Lisinopril and lethargy

Was previously on Micardis HCT; dr. switched to generic Lisinopril HCTZ 12.5 in 11/07 when I went on Medicare & was concerned about cost of Micardis. Since that time I've put on 10 lbs. and had increased pain/muscle fatigue and general lethargy. Unusual, as I've exercised 4-5 days per wk. (incl. aerobics/strength trng/flexibility.) for 20+ yrs. Also, frequently, have problems swallowing pills due to feeling of obstruction in esaphogus tube. In July '08 I awakened to slight numbness/tingling in lips and my lips then proceeded to the swell to the point of pain and my lips (in profile) protruded further than my nose. I received steroid injection and prescription for steroid pack. Diagnosis was possible allergic reaction to new cosmetic product. Today (9/3/08) I woke up with the same symptoms and again had to go to the dr.for a steroid injection & meds. Diagnosis this time (different dr.) was possible side effects of "blood pressure meds." Has anyone else experienced edema of the lips, wt. gain, and problems swallowing?

I've been taking lisinopril for about 4 months for HBP which I have had since I was 18 and I am 40 now. My blood pressure went down immediately--I can never remember the number but before nurses testing my bp would always say I was "a little high" and now they always say "it's normal." When i first started taking it I noticed I felt a little depressed, and I always felt lethargic on lisinopril. I believe that's just normal from taking something which reduces BP. I had bad diarrhea and got pretty sick for a short while a couple weeks ago but there was a flu that was going around. I noticed some dizziness and was pretty out of it, but I have felt those symptoms before I started on lisinopril. I am now worried from reading your complaints about this drug.I ran out of pills a few days ago and I feel much more energetic and with-it now, generally better although now I worry about the long-term effects on my body of my HBP. I currently have a headache and to be honest I still don't feel 100%. While I was on it I noticed some dryness in my belly and my poop seemed weird not normal--I had some bad flatulence and my poop would come out sometimes pretty sparse. I definitely felt different, especially in my digestion and lethargy, but did not have very very bad side effects. Still I'm thinking twice before taking it again. My father had some blindness in one eye that was apparently from long-term HBP, so I am concerned about long term effects of not doing anything about my BP--so I may go back to lisinopril or whatever else my doctor prescribes.

For anyone having digestion problems while taking lisinopril....please read this!

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/446546_3

I am hoping this is what my problem is, as I'm to the point of not being able to eat anything, even bland food, without being in horrible pain. Cat scans and upper scope ran and all came back normal, regular blood tests are normal...but the pain I have after eating is not NORMAL! I go back to my regular dr. tomorrow and will let you know if he takes me off the lisinopril. My stomach problems started after starting 40 mg of lisinopril in June of 06. I will try to keep you posted on if it is the medication causing my problems.
I also have the anxiety, red rash on my neck, shortness of breath, lethargy, lack of concentration, etc. etc. It's scary to think medications can cause more problems than the actual health problem they are treating you for!

Swollen legs!!! Lethargy!!! Cough!!! BP - monitoring ok..... But.... Just wonder what strain is my body under now with all these other 'symptoms'.......

PLEASE READ MY STORY!!!....My Doc switched me from Dyazide to Lisinopril Hctz 20/12.5 in Jan'07 for my high blood pressure. The first day after I started taking the medication, my BP dropped very LOW and so did my heart rate-53. My blood pressure readings continued to be consistently LOW for months, but Doc kept telling me it was OK. Had other side effects; Cough, lethargy, swollen LIP, (daughter called me Duck Lips!) sleeplessness, lightheadedness, hairloss, muscle fatigue. All symptoms I attributed to Menopause. (Except the duck lips)Over the summer, I developed slight Edema in my extremities whether I was exercising or not, thought that was weird. Told Doc about it, she ordered Blood work done to see what inflammation level is. Lab Report showed; INCREASE in BUN & Creatinine levels with eGFR level DECREASING. These levels are indicators of Impaired Kidney Functioning! Doc not concerned, tells me not to worry, just a "Bad Test Day." She increases my dosage to 20/25. Within 4 weeks of the increase, I experienced 3 bad episodes, 2 of which I went to the Emergency Room and should've for the other. In all the episodes I experienced Chest pain, Shortness of Breath, Severe Headache, Dizziness. I'm thinking I'm having a Heart Attack or Stroke because I'm a very high RISK. Tests come out normal, docs however, concerned about my LOW Blood Pressure readings but None of them tell me to discontinue the Lisinopril HCTZ. Have a 4th episode two weeks ago after walking/hiking about a mile and a half, stopping periodically to rest and drinking plenty of water on the way. After I completed my walk, I again rested for 45 minutes. I stood up, became very Dizzy, developed Shortness of Breath, Bad Headache, Profusely Perspiring, Back pain. Dummy me drove 10 minutes to get home (Should NOT have done that) Had daughter call 911. Was admitted to the hospital with SEVERE Dehydration, Dangerously LOW Blood Pressure-63/34, and going into Renal Failure which blood tests confirmed. I'm given IV fluids plus Potassium Chloride. Hospital takes me OFF of Lisinopril HCTZ and puts me on Lisinopril at 5mg!!! Had a hunch, Told the Docs at the hospital against their advice, "I'm NOT taking the Lisinopril!!" Upon discharge my BP remained in the 80-90's/40-50', except when I threw the doctor out of my hospital room because he wasn't listening to me. My Dystolic rose to a whopping 66. Went to my Doc for follow-up in two days. My BP was 146/98. Told her what I told other Docs. She convinces me to try Lisinopril 5mg for 30 days. Took it for 2 days, still bothered by what happened and searching for more information. Got LUCKY, Found this website!! I threw the bottle away. Went to a Nephrologist that specializes in hypertension. My hunch/intuition was correct!! He told me in RARE cases, Lisinopril will "cause" renal insufficiency. Discontinuation of the medication will reverse the negative effects. (I hope) Current Blood work states levels within normal reference range.

Looking for a good Medical Malpractice Attorney.

I have bipolar, and for a year I was willing to attribute my symptoms to that illness. I started the lisinopril when I moved and made a bunch of life changes, so I didn’t connect the onset of the symptoms with the med. Every night, though, I would get sick around 5 or 6 PM (I took lisinopril in the morning): nausea, headache, body aches, extreme lethargy, shortness of breath, fluttering feeling in my chest. These symptoms were so bad that twice I went to the emergency room. (Unfortunately, I presented as a bipolar patient with anxiety, so my treatment was less than comprehensive.) I swapped out all my bipolar meds to rule out drug interactions, but never touched lisinopril because I thought of it as a “safe drug”. My PCP (who prescribed the lisinopril) referred me to a cardiologist who did a battery of tests. I stopped the 30 day heart monitor after 3 weeks because every time I had cardiac symptoms, I checked out fine. The only option left seemed to be that the symptoms were psychosomatic, which scared me because I had no idea how to tackle that. I finally decided to investigate lisinopril and found this site by accident. It was amazing to read all the posts that were similar to my experiences. The day I discontinued the lisinopril in the morning, that night I did not get sick. I waited until I had been well for a week before concluding that the symptoms were indeed side effects of this med. It’s been a couple of months since I discontinued the lisinopril. And I have not been sick once, though I do struggle regularly with the bipolar. (I do monitor my blood pressure regularly: there’s a reason why everyone tells you to do that!) I feel stupid for not suspecting lisinopril earlier (I’m the kind of person who has a PDR and quizzes doctors on pharmacological modes of action) but I just thought that someone would flag it if there could be a problem.

I think those of us with a chronic illness tend to try to make symptoms fit within the framework of our known disease models. I’m writing a book and would welcome input on any aspect of bipolar or about dealing with chronic illness in general.

This site is a blessing. Congratulations on finding it!

My husband went on Lisinopril in Feb 07, his bp went down and was regulated his headaches almost left but then he had sinus surgery in mar or apr. He has now developed muscle twitching and now the "doctors" say he has Motor Neuron Disease.... I refuse to believe after reading everyone's side affects that this 41 year old with no family history of this other than 1/2 siblings with high bp that he has this disease. He has experienced neck stiffness like it is broken (had MRI) no broken bones or slipped disc, he has had the chills, hw has vision blurred issues, heaviness in his legs, left side of his body more prominent than the right, he has crazy dreams and thoughts, he feels like he is dying, he doesn't however have any coughs, he has anxiety which they put him on anti depressant. After reading others comment I researched this med, it was developed by venom in a poisonous Brazilian snake. My husband as a child would get bitten by wasps, fire ants etc.. they would rush him to ER for meds and he used to take shots if stung, swells up like a balloon. So in my theory this med has the snake bite affects and I believe this has caused him to have this neuron disease but I can't prove it. His muscles twitch all the time. I believe this drug has been slowly poisoning him to a eventually paralysis to death. I have begged the doctor to take him off. He has but now he is on Atenolol, which is not much better but has no snake venom or ACE inhibitors. Please people email me. I am desperate we need to band together.
Thanks you Joann

I am guest #31067 updating my 10/3/06 posting. To review, in the earlier post I complained of a very serious cough that was making conversation and sleep very difficult. I had also had been suffering from extreme lethargy but had not connected it to Lisinopril when I wrote the earlier posting.

After I discontinued the medication on 9/18, the symptoms continued to get worse. About 13 days later, the symptoms began diminishing and by 10/9 (3 weeks), I was back to normal- no cough and my energy had returned.

My main reason for this update is to emphasize the extended delay I experienced from cut-off to normal conditions.

I was on beta blocker that apparently aggrivates asthema
switched to 10mg/d lisinopril and have a huge grocery list
of suspected side effects
cough-sometimes severe
shooting pains in legs similar to Blood clot i had after accident
joint pain especially in hip
cest pain
trouble focusing
extreme lethargy
ansomnia
sexual dyfunction
constant colds and infections
I am not gonna ask my PCP to get off of this I'm gonna demand it! I'm only 36 and feel terrible.

Unusual fatigue and weakness, muscle cramps, lethargy and woke me up coughing at night which the drug, Singulair, is supposed to stop, but Lisinopril over-rode it.

In the afternoons, I would just sit in a chair and just feel very "unwell."

Okay in the a.m., but the afternoons were terrible and then it started at night, waking me up with coughing.

Then I inherited a urinary tract infection - I was not eliminating enough, so the urine backed up and caused the infection (this came from someone who is a druggist).

My doctor is on vacation and I used a walk-in medical center to get help. I'm back on hydrochlorot.

Within 2 days of beginning Lisinopril for an "elevated blood pressure event", I bagan to experience labored breathing, like I had just walked up 10 flights of stairs. And that was at rest! I had some anxiety and was generally lethargic. I also began experiencing severe cramps in my legs, feet, and toes. My arches would cramp so bad I coulld hardly stand it. I thought this might be related to the diuretic in the medication. I also experienced muscle weakness. I called my doctor who told me to take half a pill each day. The effects were basically the same at half the dosage! The breathing still labored, less cramping, but same feeling of tiredness and lethargy. I quit taking it, made some lifestyle changes (less sodium laced foods, more exercise) to bring down the pressure.

I've been on lisonopril since 1997 or so...never thought to really check the side effects...felt horrible since right about that time. Mainly light headed and terrible lethargy. Felt sleepy all the time. Was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and many outdoor/indoor/and food allergies. Went through septoplasty, somnoplasty, sinus surgery, etc..nothing seemed to help. Ran out of my zestril meds this morning so I did not take any until late this afternoon when I finally had time to stop at the drug store. I felt better than ever all morning and soon I as I took the lisonopril, I ended up in bed sleeping 2 hrs later. I looked at the side effects warning and it mentioned feeling sleepy, lightheaded, headache and sudden weight gain...exactly what happened to me back in 97!....Now that I found this site I think I've found the culprit!! I never thought it could be that simple!!

I am off this stuff and on the phone to my doc on Monday!!

I was taking Toprol and HCTZ for high blood pressure. I had additional symptoms of head ache and dizziness and lethargy. To be sure that the meds weren't causing the problems, my doctor put me on Lisinopril 20 mg. I started doing research on the web when the first day I took it I actually feel even more lethargic and spacey. Imagine my surprise when I found this site that lists all the side effects for which I already have most !! Time to speak with my doctor again!! There has to be a better medication out there for BP than this.

shoulder pains,hand pain,cough,lethargy very little sleep over the past three weeks been on lisinopril for a few months now have recently been diagnosed with reumatiod arthritis wonder if this has had any effect on my rheumatiod factor i have now stopped lisinopril this is my third day off the med and i feel better already i am going to request a rheumatoid factor blood test in the hope that it will be reduced since stopping lisinopril which will stop the need for deasese modifying drugs which have dangerous side effects.

I am so pleased to find this site, tonite! I have tryed Lisinopril, 3x..just started 4 days ago and already feel awful.
Symptoms include; tightness in chest, cough (I can deal with that tho), anxiety, depression, tremors and lethargy! I must try something else. Told my doc., but he says unlikely side effects..I have been miserable..not to mention my husband and friends..they are none too happy with me right now either.
That is what brought me here..finally, some feedback and confirmation that I am not being difficult to treat, but do indeed have a problem with this horrible medication. I am not taking it tonite..will call my new doc in the morning. This may help some..but it is surely not for everyone. My bp is stabilized..low, actually...but not worth the misery to me! Thanx to all of you who care enough to share! God Bless!!!!!!!

I have just started taking Lisinopril 20mg (for 5 days now). The changes to my body are incredibly noticable. The effects I have observed are:

1) Feeling of being slightly "stoned" all the time. This is quite unnerving as I have noticed that my work has suffered due to me making lots of typing mistakes and other 'minor' things such as reactions to other poeple's comments. I'm sure my blood pressure is down due to the sluggish feeling I have. Exactly the same post-marijuana lethargy (am I alowed to mention that here ? - I am not a user but have tried it in the past).

2) Erectional dysfunction. Basically Erections subside very quicky which is far from normal for me.

3) a small dry cough.

I'm taking myself off these meds. since the effects are too pronounced. I was taking them to see if it could "improve" the quality of my life not "sedate" it.

The issues I'm going to raise with my doctor on monday are ,"Are we treating the sympton and not the cause of high BP".

At 12.5 mg. per day, have noticed in past year lethargy to the point of exhaustion, falling asleep at my computer keyboard (or at least nodding off) every afternoon, depressive moods, cry off and on, & finally today feeling so sleepy all day I could hardly keep my eyes open at work. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms? As this drug also has diuretic which is necessary for fluid retention & relief, does the Atenolol have the same affect? Anyone know? Thanks.