Wellness

[wismiss]

I had this same experience.  SOME people develop a cough when prescibed an ace inhibitor as their high blood pressure medication.  My doctor prescribed a different medication after the cough and it was not a concern after that.

[Tinkrbl44]

@Happiness Is Inside JOB

This common sense story could have been condensed down to a single paragraph.  Research for any prescription drug you take should be automatic.  The information you need is usually included in a flyer in the packaging.  If not, it's readily available with both your doctor and your pharmacist.   I've always found pharmacists happy to answer any questions I might have.

Coughing is a fairly common side effect with these drugs, although it certainly doesn't happen to everyone.   Nevertheless, I'm glad you have found a medication that better agrees with you.  

[Moonchilde]

Being in the healthcare field, I have always known that ACE inhibitor anti-hypertensives were notorious for causing coughing. I realize the average person wouldn't know.

I have always told my doctors I do not want an ACE inhibitor drug because of the coughing, in that I already cough an annoying (to me) amount due to allergies and I did not need a medication which might cause me to cough even more. My mother was given an ACE inhibitor and it made her cough; she was taken off as well.

Well, good call OP as I would NEVER go to a doctor who lied to me deliberately just because they could and thought they could get away with it. Just noooooo.

[hckynut]

@Happiness Is Inside JOB

I am much older than you, and I am of the male gender. I have been into health/physical and mental fitness before you were born, since you say "your 45 years of life". Most of what you have said here had information available for those the "truly wanted to be their best advocate" when it comes to their health.

There was no "WebDr" back in the 1970's, but there were books available that told the side effects of prescription meds, if a person took the time to research it. 

I went to health clinics, yes in the 1970's/I read magazines devoted to health and fitness, and there were many books written by top doctors in the Fitness and Health Fields, that spelled out most of the dangers.

In this day and age of easy access information on about any topic I can think of, it is very easy to find if one looks for it. Why anyone would not talk with their doctor before leaving their office?

I am not going to go any further, except to say. I agree with what you have to say about ones health advocacy. I however like to think most adults are familiar enough with how and where to find answers in this age of technology available. They just are not looking.

If you cannot get along with your doctor, find another one. I have walked out on more than 1 doctor that didn't want to listen to me.

I could make this book length, but I won't.

hckynut(john)

[ID2]

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@Happiness Is Inside JOB wrote:

Spoiler

Well NOW...that the name of the medication is "OUT"....I will confirm the medication I took that caused the coughing  is the medication that was mentioend above by my fellow QVC family.

What more burned me up was the doctor acting like, OH NO,this medicine does not cause coughing, I should not have to "PROVE" my symptoms, but I thank GOD for WEBMD, to read the other patients experiences, I knew I was on to something.

BUT TRUST ME...and NO WORRIES, SHE ..WILL NOT..... be my doctor for LONG, I'm on the lookout to switch.

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Why the OP seems to be keeping the name, Lisinopril, a secret is beyond me! I take Lisinopril and have absolutely no side effects but when my doctor prescribed it to me, years ago, he told me to get back with him if I develop a cough. Your doctor should have been more informed and forthcoming when prescribing this med to you.

[PamelaSue72]

When I first started taking Lisinipril, I developed the cough, too. Called my doctor. She immediately decreased the dosage and I started to really monitor my BP to make sure BP was still OK with the descreased dosage. It remained consistently low-to-normal range and we stayed with the decreased dosage. I took Lisinipril for several years with no other adverse side effects. It worked well on my BP.

Until, for some reason, I developed some kind of allergic reaction to Lisinipril, baby aspirin, regular aspirin, and pretty much every OTC pain medicine known to man (Advil, Tylenol, Excedin, Bufferin, etc). I developed facial swelling from everything. My doctor immediately switched me from Lisinipril over to Bystolic, a beta blocker....which works well for my BP.

Went to an allergist who could find nothing wrong and no reason for the allergic reaction. Blood tests showed nothing. He simply said to stop taking everything. If my face started to swell, I could take Benedryl. And I keep Epi-Pens with me at all times; thankfuilly I've not needed one.

I haven't taken any kind of pain meds in 3-1/2 years. No Advil, no Tylenol, nothing. Still taking Bystolic for my BP.

[violann]

SUCH A GREAT THREAD!!!

I am lucky to have doctors who listen to me. I spent years going to a specialist who was THE BEST IN MY AREA, who neglected my care, insulted me, and performed and ordered inappropriate tests at my expense. In his defense, I have come to think he might have been failing mentally when I last went to him.

The inability to benefit from blood pressure medicines finally caused me to asses my lifestyle and make drastic changes.

I am VERY sensitive to medications, and I tried SEVEN different ones, and some made me cough, some put me to sleep, and some did both.

It finally occurred to me that changing my lifestyle might help more than medications, and that was what ultimately happened.

Bottom line- you cannot achieve maximum benefit from medical care if you are not an active part of the treatment plan.

[hckynut]

@JeanLouiseFinch

I was on BP med but have never had high BP. After heart attack #2 my Cardiologist wanted my BP as low as I could tolerate it without any major balance issues, or dropping too low when I lowered my head to do something, or when getting up from a sitting condition.

About 2 or so months ago I was having some episodes of my BP dropping too low, so I asked him to try taking me off of it. I really never had any issues that I considered to be a problem of much concern, I just did not like my Diastolic reading being in the mid to low 50's.

I was on Lopressor to start and then it's generic Metropolol since that heart attack, September 12, 2007. Not 1 single side effect over those many years. As mentioned in my other post, different meds have different reactions with different people. I think that is why the list of "possible side effects" seem to be getting longer.

I think most that come to this forum are those of us that have many decades in our rear view mirrors, and most are wise enough to ask questions to their doctors when prescribed any prescription meds, or even some that are OTC.

It is never bad for someone to put a PSA on this Wellness Forum for sure. With the wealth of attainable info now available from so many sources, I just didn't quite get the way in which this thread was originally written. Now that is just me being me. If my post was offensive to anyone, that was/is never my intent.

hckynut(john)

[hckynut]

@violann

Now you are someone I consider to be a well informed "self health advocate". Why the OP of this thread chose to keep the name of her med a secret baffles me. Offering her experiences is certainly a positive, I only question that for being her own health advocate, not being more firm with her doctor.

hckynut(john)

[debcakes]

I had the same problem. My doctor prescribed the medicine and then a few days later I got the worst cold and cough of my life. The cold lasted so long but even after the cold was gone, the cough persisted. I kept thinking it was related to the cold, but as soon as I mentioned it to my Dr she changed my prescription. I also had a bp med that gave me really frightful, dark dreams. I kept waking up in fear and felt ghost it would be difficult to even go to work. Through research, I discovered that the medication could do that. Now, I am on a combination of two with no problems.