Lisinopril and Swelling: What Users Say

• Els...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was on Lisinopril for a total of 6 months, with constant disruptive cough, horrific sputum, and spitting. My doctor said to keep taking it because it 'was not Lisinopril'. However, a chest x-ray 3 months before starting it was entirely negative. A chest x-ray taken after 6 months on Lisinopril showed inflammation, scarring, and nodules. I took myself off Lisinopril and the coughing and spitting stopped after 4 days. But I am still left with permanent lung scarring and nodules that need follow-up. And doctors who still say it is not Lisinopril. Why?"

• 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..."

• BLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I don't even want to give this drug one star! I started taking this medication back in June of 2016 for only about 3 weeks, and I am still having side effects to this day! My whole life changed overnight. I started having heart palpitations, extreme dizziness. I lost close to 30 lbs, hair loss, swollen nose, lip, and eye. Pains/pressure in the top and back of head, shortness of breath, blurred vision, weakness, nausea, pains in my stomach, night sweats, and leg cramps. My entire body felt shaky ( and I'm pretty sure I'm missing some things). Numerous trips to the ER and 8 different doctors to basically be told they don't know what's wrong with me. Take my advice and do not take this."

• BLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I don't even want to give this drug one star! I started taking this medication back in June of 2016 for only about 3 weeks, and I am still having side effects to this day! My whole life changed overnight. I started having heart palpitations, extreme dizziness. I lost close to 30 lbs, hair loss, swollen nose, lip, and eye. Pains/pressure in the top and back of head, shortness of breath, blurred vision, weakness, nausea, pains in my stomach, night sweats, and leg cramps. My entire body felt shaky ( and I'm pretty sure I'm missing some things). Numerous trips to the ER and 8 different doctors to basically be told they don't know what's wrong with me. Take my advice and do not take this."

• BLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I don't even want to give this drug one star! I started taking this medication back in June of 2016 for only about 3 weeks, and I am still having side effects to this day! My whole life changed overnight. I started having heart palpitations, extreme dizziness. I lost close to 30 lbs, hair loss, swollen nose, lip, and eye. Pains/pressure in the top and back of head, shortness of breath, blurred vision, weakness, nausea, pains in my stomach, night sweats, and leg cramps. My entire body felt shaky ( and I'm pretty sure I'm missing some things). Numerous trips to the ER and 8 different doctors to basically be told they don't know what's wrong with me. Take my advice and do not take this."

• 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."

• 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."

• Mom...
• March 11, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "Took lisinopril for two days. Woke up after the first day of taking it and my right eye was swollen. After the second day of taking it, woke up again to a swollen eye. I also developed a tingly sensation in my forearms, hands, and feet. Experienced numbness in my fingers and pain in my wrists. Felt as if I had drunk a bunch of caffeine - my heart was racing and I felt very nervous. Called my doctor who said he didn't think it was the lisinopril, but I told him it was the only new thing happening. I've just stopped. Pharmacist said it will take 48 hours for the two pills to be out of my system."

• lit...
• May 18, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on several BP meds, all giving me side effects. I was on lisinopril 10mg, but my BP was too high. They upped it to 20mg, but it's still high. I am having tons of side effects: nonstop headaches, lightheadedness, limb tingling, aching, swelling, left arm pain, feet pain, constant congestion, chest discomfort, back pain, and anxieties. I need to get them to change it before I have a stroke or heart attack."

• Mis...
• November 26, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was on lisinopril for a month. My blood pressure was under control for the first time in a long time. One morning I woke up with some swelling on my face. As the morning progressed, the symptoms got worse. It was very painful for me to swallow. I ended up going to the ER only to find I had an allergic reaction to the medicine, which is common in African Americans. I ended up in the hospital for four days. After having some blood drawn, my liver enzyme levels were highly elevated. After being off the medication, my liver enzyme levels are going down. Now my PCP checks my labs every two weeks to keep an eye on my liver enzyme levels."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Had taken Lisinopril for over a year without problems. Yesterday I took it, and my lip started to get a blister. Thinking it was a cold sore, I didn’t think much about it. But as time went on, my lips, chin, and the inside of my mouth were raw and swollen, including my cheeks! I started feeling like my throat was closing up, so I went to the doctor, who immediately gave me cortisone and told me to stop it!! I knew it was an anaphylactic reaction before I said a word!! The bottom half of my face is swollen, red, and blustery still, but better. They gave me two different types of meds to take. I will be seeing my cardiologist next week for a different blood pressure medication. So be aware that having an anaphylactic reaction doesn’t always happen when you begin a new medication!!"

• 58...
• May 23, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "After taking this medicine for some two years, I started to get swelling in the eye areas. Twice it just swelled up around the upper eyelids. Last night, during the night, it swelled up completely the other eye, went to the emergency room, and the whole time I thought it was just allergies. The doctor said it was lisinopril and if I don't stop taking it, it could swell up the neck area and close off the breathing. If you are having this swelling, be sure to tell your doctor."

• Anonymous
• May 16, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I took this for literally years. One day, I started swelling. Got a horrible rash and was told I have angioedema because of the lisinopril. Not only that, I was told I may have this thing come back for years to come. I am diabetic, so the steroids they use to treat the angioedema cause my sugars to go dangerously high. I find this unacceptable. The doctor at the hospital told me this is common. This drug is dangerous, and the company knows it and downplays this common complication as if it were rare."

• Anonymous
• May 16, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I took this for literally years. One day, I started swelling. Got a horrible rash and was told I have angioedema because of the lisinopril. Not only that, I was told I may have this thing come back for years to come. I am diabetic, so the steroids they use to treat the angioedema cause my sugars to go dangerously high. I find this unacceptable. The doctor at the hospital told me this is common. This drug is dangerous, and the company knows it and downplays this common complication as if it were rare."

• Sic...
• July 15, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I am extremely sensitive to prescriptions/medications. I do not take anything on a daily basis but do take Advil, Mucinex, and Aspirin as needed. After only a few days of taking 10mg, I am so weak/tired I cannot function or drive. I am always 'tired,' but this is different. The first things that I noticed were SEVERE lower right back pain, tingling/numbness in my hands and feet, nausea, and ringing in my ears. Now I have swelling, a bad taste on the back of my tongue, slight shortness of breath, but if I am active, it is bad and my heart pounds, burning pain similar to heartburn, and extreme weakness. I am not on other meds and did not have these symptoms until after I took this. I have only taken 3 pills in total."

• 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."

• Big...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 22, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "This medicine needs to be discontinued. I've been on Lisinopril for about 4 years. Out of the blue on Monday, the right side of my lip began to swell. I took a Benadryl and prayed I would wake up in the morning to see my personal physician. The nonchalant attitude I was presented with left me speechless. Knowing the side effects and the danger of this medication, why is it still on the market? Shame on y'all!!!"

• bar...
• September 5, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Yes, I took lisinopril. It was one of the worst experiences of my life, and it was one weekend when the doctor was not in the office, but I am so grateful I was able to get someone who knew what he was talking about. I was very allergic to this medicine, I was swollen really badly, my lips as well as my tongue. I was very allergic to this medicine. I needed to be taken off this medicine immediately!"

• Phe...
• October 12, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Given the 5 mg pale peach round tablet to try out for prehypertension 31 days ago. Lisinopril did help my blood pressure. Pounding headaches, pounding heart at rest stopped. Downside: I experienced what was most likely intestinal angioedema at the outset. I puffed up, though I did not weigh more (3 lbs less on one occasion). Hard to pass gas or have bowel movements and puffed up and uncomfortable in my lower abdomen most of the time. Then I woke at 2 am when my left eye shot open, turned red, and started weeping freely. My lip and cheek on that side became slightly numb and swollen. I knew that I had to take a Benadryl right away and stay up to make sure my throat didn't close up. My doc said to take another Benadryl and go straight to the ER if my swelling got worse or went to my throat. They gave me new HBP medicine and had me destroy my lisinopril. Angioedema is a rare reaction to lisinopril, but be vigilant. Especially those with allergies."

• Ric...
• October 18, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "About 2 years ago, I found myself in a very bad legal situation. I remember driving and not feeling well, my face felt swollen, I felt hot and very confused. This had happened several times in a couple of years, but I played it off as I have idiopathic angioedema. I was just a half mile from home and was pulled over for speeding, just to mention, I had had a few beers earlier. Well, anyway, I whited out and assaulted the officer, I do not remember this happening whatsoever. That week, I went to the doctor and told him what was happening. He said that with some people, lisinopril does have these effects on people, therefore, he changed my medication. Looking through the web, I also found that if you are allergic to sulfa meds, lisinopril should not be taken."

• jam...
• February 15, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking the medication for over a year, and over time, the side effects have gotten worse and unbearable. The feeling of extreme tiredness and weakness started, having a rapid heartbeat, swelling in the eyes and hands. It's become too much. My last few visits, my BP has been normal, so they are going to take me off and see how I do without it, which I'm glad because I couldn't keep taking it with those side effects. Hoping I will not need the medication, but if I have to go back on, I'm going to ask to be switched to something else."

• gho...
• November 28, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "I had taken Lisinopril for 5-6 years with no obvious side effects that caused me problems. Until 2 years ago, one morning I woke with a very obvious, very swollen eye. An ophthalmologist reported that I had gotten something in my eye and gave me eye drops. About 2 weeks later, the same thing occurred with my eye more swollen. I had an appointment with a new endocrinologist that day and decided to go to the ophthalmologist after that appointment. On meeting the new doctor, he immediately requested my list of medications and diagnosed the Lisinopril as the cause."

• Maj...
• October 4, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "This drug nearly killed me. The only pill I took resulted in angioedema. I was admitted to ICU only after I was stabilized with difficulty in the ER. My throat had swollen shut. Since then, anecdotally, I have heard every Black person I know that has taken this drug has developed an allergic reaction at some point in the cycle."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "Been on medication for HBP for 7 months (also taking Bystolic). Had a reaction of angioedema where my face swelled, and then a few days later got hives on my arms and legs. ER doctor explained it's technically NOT an allergic reaction (i.e., not histamine related), so Benadryl will not help with the swelling. Given prednisone and also taking Tylenol. He told me the drug can be taken for decades without any adverse reaction, and then one day, you suddenly get swelling. Having a reaction rules out using any of the ACE inhibitor drugs. Too bad - it was working really well for me. On Cardizem now."