Lisinopril and Cough: What Users Say

• med...
• December 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Prescribed lisinopril for borderline high blood pressure 10mg. Initially left me feeling very weak, extremely lethargic, and sleepy/tired. Went back to the doctor for a follow-up, they advised that this was my body adjusting and getting used to blood pressure being in a normal range. Blood pressure better, but wow the side effects were not good at all. Side effects were heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, a general feeling of being unwell and sick, flu-like symptoms, overproduction of phlegm, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, discharge in my eyes, and a lessened quality of life. At the 25 day mark, I decided to try cutting the pills in half to wean myself off. The first day off, I was already starting to feel better. After stopping, some days I've felt decent, but still struggle with the withdrawal side effects like cough and nausea. I've changed my diet for the better and only drink water. I'm glad to find message boards to share this info to let others know they are not alone."

• gsw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Lowering your blood pressure is incredibly important, but the side effects make you feel so awful on this stuff. It causes an allergic-type reaction. I constantly have a postnasal drip, dry cough, lungs feel bad. I feel exhausted and sick on this stuff. And it is a very repeatable test. Also, it depletes your zinc, which allows strep bacteria to grow, holes in your gut, among tons of problems. Telmisartan makes me feel fantastic. Never again Lisinopril. I feel like I've lost 3 weeks of my life in a lousy feeling haze. So annoyed it takes me this long to figure it out."

• Ran...
• July 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking lisinopril for about 10 years. I started off with 20mg. The dose was increased to 40 mg. These last few years, I have lost almost all my hair, I have ED, I cough my head off, I fell off the ladder at work and passed out at work and damaged my knee. So I started to do research on this drug and came across all these side effects that I was never told about by my doctor or pharmacist. Why is this? For the last two months, I have been drug-free from these medications and I have switched to Ultra CoQ10 and Hypertrol to control my blood pressure along with a diet change including fruits, veggies, and nuts."

• Rai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "I was on it for 2 years and the quality of my life deteriorated. When I began losing my hair, I looked up the side effects of this and I found I must have been one who was very intolerant to it. I had the hacking cough, runny nose, my voice was hoarse, muscle cramps at night, incontinence, lethargy, thin brittle fingernails, and insomnia. I stopped taking it and all those symptoms are gone. I had seen doctors about these symptoms but they dismissed them."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on this lisinopril medication for about a month and a half, and it has helped my blood pressure so much. At my last doctor's appointment, it was 117/78. It has never been that low. However, as soon as I started the medicine, I had a horrible cough. I went and got tested for COVID, I’ve been on antibiotics, and had chest X-rays because the urgent care thought I had some kind of virus. I finally went to my primary care, and right away they knew it was the Lisinopril. I would have never put the two together. Although it has helped my blood pressure, there is no way I can cough like this on a daily basis. It has really affected my life. I have had a hard time taking care of my kids, and I’m so exhausted from coughing and not sleeping."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "47, female, my BP was 145/90 so doc said meds. Chlorthalidone for 5 months, and apart from a mild dry cough, I was okay but felt some weight gain might be a result despite being a diuretic. Doc puts me on lisinopril. Within days, I had a worse cough, joints have started aching, back and hips hurt for no reason, and even worse, I’ve had allergic reactions three times in a month where my eyes and cheeks swell up and hurt and burn (angioedema). I couldn’t figure out what was causing these weird flares but each time I took Benadryl, and it would subside in a day or two. I started researching causes of “rapid, itching, burning face and eye swelling,” and ACE inhibitors like lisinopril were some of the first results that popped up. One study said up to 30% of patients taking it have had reactions! I know others they have no issue. But the high rate of anaphylaxis and allergic reaction should be carefully considered by all as apparently it can develop at any time, days, months, or years in..."

• HBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Worst ever. I was already on another BP drug but my doctor said it was still too high. Put me on lisinopril 3 weeks ago. Doing ok. A week ago, I went to my mom's house, she is 70 years old, has been a nurse forever, and is currently an ADON at a nursing home. She immediately said, you have the 'lisinopril cough'. Folks, I am 53 years old, I have never coughed like this in my life. It has made me cry, brought me to my knees, etc. Needless to say, if you are already starting the dry cough, stop taking it."

• Anonymous
• May 31, 2008

For High Blood Pressure "I have been using Lisinopril 10mg for about a year. Initially, I had dry coughing day and night (not to the extreme where it kept me awake at night), but enough that I thought I had an allergy or a common cold. After reading the information on this site, I found that coughing is a common symptom with this drug. I also had blurred vision, cramps in my feet and hands, and some headaches too. However, after including an hour of combined aerobics and stretching exercises 3-4 days per week, most of the symptoms are now reduced to the occasional headaches. Taking the pill with plenty of water and with food also reduced the blurred vision. In a year, I have lost about 35 lbs. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels are normal, and my doctor has recently lowered my dosage from 10 to 5mg."

• Zar...
• August 15, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking Lisinopril for 4 years. I did have a slight dry cough when I started, but it's mostly gone. However, two years ago I developed a pain in my abdomen on the left side about 10th rib. It would come and go, but it was always there. It's been more or less constant for two years. And for two years my doctors have ignored my pleas for help, and one nurse practitioner said, 'what do you want me to do about it'. I finally read about angioedema of the small bowel causing pain. So I stopped taking the Lisinopril and the pain immediately went away after 3 days. While on Lisinopril and amlodipine I never got my BP below 130/80 consistently. So I wonder if they are really worth it? Living in constant pain. I also blame the fact that I'm on Medicaid and believe I get subpar healthcare. My doctor never questioned the possibility that my pain was from the meds. His standard line was the pain you have is worth the risk. I don't think so."

• JJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Started with lisinopril for high blood pressure at 10mg, didn't really lower my blood pressure, so my doctor upped it to 20mg. I was on it for less than a week, and a cough was keeping me awake. Then I began experiencing headaches and dizziness. I didn't initially think of side effects because some of these symptoms are associated with high blood pressure. However, I got worse with the coughing, itchiness, and pain in my stomach. So, I decided to look up the side effects before assuming I was really sick. I have taken myself off the medication."

• Bpa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "It works great for lowering blood pressure and generally made me feel better. For about three weeks. Then the side effects kicked in. I started coughing so hard that I saw stars and would nearly pass out - felt like there was hair stuck in my throat all the time. Then my nose started running like a faucet and my sinuses swelled, endless sneezing and runny nose day and night that was absolutely relentless. I thought it was a cold or allergies but it just wouldn't stop. Until I stopped taking lisinopril. I had severe insomnia and felt like I was constantly detoxing due to all the inflammation. It's a shame because this can be a very effective drug with excellent benefits, but I suspect it may be due in part to the awful generics we're forced to take. The cough stopped and I no longer felt constantly ill about 2 days after quitting. No way I could endure it long term, it was really starting to wreck me."

• Car...
• June 28, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "Doc put me on 10mg. I developed what seemed like sciatic nerve pain. Every morning when getting out of bed for the day, I had pain in my left buttocks, thigh, down my calf, and tingling into my foot. After being up for an hour or so, the pain subsided, and I could pretty much do what I wanted. I also noticed I was easily fatigued and felt somewhat depressed. Doc increased the dose to 20mg daily after 6 months. Then the sciatic pain in the morning increased to nearly unbearable. I had no energy. I was ready to see an Orthopedic Dr when I checked online for severe side effects of Lisinopril. I was stunned - joint, nerve, and sciatic pain. Hair loss, weight gain, depression, cough, fatigue, and etc. I stopped the med. and now feeling great."

• CTa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on 20mg of lisinopril for several years now. I found that it significantly reduced my BP at each doctor's visit, so I was happy with that for a while. I've had some stomach issues for a while now, as well as a cough that didn't go away. Just nagging, not constant. I also had dry patches of skin on my forehead. I decided to research the side effects since I was on no other meds. After my research, I stopped the lisinopril on my own. After about 1 week, my stomach feels better, my cough is gone, and my skin is clearing up. I also feel more energetic and not as 'down' as I had been feeling. I'll take my chances without it."

• Pam...
• July 9, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I am a 57-year-old woman and I have been taking lisinopril 20mg for a few years now. The side effects are getting worse. I just asked my doctor to take me off this medication for my blood pressure. I had severe leg cramping at night, and my skin seems to show every vein due to lisinopril sucking the life out of me. I work all day and I couldn't wait to get into my bed at the end of the day, I was totally exhausted. I would wake up in the middle of the night with a dry cough, limiting my sleep, and feeling like I did not sleep at all. This is not living life as it was meant to be. I will change my eating habits and exercise. I would rather live every day as it was meant to be, than BARELY existing."

• Kam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "I am a 36-year-old female new to the world of high blood pressure. I am a runner, healthy eater, and maintain a good weight, but my father has high blood pressure. After an ER visit with high blood pressure and an episode of tachycardia, I was told to see a cardiologist. My BP remained at 145/100 for about a month, so he put me on lisinopril 10mg. Being paranoid about the side effects, I have only taken 5mg per day for the last week. My BP is pretty stable at about 117/85. Side effects include minimal coughing, fatigue, and dizziness."

• Sun...
• July 9, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "It does lower the blood pressure, sometimes too much. But beware of the side effects - after being on the medication for almost two years, I developed fast heartbeat, chest pains, shortness of breath, depression, dizziness not upon standing up but simply while working at my desk, stomach pains, bad heartburn. The dry cough was pretty annoying, too. Been off of it for 5 days and most of the side effects are gone."

• jrh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking 10 mg of lisinopril for BP for a few months after trying a few others, which gave me terrible back pain. My back pain on lisinopril is bearable, but the dry cough and runny nose have become intolerable. Three days ago, I started taking three teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar (with the Mother included) with lukewarm water in the morning, and it seems to eliminate a lot of the phlegm in my lungs, thus reducing coughing and hacking. If this keeps on working, I will continue with lisinopril, otherwise, I will have to try some other medication. It's the nitric oxide produced by this pill that irritates the lungs, apparently. I wish the pharmaceutical companies would take this into consideration."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking lisinopril for almost a year, it brought my blood pressure down to the 80's over 50's. The dry cough won't go away. I don't feel that my pressure should be this low, so after doing some research on my own, I have decided to stop this medication. There's an article called '4 Worst Blood Pressure Drugs' that goes through and explains the effects of these meds. I suggest that you look up this article if you take lisinopril."

• Dia...
• August 11, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on lisinopril 20/25 for about 6 to 9 years now. It controls my blood pressure. But I have felt dead since I started taking it. It kills my love life. I'm not even interested. I am always tired. I am always sick. I always have a cough. Thanks to the fluid pill mix, I pee every single time I cough. I never feel clean. I always have to buy pads. I know it's the meds because once in a while I will get sick of feeling this way and just stop taking them. I feel like a new person. So strong, so happy, loving life, let's play, clean, and brand new.... But I will check my BP and it will be soaring towards or past 200/160. My doctor knows about all of it, makes no effort to care, but it's time to stop all this nonsense."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 18, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "After six months of taking lisinopril (5mg), I have gained weight, had hair loss, and have had constant fatigue. It has brought my blood pressure down to 120/70, but I'm tired of all the side effects! Not to mention the constant dry cough and soreness in my mouth."

• Cal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 20, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Been on lisinopril for 5 years. My 10 mg dose caused dry cough and numbness of fingers for a while, then I started having heart bounding mid-morning and feeling of exhaustion after a meal. I started 10 mg in the morning and 10 mg at night, and that seemed to have worked with side effects less severe. My doctor refused to give me 10 mg twice a day and insisted on 20 mg once a day. I still don't agree with him since it was working for me, so I followed his prescription. BP still high. They say half-life of medication is 12 hours, but it doesn't seem like it because at the end of 24 hrs, my BP is high. Another thing I noticed is most of the time when I get a new refill, the drug gives me trouble and BP is high. I think the different manufacturers produce a different drug. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I get refills at Kaiser, who import the drugs from different countries based on price, as per the pharmacist at Kaiser."

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "42 years old, decent shape, exercise regularly, eat pretty well most of the time. Family history of high blood pressure. I waited nearly a year after the doctor prescribed lisinopril. Neighbor, 46, who was in great shape, had a massive heart attack and died while jogging. It scared me. I've been taking it for 3 days, and I feel so much better! I did not realize the side effects of high blood pressure. Coughing a little, but I'll take that all day long to avoid bigger problems."

• Dio...
• August 13, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "Started taking Lisinopril after 10 years of Valsartan for migraine prevention and high blood pressure. 10 mg once at night before bed. Works well for BP. Side Effects: A slightly higher tendency to cough/tickling in the throat. *Vivid dreams - No doubt about it - much more vivid and memorable dreams. *Migraines - I have been a migraine sufferer for much of my life. I didn't know that Lisinopril was used for migraine prevention until after being on it for well over a month and commenting to my wife that my migraines had suddenly stopped. That feature alone, aside from blood pressure reduction, would be worth taking this medicine."

• Dam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I was on Cardizem since I was 15 years old. It was okay up until the last 2 years. I started having stomach problems. So my doctor switched me to Zestril (lisinopril) at the beginning of December. I have only been on it a couple of weeks, and it has lowered my BP. But the side effects are horrible. I cough constantly, itchy, chest pains. I already have joint problems, and it has made my joints a lot worse. I constantly feel nauseous now. I feel like I'm shivering all the time. My insomnia is horrible, anxiety is through the roof, I feel like I'm going to pass out, my vision gets blurry, depressed feeling. I honestly feel like this medicine has taken more from me than the high blood pressure."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 15, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Do not take this drug. It causes excess mucus and coughing to the point of vomiting. It also causes terrible stomach pain. I took this for over a year and kept blaming my increased sinus mucus on allergies, milk products, etc. The day I stopped the drug, my symptoms stopped as well. Really, doctors should never prescribe such a drug! It can also damage your liver and pancreas. Best to deal with your high blood pressure naturally than suffer the considerable side effects of the drugs that doctors prescribe. They get kickbacks and lobster dinners from the drug reps to push their medication. Never take any medication without first trying to alter your lifestyle and diet. See a holistic doctor first."