Lisinopril side effects

My partner has been taking Lisinopril for the last two weeks, he has since been suffering with Anxiety and Tinnitus and loss of sleep, it was so good to hear he was not the only one, we thought it was the tablets but that confirms it.
thank you to all who contribute to this site

I've been taking Lisinopril for about 4 months and I've experienced the following issues. First, I have frequent visits to the bathroom and have a hard time defecating. At times after pushing and relieving my urge to go, only a small amount of feces is the result. I also feel constipated and have a hard painful time passing my feces. This started and has continued while I've been taking this medication. I don't have any pain other than in my anus because of the feces. Does anyone have a similar issue in relation to this medication?

I was prescribed Lisinopril about a little over a year ago and initially I thought things were going great; my blood pressure was down, pains in my arm and neck subsided and my headaches disappeared. After several months of being on lisinopril I began to experience a persistent cough, insomnia, heart palpitations, heaviness on my chest and anxiety. At first I thought it was all in my head and that I was some how causing these symptoms. The panic attacks are the worst side effect ever. It is an extremely terrifying event, at least for me, to have to go through. At first I thought that is was a heart attack or something the doctors were missing but then I realized that is was anxiety. I could not understand why after 27 years of no anxiety that all of the sudden I was having up to four panic attacks a week. The doctors dismissed any claim I had so I decided to research on my own. This is when I found an article stating that certain medications could cause anxiety and this is when I came across this site. I am extremely happy that I was not crazy and that I was not alone. I have been off the lisinopril for about a week now and I feel great. As far as my blood pressure I am going to try treating it with a strict diet and exercise. NO MEDICATIONS. Again, thanks to all those that posted comments here.

Doctor prescribed Lisinopril along with Metformin about a year ago , he told me the lisinopril will help protect my kidneys from the diabetes along with reducing my high blood pressure. I started with cramping and shaking which left me bed ridden for days! I blamed the metformin, thinking it was reducing my bodys sugar level. In this time I started having these pulsating, center of chest, waves of severe hot pain, I went to his office and he put me on an EKG machiene. Everything was fine. I have these bouts every so often, along with lip numbness and severe pain that feels like my right arm is caving in with muscle spasms, my veins stick out in the effected arm along with a numb cold feeling!(goose bumps too?). My physician told me it may be GERD.He put me on protonics which helped for a while, but it is back! I also get edgy,have trouble staying asleep and walk around like a zombie in a fog all day long. I started getting strobe light migraines without the pain recently, wondering if anyone else has had these symptoms from Lisinopril? By the way my blood sugar is in control. Also on allopurinol with no problems.

Thank God for this site and others. I have been on Lisinopril for about a week. The third day I woke up and couldn't speak. Felt like i was getting the flu. lost 6 days work for the first time in 20 years. Have been to the Clinic twice because of bad dry cough,fever,weaker by the day,can't sleep,BP 90/50 yesterday and ox level was only 96%.They wanted to put me in the hospital. Then a new Clinic Dr. suggested in might be the Lisinopril. I stopped taking it yesterday and i really believe this med. is the cause of all my problems. I honestly have felt this week that i could have died from this, I have never been this sick. I am also very angry,not only did i loose lots of money from not working, but more money on meds to treat pneumonia, but to put me through all this. i am very glad to read about other people who have had real issues with this drug. Hopefully in a days I will start to feel better.

II'm a 54 year old male and I've been taking Lisinopril for about 24 months for moderately high BP (135/85). Initially, I was fatigued late morning, but that seemed to go away in a month or two. Having a previous back condition, I didn't blame the tightness in my glutes and legs on the pill or the extreme morning soreness, but now I wonder. Also, in six months I gained about 50 pounds with no change in lifestyle (205 to 255). I read in a few of the Drug Co. sites that this is a rare effect, but not in any postings here. Anyone else have this problem?
I also seem to have developed an explosive type of temper that I don't recall before, blowing up at minor things, then it quickly passes. Anybody?
Where the drug initially lowered my BP to 120/75, with the weight gain I need the drug to keep it in the neighborhood of the original problem (140/85). If I miss a dose it spikes to 170/115 or higher, so I'm basically forced to take it or another BPM where originally I had a very minor problem. I thought this was a common pill that was described as relatively benign, but I' starting to realize that's not the case at all.

I have been taking BP med's for may years now, and too have been ordered by my Dr's. to change from time to time. After many years on the same drug, I was ordered by my Dr. to change to Zestril, 20mg daily. I had absolutely no problems with that drug at all, but after only about 3 years was forced to change because of insurance company ignorance. I was then placed on Lisinopril 20mg, and within only a few months I've begun to lose my hearing in my right ear. I have a constant hissing/ringing in my right ear, and have been tested for hearing and told I have a 90% hearing loss in that ear. After reading some of the postings here, and elsewhere, I have found that Tinnitus is a definite side effect. Not only upset about all this, but angry that I didn't investigate earlier. Please be careful with med's people. Please pay attention to any and all side effects...

Thank You

I have been on this medication for 3 months now. I am a 28 year old male, 6'2", weigh 211lbs, and in overall good health. My blood pressure average is 144/72 without the medication, but on the medication it seems to stay around 136/66. It took about one week for the blood pressure medicine to start working and when it did I felt very tired (which is normal). Now, in my third month I have started to notice new symptoms like severe headache in the right front lobe, severe tiredness, cold fingers and toes (in warm conditions), severe lower back pain, mood swings, blurred vision in the right eye (same location as headache), and a occasional twitch in my right thumb (probably not related to the medicine). When I first started this medication I did read all of these post and figured that everyone was crazy and/or nuts, but know I am thinking that I would rather stop the medication
and start seeking out for a better medication.. I know medicine has side effects but damn!!! Anyone else have cold fingers and toes while they have been on the medication..thanks

I have been on Lisinopril for 3 years, originally 5mg, now 20mg/day. I am 44 years old and high BP is hereditary. Over the last 3 years I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Last week, after reading posts on this site, I stopped taking that d*$! medication. What happened..... I am starting to feel better....... Now, it is off to the doctor to find another medication. My Bp is high (140/118) even with Lisinopril, so it is time to switch! Thanks to everyone who has brought this to my attention!!!

I'm an 81yo Caucasian male who has been taking Lisinopril for two years ago. I have suffered through the aches and pains , dry cough lightheadedness , associated with this drug. When I first took 20mg/day, I tracked my BP as frequently as 20 times per day. Some of my symptoms were a result of my BP dropping down to s practice of medicine, MDs do not always have the time to experiment with each patient, so the patient must do some of the logical investigations independently.
Remember, no one knows your body better than you, and your PCP or Cardio MD only sees you for a short period of time. I have tried five statin drugs and cannot tolerate any of them. Alternate, naturally-occurring substances are available.

Lisinopril causes burning and tingling sensations in your feet (peripheral neuropathy). The neurologist insists that the Lisinopril simply "unmasked" a hidden glucose problem. My primary physician does not understand what that means. I have stopped taking the drug. It has been over a year and the side effects remain. I tried 10 sessions of acupuncture which seemed to alleviate some of the pain & discomfort in my heels and middle of the feet. I have started a treatment of folic acid, B1 & B12. I also recommend diet & exercise. I was prescribed gapapentin by the neurologist; it alleviates the side effects but does "cure" it.

I am trying to find out if there are any law suits filed against the makers of this horrible medication. Does anyone know of any??

I stopped Lisinopril 40 mg Aug 28th after reading comments from from this site. My life has changed drastically -- I am "ME" again. I started in Feb 2006 at 10 mg and gradually increased to 40 mg in early 2007. I became increasingly tired to the point of severe exhaustion which started with a hoarness of voice and instantly all energy just drained from my body. I became depressed in a way I knew that medicine would not help. I had diarrhea that seemed to me was caused by a change in the GI medication that changed because my insurance would not cover the one I had been on for several years. My family became concerned about my confusion, loss of caring about just about anything and refusing to leave the house only when really necessary. I was tested etc. for so many times and all tests were normal.
I am still having some relapse into the above problems especially when I get really tired but I am tired because of overdoing. I am having so much fun living again.

I am so thankful for this site. I thought maybe it was just me. For one, I am allergic to Sulfa. My doctor knows this, as does my pharmacy. Still, they give me Lisinopril with Hydrochlorothiazide which you should NOT take if you have a sulfa allergy. From day one, I started with anxiety, agitation, nausea and what felt like a racing heart - though my pulse was normal. Day three I called the doctor and they said this was normal as my body "adjusted" to the medication. It has been over two weeks and the same thing keeps happening. I tried taking the meds at night to hopefully sleep through the side effects but no - it just kept me awake. I put another call in today and have yet to receive a return call from my doctor. I hope the doctor calls me and NOT the front desk girl because I have a lot of questions and concerns. Other symptoms I have been experiencing since I started Lisinopril are sever muscle cramping last for over 24 hours, dizziness, heavy chest/racing heart beat, restlessness and less frequent urination. For a 37 yo female who has to "potty" constantly, even throughout the night, going once in an 8+ hour period is not normal! The worst side effect though is definitely the anger and agitation. I feel like I am going to burst out of my skin or die banging my head against the wall. Last night I tossed and turned for 2 hours in agitation. I thought I would surely have a heart attack from the stress. Oh yeah my BP has NOT dropped at all (tho it fluctuates on or off the meds) on the 20 mg dose. Go figure.

I have been on BP medication about 4 years now. I was on Avalide and recently switched to Lisinopril HCTZ. About 3 years ago I had hip surgery. The evening of the surgery my back was hot and beet red, the next morning the rest of my body looked like I lay in the hot sun and was very burned. The docs and I felt it was pain killer. Last year I had another surgery, indicating I was allergic to pain meds, codiene, morphine, percocet, all of which I had with the firat surgery. Again, the same reaction. Last week I had another surgery, no pain meds as indicated, again, same burn reaction. I peel horribly, my face swells, around my eyes swell, I was a mess. I wonder if the BP meds caused it. No one said to d/c them as they did the supplements of multi-vit, omega 3 fish oil, aspirin. Prior to being on BP meds, have had several other surgeries with no reactions. I feel it is the BP med. causing this. Anyone have any such reactions? HELP.

I've been on Lisinopril for a little over three years and have developed a cough, can't sleep along with becoming impotent. I also get these terrible headaches and have recently started to urinate more than usual. Has anyone else experienced these side effects?

I have been having a terrible itching on left side gland,i do think its from that Lisinopril plus feel agony on right side of stomach rib cage,am getting off of this stuff now after i read these messages before i crack up with more pains else where.om toplax and potassium and water pills so thank that's enough for now,,love to get rid of it all,

I used to take blood pressure drug and had side effects. Unfortunately, all drs. know is to push drugs . . . instead the alternatives. I am taking a natural product now with no side effects.

I have been on lisinopril 10mg.for slight elevated BP,for 5 weeks.I feel awful.I have headache,constipation,stomach bloating,coughing & gagging all night..can't sleep..tired & agitated.I have talked to my Dr.,he thought I may have an allergy problem.I have decided to D/C this medication! This is the only med.that I have ever taken ...I have always felt healthy.I am female,70 years young.

I was just started on lisinopril two weeks ago for slightly high B/P, but I was freaked enuf about it to try a drug for the first time. I have had the most overwhelming body aches, especially when first getting up from sleep (and I was having serious insomnia issues as well, which were being tackled too). So, I am finally getting some well-needed rest, but when I get up I feel awful. Creaker than my 100 y/o grandpa! I switched to taking it before bed because I also had what I would describe as "equilibrium" probs; now, I flunked the balance beam in gym, BUT, I am not completely out of it. I am truly wondering if the lisinopril is worth it. I would probably like to take something else, even if I have to pay for it out of pocket (ouch, but worth it to take the best on the market, I think). Any help would be very much appreciated!!!

went to doctor for headache, he put me on bp meds (Lisinopril/Hydrochlorothiazide- 20 / 12.5) & happy pill (Paxil - 20mg) , a headache pill i only took a few times , cuz headache was going away, i thought due to lower bp ,within 1 weeks time , the next wk-end , i passed out while talking , (no warning)everybody said resembled stroke, went back to doctor , he suggested i have test done , i refused till it happens again, he put me on chol meds.(simvastatin 40mg) due to hereditary factor , went 3 more weeks , passed out at work (fainted), had numbness in both lower arms & both lower legs , took me to hospital, did cat scan, said shows sign of stroke ????? , went back to doctor, he doesn't want me to do anything until i see a neuro & do a MRI. I have an appt next mon , ** I was tired b4 i ever went to doctor, & did seem to get better, but now extremely tired after episode, I Do have heart palps, sweat perfusly, had a couple of stabbing pains, have dry coughed a couple times, but pretty sure have had at times b4? ,ok, all i know is, b4 i went to doctor , i was fine except for a headache !!!??? now hit the dirt 2 times with in a month , woke up this morning w/ a thought - i don't care what the doctor says , i'm getting off these meds & go back to over the counter plain ole asprin !I (especially after reading this ( a BIG Thank You to my neice for website) I will go to neuro dr on mon, for MRI, which all these appts are costly ! thanks yall !

I have been on Lisinopril 10mg and HCTZ 12.5 mg for about 2-3 weeks. I have noticed extreme fatigue, especially during and right after exercise. The other day I went swimming and I laid on the couch for 3 hours until my energy started coming back up. I have also noticed I don't have the energy to get as good or intense of a workout as before. My BP is in the 130'-140's, but I am 32 and I would like to fix the problem now since I am young. After reading the postings here, I am going off the medication and trying alternative ways to lower my bp---exercise, dash diet etc. Hopefully I can lower my bp about 15-20 points by doing this. I am not opposed to taking a pill, but not at the expense of feeling tired and confused and not being able to exercise. Any thoughts on better bp meds?

Started Lisinopril in August and it has controlled my BP really well. But I started to get some side effects. After about a month I noticed I was losing my hair. Called the doctor and he said he never heard of it. Then in October 2008 I felt a heavy, pressure feeling in my upper chest, going towards my throat, like something was stuck at the base of my neck. Also a dry cough throughout the day. Went to doc today and he said dry cough is very common with Lisinopril but he doesn't think the chest heaviness/pressure is related. I do. I had a chest X-ray today and am waiting for the results. Am scheduled to have an echo and possibly stress test if the feeling is still there. I'm thinking, after reading all these postings, that Lisinopril is definitely responsible for the hair loss, chest heaviness/pressure feeling, lump feeling in throat and dry cough. I'm tired of feeling these symptoms. Hopefully all my tests will come out fine and I will probably end up changing to a different drug.

i am 20 year old male with high blood pressure. i have been on lisinopril for about 3 months and since i started taking it my sinus is always clogged, i get mad for no reason, i flip out on my friends and coworkers, i don't care about stuff, i say stuff i normally wouldn't even think, i feel depressed randomly, i cough really bad for a few minutes after i eat a meal, and am very tired all the time for little or no reason. i am planing on stopping the medication as soon as i can talk to my doctor but i don't have much free time to drive across town and am afraid to stop taking it on my own with out letting her know.

I was put on Lisinopril and got a rash condition on my arms. I now get shortness of breath, light headedness, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue. Should I be taken off of the Lisinopril?

My husband P., is a truck driver and by law your blood pressure should be 139/80 so you can maintain a license. He went to the Dr. and he prescribed lisinopril. After a week or so it took down his blood pressure, but was experiencing heavy chest and coughing. It was miserable to watch... He went back another time and told him that he had huge hand size boil like things all over his legs and chest. Mind you he only took half the dosage. Then on July 26th he had severe chest pains and went to the minor emergency room. He was sweating so hard that it soaked his shirts immediately. They put him in an ambulance and sent him to the emergency room, They ran test after test, and couldn't understand why the couldn't bring down his blood pressure. It was horrifying to say the least. They let him leave around 430 pm. Paul had tried many times to tell them (the doctor) and he said it was a normal side effect... at the cost of two weeks out of work 2,500.00 lost and then a 13,000.00 hospital and testing bill they say well sorry.... We then went to a natural path and she put him on all natural pills and his blood pressure is near normal and no side effects. we looked up lisinopril and one of the side effects is chest pains. Why would a doctor do that...???? when confronted, they said " oh it can't be the drug." what ever. We are facing financial ruin over the whole thing.

began taking lisinopril in June. To my mindtheBP has not reduced significantly but I have developed a dry cough with accompanying mucus especially at night or when I lie down.On two occasions blood was in the mucus. This only occurred recently(last week). I am due for a doctor visit and certainly will brig this up with him.

My husband was on lisinopril for a couple of years. A few months ago, he started to get a rash. We thought it was a soap allergy so we changed all our bath, hand and laundry soaps to hypo allergenic. He continued to get worse. He felt extremely tired and weak. He felt chilly most of the time. The rash at first peeled and was red but did not itch. Then it began to itch really bad and it spread to his feet. He took his socks off one day and skin from the soles of his feet came with it. He had a rash from head to toe. He was incredibly thirsty all the time.

His Dr. and a Dermatologist got him off the pills and treated the rash with pills (fexofen) and an ointment. Within a couple of days, he was markedly improved. Now, almost a week later, he has healed almost completely.

I am a very anxious person, so that could be causing my symptom, which is gagging. No nausea (until the gagging bouts send me to the toilet, but nothing happens, just spit). Took this drug in the past with no problems, but was taking (stopped on my own four days ago) a higher dosage this time. The gagging is disruptive, for sure, and I can never tell when it will strike, although so far it hasn't happened in social occasions. Usually when I'm walking and a breeze hits, or when I'm looking down at the computer on my lap. Feels like the back of my mouth, the uvula area, is swollen. I've never had this problem before.

I've been on it two days and after reading what you guys have
written...no more for me.
I refuse to be poisoned by this junk.

This is a follow-up to my posting on October 10th regarding my 57 year old husband who began taking Lisinopril in March of 2007. He was NEVER on any other medication prior to taking this drug. He suffered Depression, loss of memory, lack of concentration, can't focus and struggled with small task. We have recently had an MRI done and his brain has shrunk. Deadfred1 replied to my posting and he is a 36 year old male who has been on Lisinopril for 5 years. He has the same side effects as my husband. He had a recent MRI and his brain has shrunk!!! We visited a Neurologist with his MRI results for a second opinion and he is ordering more tests because "it appears to be indictive of Alzeheimers" with the area of the brain that has shrunk. How can this be??? This was a healthy, 57 year old NEVER on a drug in his life and within months of taking this, he is in Depression and having memory issues. Isn't anyone connecting any symptoms here??? Any Doctors out there with an "open mind"? This medication is was developed from the venom of a poisonous Brazilian snake!!! Hello...it's more like a slow death with Arsenic!!! My mother-in-law has been on this drug for years and years and years. She now sits with dementia in an Alzeheimers unit. Is anybody out there listening? Alzeheimers is becoming an epidemic in this country. Have we ever thought the medications we are taking is creating this devastating disease? Millions of people take Ace Inhibitors, millions of people have Alzeheimers. They are getting younger and younger according to the Neurologist. Why, because younger and younger people are being put on Blood pressure medications from poisonous snakes. Are there any open minded Dr.s out there that can "step outside the box"...don't just "think outside the box"...."step out for goodness sake" and start paying closer attention to the symptoms people are having. I am convinced there is a definite connection to my husbands side effects and this drug. Get off people. Get off.

My worst side effects were hand, rib, back, shoulder and arm cramps as well as front of the thigh cramps. The hand and thigh cramps were the most frequent. I am hoping the muscle weakness I have had is a side effect and will improve as time passes since taking my last dose. I have only been off of Lisinopril for 2 weeks. The cramps have mostly stopped and they were daily. I have also experienced weight gain which may have been a side effect. I will see as time passes.

im sorry but this is sad.all theses different people on here saying they having the same effects that im having.thats scary.and i have an doctor that would not listen,i feel if you have an doc.that cant listen to his patient sometimes on visit he or she is not for you.all i can say and will say we are slowly but shopwluy killing are selfs taking this med.thats suppose to help us.me myself ive been taking lisinopril5mg for about 6yrs and haven't had any side effects to my knowledge.but for the last 3 months my doctor says i have protein in my urine so she wants to change the dose of my 5mg.to20mg so i said ok causes the doc suppose to know there patient.but how could thy if they don't listen to them.but anyways ive been on 20mg for about a month and i feel terrible,i feel like my body just tired and wanna shut down so ive not taking it fopr 3days now haven even spoken to my doctor about it will.

I am a paramedic and run calls of people having these reactions a lot. It worries me that Docs do not discuss these possible reactions with their patients. Lisinopril is a decent drug to treat hypertension in itself. I have had patients who have been on Lisinopril anywhere from a month to several years. Yes, it is true that it can happen without any change in behavior, health or meds. We do treat it as an allergic reaction. We administer Benadryl per protocol but Benadryl really does nothing in these cases. It really is just a matter of managing the patients airway and waiting for the residual Lisinopril filter from the patient's system. Just be aware of this or talkj to your MD about switching to another HBP controller.

I am 53 years old and was advised to switch my BP med from Hyzaar
to lisinopril by the insurance company to save money. I took
20/25 Lisinopril/HCZT for about 6 months. My BP was so
low, I was getting lightheaded, so we reduced it to 10/12.5.
My BP stabilized at a reasonable level. Eventually, I started
to get chest pain around the sternum and ribs but it felt deep
inside. Also, I had wandering upper back pains -
stabbing pains - that would move around, but most often
would be felt in the middle of the upper back. I also started
to get occasional bloating where my abdomen would swell and
even be very rigid to the touch. Antacids had no effect. It
would eventually subside on it's own. I also developed painful
pericarditis 3 different times (swelling of the pericardium
sac around the heart and fluid buildup). The sensation is severe
pain with each heartbeat. I went to a clinic the first time and
received anti-inflammatory drugs and the second time I had to go
to the ER. The 3rd time, I self medicated with leftover drugs from
the previous episodes. I thought I was a dead man living on
borrowed time. I finally started doing research and found this site.
I stopped lisiniprol on a Friday and all symptoms of the chest pain
and back pain subsided within one day. In addition, I haven't had
any recurrence of pericarditis or bloating. Needless to say, the
associated anxiety of impending death is gone as well. I am now back
on Hyzaar and feel like a new person.

I am 39 years old. I have been taking Lisinopril for nine months now, for my High BP. For the first 7 months I had not really had any annoying side-effects other than a mild dry cough. But for about the last 2 months I am having a really odd sensation in my heart. It seems like a flutter and it goes across my upper chest area and into my throat. At times they are mild and other times, during a lot of moving around, I have more aggressive sensations. One night while in bed. My wife got her stethoscope out, (she has a medical background) and listened to my heart. She told me not to tell her when I get the sensation, but to let her try and determine when I have the feeling. this nailed it as soon as I had one. She said that it seems that my heart if pumping too quickly. Meaning that I may have a Premature Ventricular Contraction. This has really scared me. I am scheduled to see my Doctor tomorrow. In my last visit which was about 3 weeks ago, I had brought this up to him. He didn't really try to hear my heart on his own. He just listened to what me and wife were explaining about the sensation. I had hurt my leg about the same time this started happening, and I was taking large amounts of Ibuprofen. So he partly chalked up to Ibuprofen and maybe a drug interaction and stated that I lay off the Ibu and see if they go away in 2 weeks. And if not, he wants to do a Holter Monitor on me to see what may be happening. Well they haven't stopped! I am thinking maybe I should ask for a different BP med. I still want to do the Holter to make sure, but I think it may be time for a change. I have only heard of this fluttering feeling happening to one other person. Has anyone else out there had this same scary sensation? if so please let me know what you have done or have found out. Thank you!

I am a 35 year old female. Previous Dr. had been watching my BP for about 4 months and asking me to lose some weight - I am about 15 pounds overweight. Changed doctors due to insurance and new Dr. prescribed Lisinopril right away, 5 days ago. By the 4th day I was feeling tired, more than usual, and went to bed really early. Today, the 5th day, through out the day, I started feeling pressure on my chest, a need to breath deeply with some resistance, a weird sensation running from the heart across my chest toward my throat, anxiety thinking I was having symptoms of a heart attack. I feel slight pain running down my left arm. So, tonight before going to bed, thinking, do I have to tell someone what I am feeling? Should I go to the ER? I decided to look up side effects for this drug. And to my surprise I ran into this site. I am sooo glad to read that so many people are going through the same thing and have not had a heart attack. As I sit here, I have chest pain, and anxiety, and I was supposed to take the 5th pill tonight, but I am not going to. I will call my doctor 1st thing tomorrow and ask her to switch medications. Thank you for posting. This has helped me make a quick decision not to continue with this drug.

Gil
I just wrote an entry concerning a potential problem of fatigue and tiredness which may be related to the ingestion of 20mg. of lisinopril on
a daily basis. I suggested the possibility that another BP Rx--Inderol might be better for some patients; of course, each person needs to check with his or her own physician to choose the right BP medication--often a matter of trial and error. I've been taking the lisinopril for almost three years; I started out with 10mg., then more, then 40mg./day. After retiring, my doctor and I found that I could get the same effect with half as much lisinopril; it took a few months after retiring. So now I'm taking 20mg. of lisinopril/day.
In the past 3 months or so, I've been experiencing a lot of tiredness and the need to sleep much more than is usual for me. I think it may be the lisinopril, and I've made and appointment with my doctor to discuss
a different medication. Everyone should check with his or her own physician before changing medications or taking new ones.
I neglected to mention that lisinopril is an ACE Inhibitor while Inderol is a Beta Blocker. Also, lisinopril is sometimes prescribed with hydrocholorothiazide. Hydrocholorothiazide is a diuretic. My physician first prescribed the combination of lisinopril and hydrocholorothiazide. However, in checking out this Rx on the internet, I noted that if one had an allergy to sulfa, it would be best not to take the hydrocholorothiazide since this diuretic is connected with sulfa in its formulation. My physician then prescribed only lisinopril and not the lisinopril/hydrocholorothiazide combination.
Again, each person needs to check with his or her physician to make sure they are getting the proper prescribed medication. It is also my belief that it's a good idea to read the literature provided by the pharmacy about any medication and also check the new Rx on the internet so one can know about the possible side effects and also any allergies(connected with the new Rx) one might already know about and have, as was the case with my taking hydrocholorothiazide.

Had a heart attack in July and had a stent put in blocked artery. Prior to that I was taking Cartia for blood pressure. Cardiologist switched me to Lisinopril.
I've been having severe pain in my lower back on both sides and also around my rib cage. I'm in cardiac rehab and today my nurse/therapist told me they are increasing Lisinopril from 10 mg to 20 mg. After reading posts on this site, I'm a bit concerned.

I am 37 with elevated BP. I started taking Lisinopril about ten days ago before bed every night. My kids have been sick with colds and I had also been ill with a cold a few weeks ago. My Dr. did tell me that I may develop a dry cough, but that I shouldn't worry about side effects. WHATEVER!!! I have felt like crap, flu-like symptoms and trouble breathing. I used to smoke and I feel like I have been on a smoking "bender." Then, this morning, my top lip was slightly swollen and peeling. I thought maybe one of the kids hit me with their heads (twin 13-month-old), but the swelling has gotten worse throughout the day and I look like a Botox-gone-wrong. And maybe it is the power of suggestion, but I have been feeling pretty down....

I'm not sure how these sites work, but preteandsheila and phylisrn have both responded to me....you or anyone else who wants to discuss lisinopril may email me at ******, but it has been 11 weeks since I stopped taking this med and I'm still having a problem getting a deep breath, they are setting me up with a stress test.

j.

I was prescribed Lisinopril by my physician about six months ago. Everything was OK until about two weeks ago when I developed a HORRIBLE skin red, flaky, itching skin rash. This first appeared as heavy dandruff and was confined to my scalp, but letter moved to my neck, chest arms, back and legs. I am so grateful to have found this web site and I will discontinue this medication IMMEDIATELY!!! I will inform my doctor of these side effects and I will refuse to take this or any similar medication in the future. I have tried all sorts of shampoos, skin creams, cortisone ointments and such...it just keeps getting worse. I am hoping that getting off of this medication will improve things. Please let me know if you have had a similar experience with this medication.

By: T

I have been on Lisinopril for approx 5 years, during a routine year end blood work-up, I have developed a problems with my creatine levels 1.48 and Glom Filt Rate, Est 37. My physician had me do a 24 hr urine for further testing but insisted that I no longer take the Lisinopril. Several of the tests have come in and he advised me that I have only 50% blood flow to my kidneys. It appears to me that the Lisinopril has caused some kidney damage. I also have a great deal of muscle pain, but do to my age (55 years) I thought it was jus a part of the aging process. What do you think?

Hi there. Im a 25 yr old fem im type 1 diabetic I have been on this medication for 4 days and i could tell its causing problems

My side effects include a lot of mental issues
anxiety and depression
the second day i took this i went to work and thought everyone was mad at me because they were on the phone when i said hi or because they were looking at a paper when i was talking to them

the next day when i went to pick up my kids i felt like my mom and my sister were ploting against me

while my husbands at work im feeling more needy and i call him wanting him to stay on the phone with me when i know he cant

im also experiencing memory loss i cant remember getting off of work i remember going down stairs but like it was something i dreamed and it was foggy and details went clear

also conversations with my husband are like dreams and foggy

im usually a detail freak and can tell u exactly what u said if u mis quote your self

im calling my doctor i thought it was jst me but im sure it has something to do with Lisinopril

Thanks Guys!!

My first side-effect was dizziness when I would get up from squatting for a short period time...darn near fell down.

I'm glad I've read the above because I've thought that the aches in my hands were from my not taking my anti-inflammatory regularly enough.

Great thing about sharing experiences, we all profit in some way.

I'll check back to see what other symptoms others are having. Thanks to all who contribute.

In July I was prescribed Lisinopril / HCTZ 20 /12.5. Within one week I started to have side effects. These included
-pain in chest - worsened with high humidity
- trouble breathing - shortness of breath - worsened with high humidity
- slight continuous elevated temperature about 99.6 degrees
- near real fainting spells when outside in heat- granted it was hot, but I've never had these before
- loss sex drive
- urinate often
- don't sleep well
My BP did go down though about 10 to 20 points.
still that was the worst summer I've ever had.
After reading others' side effects, I stopped cold turkey and feel much better.
Did you know Lisinopril is extract of Brazilian viper venom? - no wonder I couldn't breath!
My new doctor has me on new drug: Amlodipine Besylate 2.5 mg. which I hope will do the trick.
Bottom line:if you have bad side effects stop and try another drug - there are prenty out there for BP control.

hello, am a 47 years old female and the doctor had put me on lisinopril to keep my arterial clear because i got high chole, and i got high blood pressure and this was in march of this year and so i started having problem with a dry cough that was not letting me to breath and so in July i when to a different doctor and she had told me to stop taking it and now i got more problems. right after i stop take it my left side want numb, tinging in my face,arm and leg
and i had sharp pain in the center of my chest that go t my neck,jaw,back and
i been having the following; dizziness,weakness,nausea,trouble breathing and it go on. the doctor is still doing tests and still coming up with nothing and i feel that the damage is inside my heart and that lisinopril was the cause of the problem because before that i felt just wonderful and now i feel like am going to die. if anyone read this do not let any doctor put you on the damage drug ''lisinopril'' and god bless use all who are trying to feel better from it

Just converted from Quinapril to Lisinopril two days ago and all remains well. Was on Quinapril and Metoprolol Succinate ER for two years with no side effects - must be the Hydrochlorothiazide keeping down the build up of negative by-products in the system.

The "P" pill is *very* important when using these drugs!

I started taking Lisinopril last March, and my monthly cycle went from a normal cycle to a debilitating three day pain fest.
The first month I had a uterine cramp like comparable to labor that lasts for three straight days. The second month I added a sharp pain in my stomach that compared to a severe food poisoning episode but the only symptom was the pain.

This continued through June, when I asked my physician to switch me to a different medication although he did not think the side effects I was describing was related to the Lisinopril. The next month the uterine cramp was less severe but I also was treating with Midol which may have been the reason.

Last month, at my six month check my blood pressure was still not where my doctor want to see it, so he put me back on Lisinopril and kept me on the Hydrochlorothiazide, now I am on two medications!

After reading this site, it occurs to me that my shoulder where I had surgery two years has also been acting up the last six months as well. I have been doing PT again after the pain increased and I asked my surgeon what to do. He made not connection to the medication I am taking as a possible source.

The only other thing is I have lost some weight, with relative easy (not usual for me). Which I had attributed to a change of eating pattern due to my new work schedule.

All things to consider now that I have read this website.

Thanks to all who share, this is the best way to understand that everyone does react differently and you have really pay attention to what is going on with your own body when you are taking any medication.

I found this site by searching for depression and any of the medications I take: synthroid, metformin, glimepiride (amaryl), and lisinopril-hctz. And here's the culprit - lisinopril! I've been taking it for only a couple of months now but it feels like my world is closing in on my and I'm bouncing off the walls in my mind. I'm considering retiring having hit 62 and I thought it would be a happy time but instead I feel locked in a prison, with walls of debt, depression, loneliness, hopelessness, etc. closing in on me. I'm even very close to losing a boyfriend because I've become so clingy and emotionally needy.

I must say that I did stop taking an anti-depressant around the same time that I started with the lisinopril. However, the anti-depressant (Lexapro) was originally prescribed to combat anger and not depression. So I cannot say for sure that Lisinopril is the culprit here. But having read everyone's stories, it is very clear.

Thank you all for telling your experiences with this drug. God bless you all.

For Medications.com October 18th
Earlier this past summer I took this drug for ninety two days after I was prescribed this medication when I visited the doctor for a bladder infection and I was told I also had high blood pressure. No tests were done except for a urine test at that time and no follow up tests were done later. This drug not only gave me a slew of other side effects but pushed my simple bladder infection to where I no longer urinated in a normal manner regardless of the amount of fluid I added. Only after discontinuing this drug did normal urination return after a few days.
Allergic reactions were as follows. Severe debilitating stomach cramping resulting in swelling of the abdomen, and all digestive organs. Angioedema. (no pre history of this) Urine flow continued to lessen even with increased fluid intake, resulting in bladder pain and a sensation of bladder being pushed from the body. Lack of energy, flu like symptoms, insomnia, leg cramps, many bouts of rapid heart beat, some lasting for awhile, even after stopping the drug. Lack of appetite and a change in taste buds. I had several bouts of angioedema but thought it was 'something I ate, stress etc', as within a month of my diagnosis, my daughter had an extreme reaction to Ciprofloxin (see floxintoxin under that medication) and anything that was going on with me was put aside. She was debilitated by her drug reaction and was unable to walk etc, so I thought I wasn't handling stress too well as I was getting older. Each bout increased in severity leaving me lying debilitated on the couch for four days, eventually for a full week until luckily by that time my daughter was able to take care of herself and began thoroughly investigating this drug only to discover that Lisinopril was the true cause. The warnings with this drug are not very explanatory and leave so much out that should be for patients to read and digest to make their own health decisions and it takes a lot to dig deeper on the Internet to find the true adverse reactions.
We thought by stopping the drug I would get back to normal quickly and I did with the help of a herb called marshmallow which reduced the swelling after a couple of days. However after I thought I was cured I stopped marshmallow and within a couple of days had another angiodema reaction and I thought it was because there must be traces of this drug left in my system. I then took marshmallow for over two weeks and feeling fine I stopped again. Then another episode hit me with not only the stomach problems but a severe bout of coughing that lasted a couple of hours and trickled into a few days. It was then I began digging on the Internet to find the words I wanted to hear, that this drug caused long term problems. I found it by adding UK after other words and found this and much more.
ACE-INHIBITORS
A particular group of heart pills called ACE-inhibitors (the chemical names end in -pril, e.g. enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril) can occasionally cause urticaria, although they more commonly cause angioedema; about one person in 100 who takes an ACE inhibitor is likely to get this problem.  
The reaction is not caused by true allergy, allergy skin and blood tests do not show it, so why does it happen?  Reactions are thought to occur because an unwanted pharmacological effect of the drug causes the release of compounds similar to those released in an allergic reaction.  The only way of showing that a regular medication is the true cause is by stopping or changing the treatment.
To complicate matters, the angioedema attacks may not start until the individual has been taking the ACE inhibitor for months or even years making it difficult to spot the relationship. Also, attacks may continue for several weeks after the drug has been stopped.
I could not find anyone doing following to patients with adverse reactions and I think that is a very bad problem. We are on our own. I do hope this helps others and if you want copies of all my research let me know.
Now I am hoping there won't be any more bouts but I'm still taking marshmallow and when I think I have the courage I will wean myself off it slowly and watch for signs. Believe me angiodema isn't fun and you can't see it on the outside of the body which makes it difficult to understand.