing.

This concerns the coughing that might be associated with some of the Rx drugs mentioned. I wrote last week that ALTACE bothered my husband, his sister and me. (HERE is where generics MIGHT, again, be proven different, maybe?) WHEN my husband was placed on enalopril, a generic, his coughing stopped. WE BOTH are now on Diovan. HE is still on enalopril (his Rx is for kidney protection, as well as BP, his doctor said).

sheila anne

I can attest that when I reported coughing, my doctor switched me from Lisinopril to HCTZ. Much, much better. Thanks.

I have been on HCTZ 25 mg for approximately 2 years. Several months ago, I developed a persistant cough. My ENT doctor has tried several things, even treated me for acid reflux. I have no other symptoms, just the cough. Could this be caused by the HCTZ?

I took lisinopril for about a month. I developed the nagging dry cough, it was very bothersome. While out of town on a trip, I fainted. The ER docs said I was dehydrated--I think the lisinopril was part of the problem. When I got back into town, I told my regular doc I did not want to take lisinopril anymore. He said the problem with the cough was enough to take me off of it.

I was informed of a possible cough when the doctor prescribed the Quenorectic for me. I have started the cough and do not feel it is because of illness. I want to know what exactly happens when the BP meds cause a cough? Do you swell internally? What happens in your body? thanks, BK

For several years, I have been on lisinopril to control blood pressure. During that time, I have also had many lingering coughs after colds, some coughs lasting over a month. Does lisinopril produce a susceptibility to coughs, even when the dry cough reaction which can be a side effect of this drug, has not appeared?

ACE (angiontesin converting enzymes) inhibitors (lisinopril, most -pril ending meds) are a class of medicine that work by inhibiting an enzyme called angiontensin. This enzyme prevents a cascade of effects from occuring that would normally cause vasoconstriction at the kidney level, thereby preventing blood pressure from rising. Surprisingly, lungs and kidneys are closely related because one of those enzymes is converted by the lungs, which then effects the kidneys--which ultimately controls your blood pressure.

Unfortunately, during this conversion at the lungs, another enzyme is activated called BRADYKININ, which is proinflammatory, and can irritate and stimulate cough. Therefore ACE inhibitors can produce dry cough. About 20% of people experience the cough associated with ACE inhibitors. They are extremely effective with blood pressure control, and have a kidney protective effect.

If you experience cough that is intolerable to you, you can ask your physician to consider switching you to a class called ARBs, or angiotensin receptor blockers, which are not associated with a cough due to their different mechanism of action.

Oh sure. Same story. I developed this dry "tickling in the throat cough" right around the time my Doc diagnosed me with HTN and put me on Altace. I am a smoker, but had never had a cough like this. I would cough and cough until I would gag and throw up at work into my trashcan because the coughing would just come on so suddenly I didn't have time to make it to the ladies room. I even had to carry a small trash bag in my car because i was so afraid that I would throw up during my commute to and from work. Well, I didn't tell the doctor about this, but I did get him to give me another med. Lisinopril, and am still having the same problem. I know I will have to stop them and see MD for something else

I was on Altace for 10 years. Had no problem with coughing. I was put on lisinopril as I was taking the max dose of Altace and it no longer was effective. I've been on lisinopril for about 8 years and am now 65. I started with the dry cough about a year ago. It isn't too bad but has twice caused me to tear-up and leave a room filled with people. Lisinopril is very effective for me and I'd hate to switch. Can this cough be harmful at my age? Tk u.

I've been on lisinopril for about 4 months and the cough is driving me crazy. It feels like I have a piece of dust caught in my throat and I have to cough to clear it. The drug is working well, but I can't stand the cough. I'm curious if anyone else has this same type of symptom (dust in throat). I'm going to ask to be taken off lisinopril to see if that makes the cough go away.

I took lisinopril for a few months and then began coughing. I didn't think it was the drug since it was spring and I thought I must have an allergy to something.

The cough was getting worse each day. It was really bad at bedtime too. I have never been so miserable as the cough became more persistant and violent. I threw up 3 times from coughing so hard. I had a constant headache from coughing.

I lived on sugar free cough drops. I was scared that something was really wrong with me. I told my doctor and he said to stop taking the lisinopril and the cough should go away in 8-10 days or so if it is the lisinopril that is causing the cough.

The coughing began to subside within a few days. On the 8th day the cough stopped. The doctor told me that my blood pressure was not any lower either. So it was totally the wrong drug for me. On the other hand, my sister takes this drug too but without any side affects and it also lowers her BP.

I have had the coughing exprience with lisinopril until I blacked out and hit the floor. Its about time these medication improve, reference to these ridiculous side effects.

I was on HCTZ for a couple of years and my doctor changed me to Lisinopril a month ago. That's when I started my cough. It's like a tickle in my throat. I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. I go to the doctor this week and will be asking him to change me back to HCTZ. I never had the problem with HCTZ.

Why does Lisinopril make me cough? It's the only drug I've been on that has lowered my blood pressure so I don't want to quit taking it but this coughing is ridiculous! I'm going though a pack of cough drops every single day.

Yes I have to agree with everyone about Lisinopril. My doctor just added this drug to my other high blood pressure pill. And I have been doing nothing but coughing since. It keeps me up at night. I have a constant tickle in my throat that drive me nuts!!! When I see my doctor again, I will certainly mentioned this to her. I've never had this problem with my other medication.

I'm on Lisinoprol [and Atenolol], and the cough is killing me. I'm not getting any sleep. As soon as I get a hint of sleep, the coughing starts, and when I'm awake, I cough, and cough and cough. It's humiliating.

I am so glad to read that the cough might be this drug, so I'll go to the Doctor A.S.A.P to have it changed, but really, from researching... I had no idea it was so common.

I don't exaggerate when I say the cough is 'killing' me.

Just a follow-up:

I've been given [as a replacement for 5 mg Lisinoprol] 150 mg Aprovel.

The 'possible' side effects sound interesting.

I may post again from time to time to let you know how I get on.

I was also put on Lisinopril about 4 months ago, and have just now put the two together. The tickle in the throat and cough began almost immediately after I began the medication. I would also tear up and cough till I felt like gagging. It does interfere with sleep unless I am just totally exhausted, in which case I'm unconscious anyway. I am going to check with my doctor about a switch as well. Good luck all.....

It took a week, but the cough has gone. I actually got a full nights sleep.

What a relief.

:)

After having some trouble with Atenolol, rash on chest and forehead I was switched to Lisinopril. The coughing started shortly after my first dose. It would get bad when I would lie down to go to sleep for some reason and usually shortly after I took the medication. It's seemed to decrease for a bit but it's definitely back. I am a radio announcer and sometimes I am unable to get through a sentence without feeling like I'm going to choke. On my prescription bottle it states that this medication may cause a dry cough. I didn't notice it when I first got the prescription filled. At least the Atenolol rash went away.

I stopped taking Lisinopril 3 days ago and am still coughing so much my family and friends think it's bronchitis. I had to call in sick to work because of it. The pharmacist told me it was too soon because I only took it for 8 days, but it started on the 5th day and hasn't stopped yet. I can't get any sleep. My head hurts from coughing, and I sound like I have laryngitis. This is awful. The doctor has switched my medicine, but I am really scared to take anything else with this cough.

I had my nasty cough as early as Feb 08. Around June 08, Dr. xxxxx told me the cough must be allergies. Today (Sept 30, 08) he tells me that a known potential side effect of Lisinopril (and other ACE inhibitors) is a dry, itchy cough that won’t go away. He had prescribed me Lisinopril in Jan 08 to help control my blood pressure. Stopped taking it today.

I'm looking forward to being able to sleep at night soon!

I have hypertension. Blood pressure runs about 148/94. Dr. started me on Lisonpril but I developed a rash that itched like crazy. I also developed a nagging dry cough that nothing would stop. A shame tho, because it really lowered my blood pressure - most of the time it was 112/72. But, due to above problems, Dr. decided to wean me off of that.

He then put me on Norvasc. It lowered it to about 125/85 but not as much as the lisonpril. About 2 - 3 weeks after I started taking Norvasc, I developed this horrible rash all over my body. It doesn't itch. But, it is literally all over my body - even on the tops of my feet!

I can't wear shorts, a normal length dress or skirt or short sleeves due to this embarrassing rash. I've asked the Dr. to wean me off this. I've been off about a week now, rash is slowly going away, but not completely. Blood pressure is back up to 128/90. I don't know what to ask the Dr. to try next. Help!

I've had a chronic cough for over 15 years. Five years ago my blood pressure rose, so i was put on Lisinoprol 10mg. After six months my chough became worst.Dr took me off, and put me on Micardis/HCT. Still have cough but back where it was before. Nothing helps my cough.

Wow! I have been reading all of these comments and are amazed at how many people have experienced the cough issue with Lisiniprol!

I was taking Diovan, and I asked to be switched to Lisiniprol because it was cheaper. I really don't know when I started to take the Lisiniprol because I had a few weeks, to a month or two left of my Diovan. I developed this nasty little cough. I thought it was just a cold. I treated it like a cold cough. It persisted though, and it would not go away! It became seriously unbearable. It kept me up at night, made me throw up a few times because the cough was so intense. I was running on maybe 3 hours of sleep a night. I practically begged them to fix me at the doctor. My doctor thought perhaps it was because of the brutal cold winter we had in Wisconsin. We moved on to Spring, and I was put on a few allergy medications, and several different inhalers.

I lived off and (and still have) a nice collection of Luden's cough drops. I would also have to run to the bathroom at odd times, because the cough was so bad, I knew I would end up vomiting. My job involves talking on the phone, and I can't count how many times I would be talking, forcing my voice out, and having tears running down my face from trying to control my cough. The cough attacks would come on suddenly, and were usually pretty intense.

Well, after almost a year of dealing with this, they prescribed me with some antacid pills, sent me to see a professional allergist, and in the long run cost me TONS of money. I was living off Tussenex just to get some sleep at night. It was the only thing that kept me from coughing, or at least controlled it to a point. My neighbors were so upset with me as I live in an apartment, and would be coughing all night in my sleep. I got yelled at more than once through the walls.

Oh, I forgot to mention that at one point they did switch me back to Diovan to see. I was on it for maybe 3 weeks? The cough did not seem to go away, so they assumed it was not the Lisiniprol.

I did some research and read about the ACE inhibitors that can cause cough. I read it can take weeks or possibly months for the cough to dissipate.

I finally decided to switch back to Diovan, maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago. So far, I have small coughs, but nothing like before! I hardly cough at night anymore. If I do cough, I think it might be just from my dry apartment, or maybe allergies as I often have a snotty nose. I am quite sure my "cough" is gone for good. I don't miss it! I feel like I have my life back. It's amazing how a cough like that can make you so miserable and cause trouble in your day to day activities.

I also was placed on Lisinopril due to it's cheaper cost. I also began with that annoying cough almost immediately. I went through 3 antibiotics, one of which was over 100.00. My physician did change me back to Benicar and I will deal with the cost. This happened about 6 weeks ago. Although the cough is better and I am sleeping at night it still has not gone away. Lisinopril has now been listed on my chart as an allergy. I am going to start with iron tonight to see if it will finally clear it up.

My doctor placed me on lisinopril on Sept. 10. Sept 17 I started coughing. I went to my primary Dr. who said I had bronchitis. After 2 rounds of antibiotics, codeine cough syrup & 2 bottles of OTC cough syrup, meds for acid refux, and an albuterol inhaler, my cardiologist told me I had cough from the lisinopril. I stopped taking it 3 days ago, still have that cough! I cough so hard I throw up! I can't sleep because of the cough & my right side muscles hurt so much from coughing. I have been placed on mycardis. I hope this cough goes away. It is Nov. 8 & I need to get a good nights sleep!

I too, developed a nocturnal cough, which is relieved with cough drops. I notice a small amount of phlegm which seems to be the culprit. I do not have reflux problems. I had initially been placed on HCTz, which inhibited orgasm, and this was the reason for the switch. Lisinopril has lowered my BP, but I intend to ask for an alternate Rx

Oh my goodness, what a huge relief to find some sensible answers. It never occurred to me that this cough would be related to my blood pressure meds. I'm on quinapril, but I can echo everything everyone has said so far -the nighttime coughing, coughing so hard I start to gag, a little tickle in the back of the throat that won't go away, even with water or cough drops.

I'm going to have to call my MD soon!

I have been on benazepril since having a heart attack in Aug, 08. I have had a chronic cough since the month after starting and it seems to get progressively worse week to week. My doctor says I must stay on the ACE because he is afraid I will go into Heart failure, and also for the protection of my heart. I have also been on beta blocker toprol-xl but switched to coreg a week ago due to severely decreased circulation in my extremities.

The circulation has gotten worse and I also now am having mental changes. I am frightened...any idea what I should do? My doctor says I have to take these two meds! He says I will have another heart attack without them. Please someone help me out here, I have no idea where to turn. Thanks.

I am so relieved that I found your site about this coughing problem suspected due to lisinopril. I am a RN and I thought I contracted bronchitis of Pneumonia from my patients at the same time I started on lisinopril when I started coughing especially when I lay down. Phenergan w/ codeine helped me a lot to sleep but after two bottles it still persisted. X-ray in the urgent care is normal. I again started on claritin but the cough is persistent. I just placed a call to MD and mention this website about coughing due to lisinopril. Bp was better but I hate this coughing, hopefully there is better bp med. Thanks

I took lisinopril for at least a year -- coughing my head off! -- before I learned cough was a side effect of lisinopril. I am quite annoyed that I wasn't warned. I had sugarfree cough drops in every room, my purse, the car. Now when they ask if I am allergic to any meds, I write lisinopril, atenolol (first dose caused me to faint), and statins (significant leg cramps). I have developed the philosophy that I will not take drugs that are designed to protect my future if they significantly degrade my lifestyle in the present.

For the same reason I won't take Coumadin even though I have atrial fibrillation. I resent the way these drugs are promoted to doctors, who prescribe them to patients without a warning about side effects.

I started Lisinopril and like alot of you expeienced a dry itch in my throat that made me cough. This lasted for 2 months. Just before leaving on a two week vacation, I realized the cough was due to the Lisinopril and asked my doctor to change my prescription. She didn't want to change the prescription before a vacation, but mentioned that the cough may go away over time. Two months later, the cough is much better, although I can still feel the throat itch ocasionally, especially at night.

I have been on Lisinopril for six months now and have had a chronic cough, especially at night, with a tickle in my throat that does not go away with water. I cough so hard that I get slightly incontinent. Also, muscle weakness is marked in my right arm and now starting in my left. I've had to push myself to do things I normally enjoy. I read an article only three days ago that stated that Lisinopril can have these side effects. I'm going to the Dr. on Tuesday and will request being taken off this drug.

I have been on lisinopril for a month. I began with that tickle in the throat that can't be ignored almost immediately. I would really like to stay on it as it is quite beneficial. I can put up with the tickle and cough if it doesn't get any worse but if the gagging starts as it has with some of you, I may have to request a change.

I was put on generic lotrel the last week of Jan 09. At the time I had flu like symptoms, so when the cough started I believed it was a flu cough that was just persisting. After 4 months I knew I needed help. I went to my PCP and he gave me an Advair inhaler, thinking it was a flu induced asthma. Needless to say it was no help.

I then went to a pulmonologist and he did spirometry and a barium swallow to rule out asthma and reflux. Both negative. He suggested to me there was a chance it was the Ace inhibitor and called my MD to see if he would ok a change. I started on Azor, which doesn't have the ACE. I have gone through every cough medicine on the market, so sick of cough drops I could scream.

It has been two weeks and I am waiting for a good night sleep and an unembarressing meal in a restaurant. I'm curious what the time frame is for most people to get this poison out of our system.

Been on Lisiniprol 3 months or so--never was on any B.P. med before this--gained enough weight to cause this. Coughing guts out! Not constant--but once start--very aggravating. My girlfriend on generic--propanalol and never coughs--so would like comments on this one. For heavens sakes--if coughing so much--that could cause heart to flip!! Pat E.

I last posted on May, 23, 2009.
It has been almost a month since I discontinued Lotrel and my cough, etc has almost dissipated. Never knew how grateful I would be for a sound nights sleep. I feel this med has cheated me out of 5 months of my life. Good luck to all of you. Betty

What can I do? I have been coughing about 5 weeks now. initially I was taking lisinoprl. I am no longer taking this medicine but the coughing remains.

Well, I see we all have something in common - we're all on Lisinoprl which causes us to cough all night long and no one told us this was a side effect. I too started coughing all night long just one week after taking the meds. After about 2 months of this nagging "night cough" I read about how one of the side effects of Lisinoprl is coughing.

Sure, my blood pressure is down, but how much strain is this putting on my heart?!?! I rarely get sleep not more than 2 hours at a time. I told my doctor about this coughing, and he just gave me cough medicine and sent me in for chest x-rays. Now they want me to to go to the hospital for a pulmonary test. Now not only am I not getting my sleep, but I'm missing work too. I called my doctor and told him I went off my meds because I needed to get some sleep. Still coughing all night, and I'm on new meds. Nothing's changed.