If it's an ACE inhibitor and also happens to be Lisinopril, it's the meds, no
matter how low a dosage you get. I too am borderline and was put on
Lisinopril without ever being told of any of the side effects. I was on it
for a year and forgot to take it one day and my ability to walk was so improved
that I quit cold turkey. You're not supposed to quit that fast, but to
hell with them. I felt so much better after quitting that there's no way
they're getting me back on. Many other little things cleared up too,
including an irregular heart beat. On quitting, it took more than two
weeks before my cough finally went away.
Notice from the article below, the cough goes with all ACE inhibitors.
Side effects may occur with the use of lisinopril, and a cough is among
the medication's most common side effects. Unfortunately, there is no way to
know if and when a cough will develop. However, it generally stops within a
couple of weeks after the medication is stopped. If you're taking lisinopril
and a cough develops, your healthcare provider may switch you to a different
medication.
Lisinopril Cough: An Overview
Several side effects are possible with lisinopril (available
as Zestril®,
Prinivil®,
and generic lisinopril). One common side effect -- shared by all ACE
inhibitors -- is a dry cough that will not go away.
Understanding the Lisinopril Cough
Lisinopril is part of a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitors, or ACE inhibitors for short. Lisinopril helps to block the
angiotensin-converting enzyme, which is normally part of a reaction in the
body that causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict). By blocking this enzyme,
lisinopril causes blood vessels to relax, which lowers blood pressure and
helps with symptoms of congestive heart failure.
However, scientists also believe that the angiotensin-converting enzyme is
responsible for the breakdown of other substances in the lungs. When ACE is
blocked, these substances can build up in the lungs, which can ultimately lead
to a chronic cough.
The likelihood of developing a cough while taking an ACE inhibitor appears to
be affected by a number of factors, including the specific ACE inhibitor and a
person's genetics. Some ACE inhibitors can cause a cough in up to 35 percent
of people taking the medicine.
How Common Is the Lisinopril Cough?
Based on data from clinical studies, up to 3.5 percent of people with high
blood pressure and more than 1 percent of people with congestive heart
failure reported a cough with lisinopril.
For people taking lisinopril, a cough can appear within hours after taking
the first dose, or it may not appear until months later. Unfortunately,
there is no way to know if or when a cough will occur. Once lisinopril is
stopped, the cough also stops, although the amount of time before this
happens can also vary. On average, it can take up to 14 days for the cough
to completely go away. In some studies, however, it has been reported to
take months.
Final Thoughts on the Lisinopril Cough
For people taking lisinopril, a cough is a possible side effect (it is a
common side effect with all ACE inhibitors). Keep in mind that your healthcare
provider cannot know beforehand whether you will have a side effect with a
medicine that you have never taken. Therefore, if you notice a cough with
lisinopril, talk to your healthcare provider. If the cough continues, he or
she may recommend switching to another ACE inhibitor or another medicine
altogether to treat your condition.