Doctors Ignore Lisinopril-Caused Cough

I too, have the cough occasionally, but my blood pressure is better controlled with lisinopril than most of the others. I had some very bad experiences with others, one for example, Lopressor; I wound up in the ER.
I hate the side effects of the BP drugs, but I am more afraid of having a stroke. I had a mild TIA and I am not willing to take the chance of not taking BP medications. I also take a Chinese herb called Balance 3, or another brand name: Seven Flowers. The Seven Flowers helps me sleep, and it is supposed to help lower BP.
Tessalon Perles, Benzonate (generic) taken at night can help stop the cough for a few hours. My dentist introduced me to it during a root canal.

I had the same problem with Lisinipril. I like it because it doesn't make me feel tired. I told my doctor I would like to carefully monitor my blood pressure with my own monitor while cutting my pills and taking just a half daily. That worked fine. In fact, for several years I could maintain good pressure with 5 mg every other day. That also eliminated the cough. I eventually had to go up to every day. Now I take 10 mg. but still don't have the cough back. I think 20 mg. is what they often start folks with. We aren't all the same. Maybe less would work, save money, avoid the cough. ~ C

I was on Lisinopril for about a year. I had a cough that would not go away. I asked my doctor about it and he switched me to Benicar. Since taking Benicar my cough has completely cleared up. I had a guy I worked with who was complaining about a nagging cough. Without knowing about his medical history I asked him if he was on Linisiopril and he stated he was. I gave him the info I found out and his cough cleared up.

I am having exactly the same experience. My doctor told me to gargle with warm salt water when I mentioned the coughing to her. Yesterday I had a stress test and therefore no medication of any kind. I spent the 6 hours at the hospital with no coughing and had only one short episode during the night--not enough to getup for water or a cough drop. I had no idea that there could be a connection between the lisinopril and the coughing.

Hi, I take Lisinopril and have that cough as well. The only thing that has helped and it really has helped is to suck on Hall's Defense with Vitamin C in the assorted citrus flavors. I am not sure why they work but they keep me cough free for the most part.

My husband (76) also had annoying cough that he couldn't get rid of. His doctor gave him a prescription for it that did not help; the cough persisted. It became so bad that he carried a bottle of water everywhere, as that was that was the only relief he could get. Even though he was sometimes confused, and acted odd at times, still his doctor was unconcerned.

This went on for 9 months, until the night I found him unresponsive and called 911! Rushed to the hospital in serious condition, he was evaluated, and many tests done, their thinking was that he'd had a stroke. Fortunately we had a bright young emergency room doctor that carefully read the results from his blood work & remembered the drugs my husband was on.

His sodium level was down to 117 and he noticed he was on LINISOP/HCTZ, and put 2 and 2 together. Side affects of this drug were both the cough and low sodium... Not only that, he had been washing out sodium with all the water he wad consuming.

My husband spent 3 days in ICU with 5 days total in the hospital, and it was at least 2 more weeks before his behavior improved enough that I could tell his sodium level was getting back to a normal level.

People take warning. Read down to the fine print for every drug you take. It could prove fatal not to!

I also was put on Lisinopril for High Blood Pressure. I started coughing. After purchasing many cough remedies & telling my doctor about the cough,
she ordered a xray which came back negative. I continued to take the
Lisinopril per her order but 3 months later I returned to her office stating that everyone in her waiting room would not sit near me because of my cough. Surprise!!! She stated that one of the side effects of Lisinopril was a cough and put me on another medication. My cough immediately disappeared!!!

I developed a cough after taking lisinopril for two years. The first two doctors I saw diagnosed me with a sinus infection followed by acid reflux. The third doctor switched my medication to diovan and within 24 hours the cough had disappeared. Apparently, they didn't think the cough and lisinopril were related since I had been taking it for so long!

My husband also developed the cough after being put on lisinopril. 6 months or so later when he was going in for surgery I discussed the coughing problem with his surgeons and that the cough started after her was put on lisinopril and I was sure it was the meds. The men looked at each other and said they too had developed a cough after going on it. They suggested that when he got back to his primary care doctor that he request he put him on Fosinopril. He did and with in 2 days the cough was down to his regular 'clear you throat' cough. His blood pressure is still good with the new meds.

I had a strangulating persistent cough and found out it was the lisinopril I was on. My doctor deduced that it was the lisinopril and took me off of it and placed me on something different. The cough almost instantaneously went away.
I am a nurse, and I can almost always tell by listening if a patient has a "lisinopril cough" and try to alert the doctor before he runs up a lot of expensive tests.

I am 56 years old, and have really been disgusted with the side effects of the medications the doctors have put me on to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I suffered from intractable nausea three years ago, and finally after months of unsuccessful treatment, CAT Scans, other medications that made me sleepy, eating radioactive eggs, and having a tube stuck down my throat I discovered it was my simvastatin.

Stopped that and the nausea essentially went away. I had been taking Lisinopril for about three months (10 mg) and my throat felt like it was constricting, and I was always on the verge of coughing. After my experience with simvastatin I realized that my "sore throat" was the result of the Lisinopril. Haven't gone back to my doctor yet, but will soon. My insurance insists that I "fail" on Lisonopril before they will approve a more expensive alternative. I guess I "failed."

My husband has had a persistent cough for a couple of years. His doctor tells him that it is a side effect of the lisinopril.

I have the same cough and have been taking this for one month. It started within the first week. The Dr did tell me I had my choice between this one, that causes the cough, or another med that makes you tired. I chose the cough because I already lose sleep with an infant at home...but I won't take it anymore because I am to the point of gagging and not being able to breathe. I am also required to be on the phone a lot at work and cannot talk to clients with this side effect. My eyes water...I almost vomit...can't breathe...and then sometimes start sneezing immediately afterward. Everyone at work thinks I am sick, and I am not! I just called my Dr to switch to the other med that makes you tired. I'd rather be tired than not able to breathe!

I started on 5 mg of Lisinopril about 10 days ago. 5-10 times a day I am overcome by a tickling throat and a coughing fit often leading to some kind of gagging reflex. What are the other drug choices for High BP? Does anyone have any recommendations?

I, too, developed a chronic cough and after seeing some commercial on tv about a different med that said the side effects were coughing, I decided to look up lisonprils side effect and sure enough, the constant irritating, ticklish feeling in the throat, almost vomiting feeling with this cough has to be related to lisonpril. I was on Diovan and never had a problem. I am going to talk to my doctor about putting me back on Diovan.

I started taking the Lisinopril 5mg. about 2-3 weeks ago and have done nothing but cough day and night. It is awful. Guess I may have to change too.

My HMO decided that they would no longer pay for Diovan, so my doctor put me on Lisinopril. Shortly after I developed a persistent cough. A tickle in the throat caused by post-nasal drip. I started using every over the counter cold remedy I could find. In 3 months I went through a dozen bottles of cough syrup as well as numerous pills & tablets.

These were no help, so my doctor gave me antibiotics. Still no help. My routine check-up discovered an enlarged prostate. After being sent to the urologist for a scope up the urinary tract, with no polyps or problems found; the urologist said that I needed to begin taking 2 additional prescriptions for the rest of my life, but not to worry because 50% of men have enlarged prostates. He gave me a stack of literature to read and scheduled an appointment to decide on treatment. I found out about the link between Lisinopril & coughing and went back on Diovan.

No more coughing AND no more cold medicines. In reading the urologists literature I found a section discussing prostrate enlargement brought on by COLD MEDICINES. Since going back on Diovan, I no longer have the cough and subsequently no longer have an enlarged prostrate.
Thank you BIG PHARM.

Wow. I've taken Lisinopril for sixteen months. My cough started a year ago; we called it "allergies" for a few months; then "winter dryness". It persisted and worsened this summer to the point I was vomiting, seeing stars, almost blacking out I was coughing so hard. Curiously, I've also had crazy hair loss - another side effect. I've been on Diovan for two days, and tonight finally think I notice the cough being not as bad as it's been. I hope and pray this is the end of it; they say it can take up to two weeks to go away. WHAT a nightmare it's been; the amount of sleep I've lost, rolling over and coughing and choking, waking my husband. Thankful my doctor finally figured it out, though I'm a little frustrated it took this long...

I've been on Lisinopril for a few months, and also have the persistent cough. The doc put me on Nasonex first, and it seemed to help, but not cure the cough. Then I noticed that the cough seemed to be triggered by consumption of milk or ice cream. One Hall's cough drop to clear whatever gunk milk leaves behind, and I'm usually good to go.

One person told me that the cough is triggered by edema in the throat caused by the drug. The severity of the cough is related to the degree of edema. It feels a lot like post-nasal drip.

About a month ago, I started having episodes of a sudden onset "tickle" in my throat that gets so bad after a minute that I start a coughing fit. This makes my eyes water and my nose run. This has become a 5-10 time per day occurrence.

I went to the Doctor today convinced that I had a sinus infection or an allergy.

Right away the Doctor noticed that I started taking Lisinopril a month ago. He immediately took me off of it and prescribed something else.

I am sure that this will cure my cough in a few days. I'm so happy. I bet a lot of people have this problem, and it is overlooked.

I had been suffering from a persistent cough for months; then went on holiday with my family and it seemed at its worse. I had episodes of a tickly throat and had to carry throat sweets and a drink everywhere but at no time linked it to the medication i was taking.

My family were all saying i should go to the doctor about the cough which i did when i got back from holiday. When i told him my symptoms and he saw i was taking lisinopril he said straight away he thought that was the cause and changed my tablet. Its only been a couple of days but it seems much better already.

Now i have looked it up on the internet and seen how many people have had the same problem i wonder why doctors are still perscribing this and feel annoyed that i have been suffering with this for so long and getting so tired because of it.

I've just started taking lisinopril and have noticed my blood sugar count has gone up. Would this be a side effect?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: YES.

I have high b/p and currently take lisinopril... when I get a cold or sinus infection not only am I clueless as what to take w/the high b/p n' all... I'm scared to take anything because of the b/p... the Coricidin hbp... does absolutely nothing for me. Is it ok to take something like tessalon perle for the nagging cough that accompanies a cold ??

I too have the nagging cough, I think w/ so many that this should be banned and investigated...
Like the rest I too am afraid to discontinue taking it now that I'm on it but not getting the sleep and nauseated after taking it...

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: PLEASE TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THIS. THERE ARE MANY OTHER MEDICINES TO CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE.

I have been taking Lisinopril for a little over 2 years now, and never had a problem until recently. About 6 weeks ago, this horrible cough started.

At first, I tried some of the over the counter cough and cold remedies, but to no avail. Then, it was time to go to the doctor, at which time I was told that I had a very severe bronchitis, and was put on antibiotics and inhalers, neither of which worked for me. After about 9 days, I still felt very little relief, and returned to my doctor again. Again, he said it was the bronchitis, and gave me more antibiotics, and 2 different inhalers.

I still did not get much relief, but struggled on to get through my days, and my sleepless nights as well. I couldn't sleep due to the cough, and have literally no bladder control at this point when these coughing fits come.

It has gotten to the point now that I am sometimes afraid to eat, because I know if I get to coughing soon after that, I will vomit up what I have eaten. Last week, I had to call the doctor yet again, and this time he advised me to go to the emergency room, because he thought they could do more for me there than what he could in his office. They checked me out there, and did chest x rays and all that stuff, and said there was nothing to be seen, so they considered it bronchitis, and prescribed me a z pack, and a steroid pack, and said that those should be able to kick this for good.

Here I am a week later, and still no change. This is very difficult for me, because I work with the public, and people don't want someone waiting on them who is coughing the way that I am, and have been for weeks now.

I was awakened again at 4am, due to this cough, and was just sitting here thinking. It dawned on me that a few months ago, when I got my Lisinopril refilled, there was a different pharmacist on duty that I had never seen before, and when he gave me the prescription, he asked if I had any questions. I told him no, since I had been taking this medication for over 2 years at that point in time. He spoke up though, and told me if I ever got a condition with a chronic cough that just would not quit, that I should consider that the Lisinopril might be the reason. I don't know why I didn't remember that sooner! So, I decided to go online and look up Lisinopril and cough, and here I am.

Of course, it's Saturday morning now, and I won't be able to get in touch with my doctor until Monday morning, but I will be standing there on Monday morning when they open the doors, and see if we can possibly get this resolved.

I just want to say thank you to all who have posted on this site. It has helped me to see that there may in fact be an end to this horrible cough, and maybe I can get my life back once I can get off of this medicine. I am assuming it might take a while to get back to normal, since I have had it for such a long time, but at least knowing there is an end in sight will be a blessing!

It's just sad that it's taken me 6 weeks now, and more than $500, between doctor visits and prescriptions, to finally figure this out. I hope reading all of this might help someone else figure it out, before it happens to them!

Prescribed Lisopril (10mg) and Simvastatin (40mg) to control BP and Cholesterol back in July 2009. Since starting to take medication, developed a particularly nasty cough, which I have been unable to shake off. Recently I went on holiday to New Zealand for a month and forgot to take my medication with me!! Within a week of my vacation the cough had virtually disappeared and had completely gone before returning home. Once home, resumed my medication and guess what - the cough is back with a vengeance. Time to see my GP one thinks!!

I just came across this site because I've switched from Lisinopril to Diovan and was looking for info on Diovan. I was on Lisonopril for over three years. Developed postnasal drip, coughing, nose bleeds and burning mouth syndrome about eight months ago. Both my general practitioner and an ear-nose-throat doctor kept prescribing different meds to treat the postnasal drip but neither connected it with Lisinopril.

I recently had my annual checkup with my cardiologist who originally prescribed the Lisinopril after my heart attack three years ago. He asked me if I had a cold and when I told him it was postnasal drip he immediately said that it could be caused by Lisinopril. I reminded him that I had been taking Lisinopril for three years and he said that some people get postnasal drip immediately after beginning to take the drug and others may take it for years before having a problem with it. He told me to stop the Lisinopril for two weeks and monitor my BP each day and then begin taking Diovan.

Finally, after eight months of misery all of my symptoms have cleared up. If only one of the other doctors had made the connection perhaps I could have stopped the misery long ago. In my opinion, Lisinopril is a bad drug.

I went to Peru in June and came back with chronic altitude sickness after I went up over 16000'. I had a temple headache that just would not quit. My blood pressure was higher than my norm, but not classified as "high blood pressure". However, my doc gave me 5mg Lisinopril to keep my pressure down till my headache went away since they suspected inflammatory vascular issues were the cause.

About 2-3 weeks later, I started the dry cough. It's horrible. I can't make it an hour without hacking. I have seen a neurologist twice, my internist three times and an ENT who all said no reason for the cough - no post nasal drip. I can't have allergy symptoms because I take way too many immuno suppressants due to a hyper-active immune system.

I was even in the hospital for intestinal issues (something from the Amazon jungle maybe?) and they gave me a chest xray cause I coughed all night. Finally yesterday I am at a meeting and I said I don't know why I cough, some one asked if I take High Blood Pressure meds?

I googled it and found this site. Ha Ha - finally. Well it's been six months and the headache is very mild now. My blood pressure actually is low 90/60 on average(they had to get me to stand up in the hospital one night cause it went down to 62/48). I am calling the doc tomorrow and getting off this stuff!!!

Hi my name is Diana and I am in complete shock by all I have read on today. I developed this chronic cough also after taking Lisinop/HCTZ. It started off with a tickling on the right side of my throat as if it was sticking together. So I would use a peppermint or drink something to try and stop it, but not even that worked. Last night I started coughing and I cough so bad until a sharp pain like stabbing feeling came in my back.

My throat seemed to shut off like everything was pushing upward towards my head and everything became so tight until my speech even changed. The pain in my back was so devastating until I was shaking. I thought I was having a stroke. I thought I was dying. All of this came from my body being under so much constant strain from having this persistant chronic cough. It made my back spasm until it felt like I was paralyzed.

The ER ran all kinds of test and found nothing. My husband took them all my meds and yet no one put 1 and 2 together. Wow! Can't believe no one figured this out. Today I did a follow up with my Doctor and the moment I mentioned I had this persistant cough he said lets change your HP med. I was like huh?

He explained that the cough was coming from the HP med and so like you all I scared the crap out of my entire family and myself thinking I was dying and all because my Dr. prescribed me a med that is commonly known to cause chronic coughing. It put my body in such distress. I think they need to take this med off the market!! Thank you all for posting your comments. It's always good to know that you are not alone out here. God Bless you!

Two years ago I got a cough from Lisinopril. Switched to enanapril for 3 days. It took 3 months to get rid of the gagging cough.

Recently I was prescribed Lisinopril at the hospital. I said that it gave me a cough, but was told I had to take it. After 1 week I got hives; then angio-edema; throat, tongue, lips. Stopped taking it on day 12. Prednisone helped with the cough but after a month, I still have incessant massive hives and angio-edema. The cough was the precursor. They say for the 1% with this side effect it can last for weeks or months. Cute.

Hi JKF! I am a 26 year old male who has just started Lisinopril 20mg a little over a month ago and I have begun the clearing throat during the day/dry cough at night that everyone has been talking about on this site. Another person mentioned having their medicine changed to Benicar and it helping stop the cough immediately. Were you prescribed the same medication or were you given another kind?

Hi T.P. I am a 26 year old male who has just started Lisinopril 20mg a little over a month ago and I've just begun the "clear your throat" during the day/"dry cough" in the middle of the night symptoms. I saw that you and a few other people were switched to a different medication to help stop the symptoms. Were you prescribed Benicar, Diovan, or Fosinopril?

Hi John J! I am a 26 year old male who has been on Lisinopril 20mg for a little over a month and the clearing throat/dry cough symptoms have just started? Were you prescribed Benicar, Diovan, or Fosinopril?

I am 74 years old and have been on Lisinopril for about 5yrs. I awake several times a night with a dry cough. I have told this to my Doctor who precribed a high priced bioctic which did not stop the cough. I am very tired all the time as I suffer from lack of sleep. I am now and in the past can relate to all of the above replys and know how they feel.
SHJ

I'm 60 yrs old. I started lisinopril dec 12 for HBP started coughing next day. Changed to benicar on 14th. Have been caughing non stop as of today the 28th. I cough so hard I have thrown up and my left side feels like I have cracked ribs. Went to doc today he said lisinopril may have started this but should not last this long. My lungs are clear so he gave me benzonatate for cough and recommended over the counter meds for alergies.

I told him I have researched this and 35% of people get this cough and takes 3 weeks or longer to go away he said this is not his experience. I'm very angry I was given this medication and the attitude of these know it all young doctors. I have not slept more than 4 hours a night and had to leave my office job today due to coughing and gaging. I will let you know if this benzonatate works.

Here it is 5 am after another sleepless night due to coughing! Called my MD yesterday to tell him to get me back on Diovan. Just want to warn others not to stop taking their BP med on their own - see your MD!

I hear ya!! I was on Benicar and Cardizem for 6 years for hypertension. My employer switched to Blue Shield, and they wouldn't cover the Benicar. So Lisinopril was substituted. I hacked and coughed through all of November. And most of December. Then, BINGO! I read the literature I'd gotten with the RX. The cough was casually mentioned.

It was another battle with the doctor (trying to contact during Xmas week) and still fighting w/ Blue Shield. In the meantime the doc gave me a month's worth of Benicar samples.

I wish this hacking, making-me-pee-in-my-pants cough on all of them!! *cough*

I'm sure I've developed a cavity or two from constantly sucking on cough drops. I hate their taste.
*cough*
:)

I am not on Lisinop but I do take Diovan and Toporol (the generic of each) for HBP. I have a choking, gagging cough which is becoming more frequent. I also have a sinus which is very loose and runny. The coughing has just recently increased in frequency since I started taking an antibiotic (Amoxicillin) for a chest cold/ infection.

The coughing starts when I feel a tickle in my throat which feels like a hair is there. It progresses to gagging and the feeling that I will throw up but nothing comes out and then the episode stops. I have not reached my Dr. yet for an appointment but until I found this page I thought I was dying .

I had been on lisinopril for six months and had that awful dry, fake-sounding cough and asked my doctor what was wrong. He said it was the lisinopril... that he hears it all the time. He switched me to Benicar samples and it improved. I'm back to using up my lisinopril but ready to switch to another HBP medication.