Olmesartan and Cough: What Users Say

• Pip...
• October 21, 2020

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I am not overweight at all yet still developed HT at 50 years old. I tried the gamut of BP meds, all producing the desired results, but all having the same varying side effects, most often a dry cough. Then I tried Benicar 20mg. It lowered my BP, but I was extremely lethargic. Started to take it at night, but then couldn't get up in the morning. I cut my tablets into quarters and started taking 5mg instead of 20mg. My BP remained fine at 5mg, and I stayed at that dose for 12 years without any side effects. At 66 years old, I switched to a vegetarian diet, and within half a year, my BP began to drop too low. I reduced my dosage to 5mg every other day, and my BP was still too low. I stopped taking Benicar altogether and have not found it necessary to go back on it for nearly 18 months now. I'm still learning to eat vegetarian and make things taste good but very pleased that I have been able to control HT through diet. PS: you should also know, I do 10k steps a day every day."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2017

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I've been on Benicar HCT 20mg/12.5mg for 3 weeks now. This medicine has some bad side effects. I've experienced light-headedness, dizziness, coughing, feeling like my chest is tight, sometimes muscle aches, and feeling tired all the time. Does anybody else experience these side effects? When you tell your doctor about your experience, they think it's not the medicine but we know our bodies."

• Ree...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2018

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I have been on Benicar 20/12.5 for 10 years and my blood pressure has been normal 110/65. I had to switch to the generic because of insurance reasons and I experienced all kinds of side effects: dizziness, cough, and higher blood pressure. It is not the same."

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "The worst medication ever! Helped with the blood pressure, but at what cost? Took it for almost 3 months only, I just stopped it less than a week ago. From the beginning, I had coughing and a horrible problem with acid reflux. Later, the chest pain kicked in. I was feeling tired and drowsy all the time. My muscles and joints hurt. Unusual cramps in my legs. Numbness, tingling, and itchiness especially on my legs and feet. Legs felt swollen, heavy, and sore. Abdominal pain all the time. My IBS got worse, having to pass bowel motions many times a day without any relief. Tinnitus and migraines happen more often than ever before. After suffering from this for almost 3 months, I stopped the medication cold turkey. Like magic, the cramps, tingling, and numbness went away the next day. Two days later, the muscle aches were gone. Still have tired and heavy legs but are less now. The only new thing I have is diarrhea. I found a study that says it can happen after stopping this poison."

• Chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2016

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I took 20 mg Benicar as an alternative to Lisinopril, which caused a cough. With Benicar, the cough went away after a few weeks, but a new side effect took its place: I would wake up in the middle of the night with a sore chest and upper back pain. It's a shame because during the day, Benicar had no apparent side effect and kept BP at 128/79."

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2010

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "Switched over to Benicar from lisinopril (which caused horrendous body jolting chronic cough). Cough has disappeared, blood pressure averages 116/74 to 124/80 maximum. Feel great, mild sleepiness by end of day - a plus - could not sleep well before, also constipation has disappeared. Cramping in legs below knees at night...somewhat like side effects of statin. Will check with doctor...this is my 2nd week of Benicar...took lisinopril for a month. Hope this continues to work. If I miss a dose, I become keenly aware. Seems to take effect within an hour. I feel much better and blood pressure readily stabilizes."

• Old...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 20, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I have taken both olmesartan (Benicar) and losartan (generic angiotensin II receptor antagonists) to replace earlier ACE inhibitor drugs, which invariably caused a chronic cough for me. I went off Benicar in 2015 because my insurance designated it as non-preferred, and it was extremely expensive, but I have recently discovered that it is now available as a generic. Olmesartan has given me better and more stable control of moderately elevated blood pressure than losartan."

• Iri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I suffer from high blood pressure and take Metoprolol with no problems. My doctor added a second blood pressure medication. First, with Lisinopril, I had no problems except an annoying cough. Then I was switched to Losartan. When Losartan was recalled a few years ago, my doctor put me on Valsartan. I have had no side effects with Valsartan, however, it didn't bring my numbers down where he wanted them to be, so I was prescribed Olmesartan. At first, I had no problems with Olmesartan, but then I developed dizziness/vertigo, feeling out of it, and was unbalanced while walking. I stopped taking Olmesartan, and the next day I felt better. I am not sure if it is Olmesartan alone or in combination with other medication I take that causes these side effects. I will consult with my doctor for an alternative medication."

• pep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on this for 2 months now, and my blood pressure is still high. I also take 25 mg of Hydroch with it daily. Doesn't work like Lisinopril, but I can't take it due to the cough. Now I will need to wean off Olmesartan because it's a dangerous drug to quit."

• OPJ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 10, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I was on Olvance 20 mg for 14 years. It was very good for me, but 2 years back, I developed a severe cough. I had a lot of treatments for my cough, but it wouldn't stop. Then I stopped Olvance (Olmesartan), and my cough disappeared. Now I am on the search for another medicine for my BP."

• Cou...
• August 6, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "Dry, hacking cough! It took about a year for this side effect to develop, and about 6 months to realize it was the Benicar. I should have known, as Lisinopril and Diovan made me cough previously. I had taken Hyzaar for 2 years, but had to switch because of insurance issues. I did not have the coughing with Hyzaar."

• mes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on it 3 weeks now, been sick every day. I'm on half of a 5 mg tab, and it drops it so low. I'm dizzy every day, blurry vision, and my pressure is extremely low. My cardiologist won't take me off. My legs swell and I have lost weight. I would rather take my chance with medication. I was on lisinopril, it worked good but had a bad cough. I was on olmesartan but it made me sick. It has caused me to be depressed. I want to get taken off."

• Bil...
• February 28, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "The olmesartan side effect was I had inflammation in my throat so that I had to continually suck on cough drops to stop coughing. My head felt like I had a cold, and I did not."