I started takin 2.5 mg in March increased in May to 5 mg and July 10 mg. I was fine one day when waking up in am and next day I was in a LOT of pain, neck, shoulders,with muscle weakness,elbows,knees. Dr. put me on celebrex 2x day. Helps a little,but if I sit for any amount of time I can't move. Can't make a fist. Can't pick up my sheet with my fingers. No strength. Was walking everyday a mile,now can't. Legs too weak and tired. The side effects of Ramipril don't mention joint pain.
I was just thinking that the pain started around the time I started taking Ramipril.
Can Ramipril cause extreme pain in all the joints and weakness in muscles and no strength?
Question posted by psfs4u on 17 July 2011
Last updated on 4 September 2015
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4 Answers
peter10152
4 Sep 2015
I was originally on Lisinopril and changed to Ramipril due to excessive perspiration some time ago for my blood pressure. I am 64 and have played Squash all my life and also 10 pin bowling and Skiing, so have been a fairly fit person.
Some time ago after I had plantar fasceitis and could not play squash till my heel got better. I noticed many months ago that my knees were giving trouble and got treatement and started excercising them and cycling every day to combat it. I also found that whilst I normally could whizz up a ladder into the attic, I was having to assist my legs with my hands to get up the ladder ? by now I was cycling daily, swimming 50 lengths once a week but still unable to play squash. By this time both my elbows had gone weak and the grip strenght in my hands severely deterioated.
Something was not right so I went to the Doctor whereupon I was diagnosed with Tennis Elbow in both arms and given maximum strength Ibroprufen for 2 weeks and stomach damage prevention capsules to prevent damage from the Ibruprofen. I only took them for a week and started my own research.
On the website I found that an identical chain of events in others using Ramipril, so I went to my doctor, who would not listen as it was not in the book of side effects and insisted on blood tests to check for artheritis etc. Test came back all clear.
I then stopped taking Ramipril and monitored my blood pressure whilst pursuing a more healthy diet to reduce my blood pressure naturally. Within 5 days of stopping taking Ramipril my blood pressure stabilsed and my strength was coming back, and I tried bashing a squash ball on court for an hour with no side effects, where a month before I tried for 20 mins and was in an elbow bandage for 10 days. On that day I put my name back on the squash leagues and am now playing for 2 hours on Mondays plus my league games too. After 5 weeks my strength is now fully restored I can now play without and elbow support, my grip strength is restored and I can now play full strength shots with no ill effect.
In short, Ramipril appears to have been destroying my muscles and joint strength and althouth I was cycling daily and swimming, I was swimming upstream all the time and my efforts just holding back the gradual detioration process. Now I am swimming in still water and allowing my muscles to get stronger.
Sorry for such a long reply, but it has changed my life and I felt that I had aged rapidly, but am now back to where I was 5 years ago.
Good Luck to all but only change your own medical prescriptions on medical advice, but I an now on no medication where formerly I was on full time Blood Pressure and Reflux Medication. For me reduce weight, eat better and come of Ramipril has sorted me.
barbara delorenzo
5 Sep 2015
Thanks for your answer Peter my doctor too would not believe me God Bless you and keep getting stronger This medicine is poison as are most blood pressure drugs
Jean21
12 Jan 2013
I had a similar experience with 10mg Ramipril. It started with upper arm pain and weakness, then knees, legs, hips, lower arm and hand. Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, difficulty sitting down and standing up again, difficulty holding a kettle, iron, hairdrier; couldn't use scissors, or hold a knife to cut food. Could hardly turn the ignition key in my car. Doctor said it could be caused by Simvastatin and I stopped taking that, but symptoms continued to worsen almost daily. He finally agreed to reduce the dosage of Ramipril and then stop it altogether. From that day my condition began to improve, muscles have continued to recover and now, 4 months later, I'm thankfully almost back to normal.
barbara delorenzo
15 Sep 2013
Thank you for your post Doctor thinks I'm crazy because I have developed severe knee and shoulder pain. Started on ramipril in June 2013 on 10 mg will try reduce dose then off Thank you again!!
huffcull1
7 Jan 2014
What is a good alternative to Ramipril... I too have joint pain In my hips ... sometimes it's pretty bad... my skin is a mess too?
Katfit
21 Nov 2014
I took 5mg of Ramipril (1x per day) July 2013 - July 2014. My Dr. than increased my Ramipril 10mg. (1x per day) about two weeks after that I noticed that my left shoulder hurt when I tried to push myself to get out of bed! I thought I'd slept wrong or maybe exercised too hard? Within a couple of days I also noticed my whole clavicle hurt along with my right shoulder and arm. It was painful and took a lot of effort to even move my arms. I got worse when I suffered groin and hip pain, lower back pain, thigh and knee pain. I couldn't and still cannot get up off a chair without difficulty, and my arms and shoulders hurt all the time. I am weak!
I was very active exercising (rhythmic aerobic dancing) and never ever suffered any muscle soreness or weakness until I consumed 10mg of Ramipril daily!
I have been off this drug for 2 months now and continue to get worse.
I do some walking, a lot of stretching to stop contracture of my shoulder girdle but struggle with limited use of my arms. I have never, ever had any health problems. What recourse do I have. I feel that Big Pharma should stop making
this BP medication it is crippling patients.
GunningPointer
26 March 2015
Thanks for the comment. I too am on 10 mg Ramipril, have been for years. Now, I get sudden onsets of pain in one knee or the other. I'm an avid athlete, and have never had this condition occur before. I have no indication of the pain occurring during my tennis or jogging. When the pain does come on randomly, it is very debilitating. Time to consult with my doc, and consider an alternative to Ramipril.
pmeik
6 June 2015
I was on 5mg Ramipril and the Doctor put it to 10mg and I start to get pain in my shoulders,knee,hips and fingers, I stop taking it for 3 days and now I feel active again
L.p.
Gertie 62
15 Jan 2012
Hi, I too have developed terrible pain in my Knees, I do have arthiritus in my knees but have never experienced pain like I am getting now, it was my right knee that hurt but since I have been on Ramipril they both hurt... stinging and burning.Can't get an appointment until end of January with my Dr so will have to see another Dr. I feel so fed up, tired, week and ill.
LaurieShay
17 July 2011
Hey psfs4u,
I pulled the following out of the literature for adverse reactions to Ramipril:
Miscellaneous: As with other ACE inhibitors, a symptom complex has been reported which may include a positive ANA, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, arthralgia/arthritis, myalgia, fever, vasculitis, eosinophilia, photosensitivity, rash and other dermatologic manifestations. Additionally, as with other ACE inhibitors, eosinophilic pneumonitis has been reported.
Other: Arthralgia, arthritis, dyspnea, edema, epistaxis, impotence, increased sweating, malaise, myalgia, and weight gain.
Myalgia and arthralgia, muscle and joint pain respectively, are possible side effects from this medication. Given the severity of symptoms, I would discuss changing medicines with the doctor.
Best wishes,
Laurie
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Further information
- Ramipril uses and safety info
- Ramipril prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Ramipril (detailed)
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