Lisinopril and Itching: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• Sam...
• May 17, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking lisinopril 2 months ago. It did lower my BP, but I had to stop immediately due to getting an eye condition called episcleritis. My eyes burned, itched, watered, and became severely red, and I woke up with crusty eyes. The pain became too much to bear. I stopped the medication, and they were all better in 2 days. This is a very rare side effect, but I wanted to share my experience."

• Sir...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 17, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "Started taking Lisinopril last fall. Since then, I have experienced hives, itching non-stop, leg cramps at night, and occasional blurred vision. I first thought the hives and itching were allergy-related and would just go away. Just today, I started researching the side effects of this medicine and tomorrow I will go to see my doctor to discuss getting it changed. I went from 5mg to 10mg to 20mg in about 9 months. My blood pressure is doing okay with this medicine, but the side effects are just too much."

• Mah...
• November 16, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor prescribed this to 'protect my kidneys' and lower my BP (132/100, was never that high before). Within a week, I had severe muscle spasms and pain in my legs, headaches, dizziness, and itchy hands. She cut my dose to 5 mg, which stopped most of the spasms but did not relieve other symptoms. My BP was 100/68. I am now dealing with mild edema in my eyelids and blurred vision."

• Luo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "After taking 2 lisinopril, I broke out in a horrendous red rash over my entire body. Extreme itching. Angioedema, difficulty swallowing, eyesight compromised, violent headache. 3 trips to ER, 3 days in the hospital. 4 weeks later, entire body skin peeling. Still very weak, short of breath on exertion. BP elevated. Not sure what I will do about BP as I am very afraid to try a new drug. This is a very bad drug."

• Doa...
• June 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I had been taking Lisinopril for a few years. 10 days ago I picked up a new script and the next day had a small rash on my face. I thought it was from my flight. After it calmed down, 2 days ago it started up again only this time my whole face was swollen, rash on my neck and chest, ulcerations in my mouth and throat, and some very bad intestinal pains. I've told doctors for a long time I have a problem with sulfa in medications. I just read that this is a medicine I shouldn't have been taking at all. I'm in so much pain and itchy skin. I am nauseated and have a bad headache. I stopped taking it, but now I have to let the reaction calm on its own. I'm afraid to go in and have them pump something else into me that I react to."

• AA1...
• December 30, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "Lisinopril is an effective blood pressure medicine, however, one of its significant side effects is rosacea. I needed to stop taking it and switch to the beta blocker atenolol to control my blood pressure."

• msp...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on this medication for about 3 years, and I've never had a problem with it. My blood pressure was controlled. One day, I suddenly broke out with small bumps and welts, a swollen bottom lip, swollen hands, and my throat hurt. My husband took me to the urgent care center, and from there, I was taken to the emergency room at the hospital via ambulance. I couldn't believe this was happening. I knew it was something wrong but did not think it was too serious to be taken to the hospital. I was given Benadryl through an IV and other meds. They advised me to stop taking lisinopril immediately and put me on a different blood pressure medication. I have an appointment with my PCP next week. The swelling has completely gone away, but the itching is still in effect."

• Loj...
• February 28, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "Took Lisinopril for 18 months, it was very good at lowering blood pressure. However, after 16 months of taking it, I had a very bad 'allergic' reaction. After various tests, docs think it's Lisinopril. I still get severe swelling of my eyes, which are also red and very itchy. Have been off the medicine for almost 3 months but have been told it may take up to 6 months to leave my system, so I may get these horrible symptoms until it does."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2009

For Diabetic Kidney Disease "I have been taking it for 3 weeks, and I have headaches, a constant cough, nausea, itching (mild), and weakness. I went off of it for two days, and I felt better. I am going to ask my doctor to prescribe an alternative, as the cough and nausea are getting worse, and I have a severe headache every day at the same time. My blood pressure has not changed."

• Fat...
• September 26, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Dry cough that causes me to gag and dry heave. A bit embarrassing when giving a presentation or at church or in a restaurant. Have the runs and itching like other folks mentioned and some new headaches, but heck, I might not have a heart attack! So, I am taking my chances with high blood pressure and will take a short quality of life over the misery of the drug."

• JCl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking 1/2 pill of 5 mg of lisinopril for a month. I am itching like crazy, weird, no rash that I can see. But itches head to bottom of feet every day, night, minute. My bowel is light yellow and I have diarrhea for 1 month now and have zero energy, can't breathe, and can't function. Back on amlodipine. Was trying to get on a kidney-friendly medicine, but it is not working for me."

• Lis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 9, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I was started on Lisinopril 8 months ago for high blood pressure. In the beginning, it worked great at lowering my blood pressure, but after some time, I started noticing that I felt tired all the time and had absolutely no energy. Around month 7, I started breaking out in hives, itching, and feeling like bugs were crawling on me. I was extremely dizzy when I would stand up and developed a cough that wouldn't go away. I saw my doctor and told him everything that was going on, and he switched me to Losartan, and I'm praying I don't experience any bad side effects with it."

• Top...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking this medication, 10 milligrams, for a year and a half. My blood pressure dropped, and my severe migraine headaches that I've had since childhood also stopped. No side effects, except a little itching every so often."

• Jea...
• December 1, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on Lisinopril as a second medicine with my Toprol Succinate. I stayed on it nine days, and it really made me sneeze, plus itch so bad on my entire back (not broke out at all)... you know, get up out of bed and scratch on the door jamb! And I still have reoccurring pain with shingles from 10 years ago under the bra line. I called the doctor and told him I was quitting. I had to stay so close to the bathroom to pee every 1/2 hour for most of 2 days after quitting."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 21, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I used this drug for more than a year. Then one day my hand started to itch. The itch got worse, and by 1 AM, I had hives over most of my upper body. I ended up spending 3 days in the hospital for an allergic reaction. One of my nurses said the same thing had happened to her. It also happened to my brother-in-law. My husband still takes this medication. Waiting for the day when I have to drag him to emergency."

• gr8...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Before taking lisinopril, my BP was around 150/105. After about 3 weeks, it is 120/88 so far. I experienced an itching sensation around my neck, and my face felt like it was on fire the first week, but those side effects subsided and stopped. I believe in this product because it is working just fine."

• Arn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed Lisinopril 20 mg due to having high BP. It's been almost 2 months since I started, before taking it, my BP was around 140-160 / 100-122. It is currently 110-127 / 94-99. I'm still unsure why my diastolic is high. I made arrangements to see a cardiologist, but I've been waiting nearly two months for my appointment. I don't really know if the Lisinopril is working or if it's due to the lifestyle changes I made in conjunction. I've been on it for over a month now, and what I do notice is since a week or two ago, to this day, I get very, very itchy at night. It feels like little ants biting me. I thought it would've gone away by now, but it seems to get worse. I'm going to speak to my doc ASAP."

• mds...
• May 21, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure has been around 165/93. It has been running this high even though I'm on HCZ 25 mg 2x a day and propranolol 25 mg 2x a day. So my MD put me on this med on top of the other two. I've been on it a few days. My mouth has been extremely dry, headache, plus my BP was 86/53 this AM. Guess what, it's Saturday, and it makes me itch."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Been on 5 mg lisinopril for years, and it wasn’t doing much, so increased to 10 mg, which sorted my BP out brilliantly. However, within weeks, a horrendous cough, which worsened over months, constant skin itching, and a sluggish feeling as well. Doctors have now changed me to Candesartan (reviews are only average), but I have to lower BP as it’s hereditary. Start today and will keep you posted."

• tnf...
• April 14, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was switched to lisinopril from atenolol because it appeared atenolol (taken for years but recent dosage increase) caused a rash on my neck. Started lisinopril 10 mg on a Tuesday, by Friday, the skin around my neck and ears was thickened, blistered, and oozing. Went to the doctor the following Monday - rash still attributed to atenolol. BP still high, the doctor said go up to 20 mg of lisinopril. Took another 10 mg within 2 hours, neck swelling, face, and mouth began to itch. I knew angioedema was a side effect of lisinopril because it happened to my 26-year-old son when he took it for his blood pressure. Went to the ER, was told it was a reaction to the drug. Knee started to hurt at the same time. Within 24-48 hours of stopping lisinopril, rash, swelling, and skin thickening began to go away. Within 3 days, skin still red, but all blistering, flaking, and raised areas were gone. Knee pain has not gotten better and is actually worse when I try to stretch or exercise. Horrible experience."

• Lol...
• October 28, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Headache. Pressure in forehead. Itching. I only take the med at bedtime, which is obvious because of other side effects such as dizziness, and because I don't drive at night."

• Gre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Horrible side effects. Angioedema and cough, itchy skin. Dangerous medicine."

• not...
• September 23, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Since starting, itching of legs between knees and ankle is driving me crazy! Great. Once again, I am among the 'rare' people, as always."