Side Effects from Blood Pressure Drugs

I am taking amlodipine, a blood pressure medicine also, and my legs and ankles started swelling as well. My doctor put me on HCTZ 25mg, a fluid pill to counteract the swelling in my feet and ankles. It's supposed to help with blood pressure too, however, it makes me feel very dehydrated. I have also been noticing some shortness of breath and I already have (well controlled) asthma. I have a new internist now and am going to see him this month to try and figure out a better medicine.

I was taking Atacand for my Blood Pressure and had been taking it for 3yrs., my doctor switched me to Lisinopril. I noticed while taking this drug I started to develop a very dry cough (almost strangling) at times. So I called my doctor and requested that she switch me back to the Atacand. Is that a normal side affect from the Lisinopril?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: A CHRONIC COUGH THAT DOES NOT RESPOND TO COUGH MEDICINE IS NOT UNUSUAL WITH LISINOPRIL.

Lisinopril, or any of the ACE-inhibitors, are notorious for causing a dry cough. I would estimate 5% or so of people I talk to have this side effect. I work in a pharmacy. Usually switching to an ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) like Atacand is a good choice. The blood pressure should be well controlled, but no cough. The only down side to the ARBs is cost. There are no generic ARBs. So, in my opinion it is best to start with an ACE-inhibitor since it's a lot cheaper and most people do well on them. And, to switch to an ARB if dry cough develops or blood pressure is not controlled.

I have found with 20mg lisinopril I am getting some breathlessness on walking hills, and at this dose, a definite short term memory loss. Do others find this? I would be grateful to know alternate methods to control blood pressure.

My neurologist prescribed propanolol (a beta-blocker) for my non-Parkinson hand tremor. The medicine made it so hard to exercise, I decided I'd rather have shaky hands. I have had this occasionally embarrassing tremor since childhood and I am still looking for a more natural treatment.

I had taken Tenormin for years with no problems. My prescription insurance company kept informing that I could save money with the generic Atenolol, so I switched. Without relating it to the Atenolol, I started awakening every night with chest pains. I went through all the heart tests including cardiac catherization. All tests were negative. I went back on Tenormin, and the chest pains stopped immediately and never returned.

I have been taking atenolol for anxiety w/ symptoms only of a racing heart; not hi BP. I used to be very active but am unusually tired. I thought it was age-related but my twin sister still has her get up and go (we're 54.) Would love to be off this stuff but don't know what else to do. Am also on trazadone to help me sleep and zoloft - would love to get off all of this... Any advice how to handle??

I was on Atenolol to regulate my heart beat. It made me so tired and sleepy all of the time. I read about a new drug, Bystolic and looked up possible side effects. They were far less than other beta blockers. I asked my doctor about it. I am happy to report that after taking it for 3 months, I have a lot more energy, and it seems to be regulating the pulse rate as well as Atenolol did.

I experienced the same symptoms from taking Atenolol but it took about three years for them to develop. As they worsened I told the doctor and he switched me to Cozaar. The symptoms went away immediately and so far I've had no reactions to the Cozaar.

The 3 months i was on atenolol (25mg)for atrial fibrillation I had vertigo, short term memory loss, anxiety, and hearing issue. All except hearing went away when I switched to a different beta blocker.

I have been on Atenolol for several years for atrial fibrillation and suffer swollen legs loss of hearing, anxiety and other symptoms mentioned above, but the cardiologist/internist still insists I take it. What can I say or do to get him to change to another medicine?

I recently went to 20 mg lisinopril and yes, I have noticed a breathlessness when I just go upstairs 1 flight of stairs quickly, I hadn't experienced this before. I can't say about memory loss - my memory hasn't been great anyway.

I take micardis HCT. My feet began to feel numb, swollen, and burning. I have tried Zestoretic: had cough and wheezing, and Benicar and had pain in joint in shoulders. Any advice from you will help.

I have been on atenolol 50 mgs for a little over a year (this time) I am having problems like rapid heart rate extremely cold feet dizziness, fatigue, trouble breathing doctors will not change med, I am ready to throw it out and take my chances. please help me.

I have been on soooooo many blood pressure medicines that I am about to scream. Just to name a few, I have taken Benicar, Tekturna, Marcardis, Diovan, and All of these cased my feet and legs to swell really bad. Marcardis, Diovan & Benicar caused me to gain a lot of weight; get off of these and I would lose the weight.

I'm on two blood pressure pills now Spironolactone and something that starts with a H and my feet are still swollen. My doctor is working with me, but it has been three years and I am tired of the swelling. I need help.

I also have been on several medications all with side effects. Now I am on bystolic--have shortness of breath and short tern memory problems which started on this med. The Dr. said its not a side effect and to see a neurologist. What do you do????

I have a relative that says her BP meds have been changed recently and her side-effects are losing hair and a distended stomach. I have never heard of or does any research show these side-effects for BP meds. Does anyone have any insight?

I have been taking 50mg Noten (Atenol) for over a year now as a treatment for Familial Tremens. Finding that the treatment didn't seem to work that well I went to another doctor and he has put me on Deralin (Propranolol) 10mg up to 4x daily, as needed. He found my blood pressure significantly low. On researching both drugs on the internet I was surprised to find I was being given a high blood pressure medication when I actually have always had BP on the low side, so much so that I sometimes am turned away from donating blood!

For the past year I have exhibited all the symptoms reported by others on this web site : spaced out feeling, lack of concentration,shocking short memory, lethargy, sleepiness all day and definitely depression etc

I haven't taken any of the Deralin yet because I am worried the symptoms will persist. However I do find the shakiness in my hands very debilitating and inhibiting, (and embarrassing!) My mother had this condition too. I am making less and less effort to get 'out & about', socialize etc and at 67 years old am wondering how I can regain my previous 'joie de vivre), energy and love of life..... surely my life is not over yet!! Can someone suggest a another, hopefully natural remedy?

Re Atrial fibrillation.

I have suffered from Lone A-fib for about 10 years. Recently I have been taking magnesium orotate and what a difference!! I have more energy and no signs of heart palpitations. I feel so much better. It is good to check the labels on all packaged foods, including those in jars as many of them contain sulphites (preservative 220) which are known triggers for A-fib. Any additives in the 200s and 600s (monosodium glutamate) are very bad.

Does no one like atenolol? I have taken it for probably 15 years. Like others, I first started tenormin. The pharmacy assured me there was no difference in the generic atenolol. Now 15 years later I just finished a bunch of tests with diagnoses of trapped air in my lungs. Doctors did not tell me what to do about it; I guess this must be caused by taking the atenolol for so long. They did not tell me this, nor did they tell me to get off the atenolol.

I was on atenolol also. after being on it one month, I kept telling my Dr. that I was having trouble breathing. He said it was anxiety. After being on the med for 9 mos. I asked my pharmacist if this med can cause asthma. He said in some people it can because it constricts the lungs. Have been off med for 5 months and now at 43 I am diagnosed with asthma, and anxiety.

If I didn't do my homework, I would have still been on it. Left that doctor....

Thank you, CC; I will check with pharmacist. Perhaps I am getting closer to the conundrum. All these breathing tests, MRI's, CT scans etc. have not helped me all that much, and I am still on atenolol, still having heart pounding, a great number of symptoms, and anxiety to boot. I never got a diagnoses, just a "I think that. . . ." thank you, Peoples Pharmacy, you have given me many leads in this pursuit.

I was taking Lisinopril and had an allergic reaction with swelling and severe itching. The doctor put me on an new medication Amlodipine and I got the gout. I have been taking Indomethacin for about a week and a half and the just went to the doctor. She put me on a new medication for blood pressure called Losartan Hydrochlorothiazide.

I am having a hard time getting over the gout and wonder if the new medication has side effects of the gout. I have had some borderline kidney function test and wonder if the medications for blood pressure may be casing this?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE COULD TRIGGER A GOUT ATTACK. PLEASE TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THIS.

A physician changed me from atenolol to another drug abruptly. Never let any doctor do this. The drug insert plainly tells one to only very gradually make the change under medical supervision. In the emergency room, the ER doctor put me back on atenolol and increased it another 25 mg. Lesson learned: do not go off atenolol abruptly even under doctor's care. I continue on it and do fairly well and try to bring blood pressure lower with diet and not overeating. Am on the slim side anyway.

Hi all, I have been taking Noten (Atenolol) for about 8 years now. Over this period I have developed weight gain, twitching, tingling in my hands and feet, tiredness and depression. I have asked doctors about this only to be told that Noten would not do this. I think Noten IS doing this. anybody else getting this combination of symptoms??

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: MANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH ATENOLOL:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2007/12/01/atenolol/

I was on lisinopril 20mg for bout two year. I had a lot to happen to my body while taken that med. Right now my heart rate is up real high at times it get up to 100 beats per min. I had a consistent dry cough. I lost 30 pounds and right now it's hard to gain back. I kept telling my Dr what that med was doing but they wouldn't take me off it.

Finally I went to another Dr and took myself off. This med was harming my body and my bp was still up. I was constantly in the bathroom. Urinating, I couldn't go anywhere that med was draining all the fluid off me. It made me very sick and weak at time and sometime my memory would get so bad. Thank you for your concern.

I was taking a diuretic (moduretics) for many years and 3 months ago I added a calcium inhibitor (Amlodipine) when my BP remained high (stage 1). Recently I started feeling dizzy and hazy like I'm floating plus a funny feeling at the back of the neck. I also developed a dull pain at the pelvis (left side) plus flu symptoms.

Any help? What would be the best BP medicine?

on 25 mg atenolol, yrs later increased to 25 mg 2x day. controls arrhythmia and feel beneficial to hand tremor. what seems to help with hand tremor is B50 once or twice day. helps keep my head steady from tremor. also brewers yeast is beneficial. read Anxious for Nothing by john macarthur for anxiety.

bp went to stage III and been on amlodipine now for almost two months. reduced my dose from 5 mg to 1/2 tablet (2.5 mg) and that is working better. was bringing my bp too low. i am low salt, no HFCS, careful with sugar, and try to eat lightly, organic whenever possible. high blood pressure has now caused stage III kidney disease. I listen to peoples pharmacy every week and am in process of acquiring some more of their books. what an excellent program!!!

I am on nifedipine er(xl)60mg 1 per day. Atenolol 50mg 1 per day. l-thyroxine 175mcg 1 per day. I am 54 years old and have been treated for thyroid problems 38 years and high blood pressure 36 years. I have a chronic dry cough for 10 years now and getting worse by the day. 15 doctors, 4 hospitals, and every test known to men and women the best they can give me is that it is a form of bronchial asthma with airborne allergies. I have been told it is a habit, smokers cough (I quit 6 years ago) and stressed induced. I have even been told to learn to live with it.... I feel it is my BP meds. What do you think... doctors don't think so. PLEASE HELP ME..............

My son (17) was thought to have high blood pressure and was prescribed Lisinopril, 20 mg... to find out that the nurse had used a "child's cuff" for blood pressure on him.... not an adults cuff.... he was found to have normal range 2 months later... but the doctor said to keep taking the Lisinopril... I consulted another doctor and told him what happened. He was given another check up... to find his blood pressure was normal and told him not to continue to take the Lisinopril....

I am wondering if Lisinopril is dangerous to take if you do not have high blood pressure? My son is an athlete (football, tennis & wrestling)... when taking this med he was always so tired... Please help me here!

It's so interesting reading other people's concerns about HBP medications and side effects. I live in a stressful city and have a stress-inducing job. About 3 yrs ago I was put on Atenolol (low dose) and 12.5mg Hydrochlorothyazide (HCT) for pre-hypertension. I took it for a little over a week, I started having distressful dreams and had two very pronounced panic attacks. I stopped taking the Atenolol. Time passed I was still dancing around the pre-hypertension BP numbers - I was put on 5mg Lisinopril about a year ago.

I dislike taking these pills, but I still do. Among other things like an occasional dry cough, I've been experiencing shortness of breath around the 3rd - 4th flight of stairs at the office and I'd blamed myself, I didn't realize until reading this forum that the Lisinopril could be a culprit. Maybe I just need to move away from this environment.

Hi, my 19yr old son has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathies (with left ventricular hypertrophy) and can no longer work due to severity of his condition. He is on Noten, which seems to be helping, but still gets chest pain/angina and constantly tired with major chest pain after minor exercise. They started him on Coversyl as well as Noten which gave major breathing problems, insomnia and night terrors.

Then started on Tritace and still major breathing/cough. Tried Micardis and it was worse. Tried Norvasc and headaches all day and night but some relief, tried Lercan and headaches worse with quite bad angina. Started dithiazide yesterday and it wasn't any better. We have become so frustrated because nothing seems to be helping and costs heaps going back to Cardiologist and different medicines every few days. Has anyone got any ideas that actually may help??? A very frustrated father that only wants to look after his son! Thank you.

Diagnosed with HPT. Put on 100mgs atenolol as had reaction to Diovan. Also Cardura 4 mgs a day, 2+2. BP is fine after a month but short term memory is shot, depressed, no appetite and don't have the strength to even get out of bed most days let alone exercise. Back cramps under right shoulder blade so bad I can scream and he tells me take Tylenol! Also eye problems with dryness. Been to Doctor several times and he insists not side effect of meds and has more tests scheduled than you can shake a stick at. Wants MRI for Head for memory loss that I never had till I started these meds, already had ekg, chect ex rays full lipid workup etc. Now wants more tests.

Is short term memory loss a side effect, I know cramping is and back pain.
Thank you!!!! (I think I need new doctor)