Lisinopril and sleep

I'm 23 years old and really overweight. Going to see my doctor today because, I have constant itchy feeling in my throat like something is there but its not. I feel like gagging/throwing up all the time now, at first I thought it was just asthma, but talked to someone else taking lisinopril told me about the dry cough, so im pretty sure this is the problem. I don't see how anyone could keep taking this once you get these side effects. It's just a constant battle trying ignore the feeling in my throat, and trying to sleep is rough now,I wake up sometimes feeling like im choking.

itchy throat,nausea,dry cough,hard time sleeping and gagging.

Thanks for all of your input really helps, so I figured I'd let you in on how its making me feel, or so I hope its the problem lol

I forgot to add in my first post, I cough my head off and I can't sleep at night either.

I have been on this drug for about a month, I hate it now reading what it does, I have a dry hacking cough, that does not go away, I sleep a lot, I was living a pretty good started taking this shit, I swear it is like the cough you get from heart failure, my best friend had this cough, now she is dead!

My doctor prescribed Lisinopril for my high BP but before I took any I read all the stories on here and was too afraid to take it.Finally I had to do something to lower my BP because I needed surgery and the surgeon would not do the operation if my BP was high.Long story short, I started the Lisinopril, have been on it now for 2 months and I'm glad I did. It not only lowered my BP to normal in one day but I did not experience all the nasty side effects mentioned on this site.The only side effects I have experienced so far are the coughing but that was mild and it has since gone away and only happened a few times and just a little dizziness occasionally upon standing from a sitting position, I sleep very well, no hair loss, not cranky,appetite is good. I'm really happy with this medication.

Hi,

Fist off I'm a fit 38 year old male, not overweight, don't smoke, occasional social drinker.

I've been taking Lisinopril since being diagnosed with high blood pressure in Feb 08, I was started on a dose of 5mg, which was then increased to 10mg and finally 20mg.

The Lisinopril never really got my high blood pressure under control and my Doctor has now switched me to Bendroflumethiazide, only been on those for about a week so have to see how they go.

Lisinopril certainly made me feel terrible:-

Constant Fatigue
Depressed
Foggy
No concentration
Dizzy
Tinnitus
Pounding headaches

if you feel like this then I'd go and see your Doctor and try something else

have been on Lisinopril/HCTZ for over a year with no side effects. Last week I switched to Cartia XL because I am 29 and wanted to try to have a baby. The Cartia made me severely depressed so after four days I switched back to my Lisinopril/HCTZ until my follow-up appt. in three weeks. I took the Lisinopril/ HCTZ for two days. The first day I had a weezy cough. The second day I broke out in a rash that was unaffected by benadryl. I looked in OVID medical journal database and found that the symptoms of Lisinopril rash are rashes confined to the trunk, neck, and proximal limbs (closest to body) and are unaffected by Benadryl (because the rash is caused by luekotriene and not histamine reaction). I went to urgent care today and they gave me a benadryl shot and three prednisone pills with no effect. Then they gave me a IV drip with Zantac (the heartburn medicine but also can help with rashes). It helped some but I am back at home and the rash looks worse and still itches. This is horrible.

I am a 56 yr old female, placed on Lisinopril in lieu of Atelenol, which I have been taking along with HCTZ for a least 5 years. BP was 148/83, Dr. thinks still too high so Lisinopril it is. I was on it for a week and I, too, developed some really annoying side effects. Dry, almost spastic cough, especially at night when I attempt to sleep. Have been on the sofa for over two weeks to avoid disturbing my other half's sleep with my constant coughing. The Lisinopril makes me tired anyway but with the lack of sleep, I am exhausted. I am also an Multiple Sclerosis patient and fatigue is a big factor of the disease so lack of sleep is not good. I had the perpetual headache everyday, not debilitating but enough to ruin your day. Also felt extremely dizzy, to the point of feeling like I could pass out when I raised my head. The newest symptom, is a sore tongue. Feels like I have many cuts on the front of my tongue which foods and drink irritate but there is nothing there. Dr. has taken me off saying that I am experiencing an allergy to Ace Inhibitors and switched me over to another med called Benecare. Have not taken one yet and will do so along with the Atelenol so don't know how it will be but just wanted to share the allergy concept about Ace Inhibitors.
Take Care All

I was put on Lisinopril 10mg. tabs for borderline elevated blood pressure that became high blood pressure (151/82). I have taken them for a week and have experienced the following problems: sleeplessness, can't focus or remember things, nauseated, slight headache every day, jittery and edgy, depressed, no energy, I go through the day in a fog. The sleeplessness is the worst. I have trouble not only going to sleep, but staying asleep. My eyes fly open and I may as well get up because I am wide awake, but feel exhausted. I am stopping the Lisinopril today! I have read enough here to know I am going to consult with my physician on Monday! I'll try a low salt diet before I EVER take this medicine again!

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

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.

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 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!!!

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.

I am taking Lisinopril. I have been taking this for about 2 weeks. I am so very very tired, all I want to do is just sit and feels like I want to sleep. I can't stand this feeling and now reading everyone's experiences it has really scared me!!! Thanks for everyone that has shared their experiences.

Hi, I have just started Lisinopril today, and wanted to search the internet on side effects. I was taking atenolol and felt I was on the right blood pressure med because it was working. Well I started getting tired after 4 years on atenolol, it started 1 month ago. I went to the Dr. and they did a ekg and told me they are surprised I am still walking/standing because my pulse was measured at 41 and that explained why I was so tired all the time. I am 49 years old and am going through menopause and deal with high blood pressure. Well the Dr. told me to stop the atenolol immediately. Then 2 days later I went to see th Dr. again and they switched my blood pressure over to linsinpril. I also take HCTZ a water pill and have been taking it for years. I hate to say it but I am developing the sore throat thing after 5 hours on the med and I am worried about that. I took my BP reading and it is better than ever 108/59 pulse 68. I guess I will get some honey lozengers for the sore throat. Not saying it is the lisinopril causing it but my body is very delicate and I watch my meds carefully so I know when something goes on in my body (meds) and I feel it right away that I have to wonder if it is going to be an ongoing problem for me. I will keep you updated on this as I really am hoping that the lisinopril helps and I can get my energy back. Have been taking the B12 and magnesium and vitamin D and Calcium. I also take vitamin B2 and B6 every other day. I had yeast infections constantly and the B2 has really helped me with that. I get night sweats and hot flashes and take soy pills for that and the herb sage every other day. I was taking low dose prempro about 6 months ago for 2 years and that made my hair fall out terribly, but also made it grow a lot too, it was a ongoing problem with the hair laying everywhere in sink on the floor etc. I stopped the Low dose prempro and the hair loss stopped, so if I lose hair from lisinopril I will be used to that, but hope it also will grow. I need to give this lisinopril a chance as I have little choice right now. My heart they said was pumping too slow, the pulse should be 60 or above not low like 41 so I will keep updated on how the lisinopril side effects are with my body.

I have been taking Lisinopril for about 2 months now, I haven't experienced any of the side-effects until recently I started waking up with numbness on my left upper leg. Overall I get weird sensations, mild numbness & tingling on my arms, fingers and feet. Thanks to this site, I realized my overall changing sleep patterns and numbness can be attributed to this medication. I will call my doctor to see if I can stop taking it. On a side note, my BP is definitely lower. I am 29/male.

I have been on Lisinopril and a diuretic for about 1.5 years -- started with 5mg of lisinopril. At first had a slight cough, but went away. In Feb 2008 routine blood tests were done and my ALT - liver enzyme was slightly elevated to 36. ( last test in 2003 was normal) --- had the test repeated in Aug 2008 and the ALT was up to 41. Doctor was not too worried, not very elevated - but I persisted as to why and she sent me for an ultrasound that showed all was normal for my liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys. My pressure was up a bit at the Aug appt - so she increased my Lisinopril to 10mg. I had another liver enzyme test done beg of Oct 2008 and now the ALT is up to 66. I told her the only difference is increasing my Lisinopril and that must be the cause for elevated ALT levels. She is not sure -- I am now being referred to a specialist -- but told to stop taking the Lisinopril for 3 weeks and they will see what the levels are. Have only seen a few mentions of elevated liver enzymes as a side effect -- has anyone else experienced?? My AST levels are normal.

I was put on Lisinopril in June by mid July started with the throat clearing then a choking feeling. Doctor saying its allergies, then post nasal drip, started Musinex plus Robitussin, so after nothing worked and I kept coughing they FINALLY, 12 weeks later ,says Oh I bets it's the Lisinopril DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't get anything to stop this choking cough its horrid I have been off the meds 5 days today, Its so hard at work and when trying to sleep I can only pray for some relief soon.......................

I took Lisinopril for 3 months. Symptoms gradually got worse: eyes watered, nose dripped, ears itched, puffiness under eyes, hair loss, tired all the time, body was very tense, night sweats, couldn't sleep well, and started having sharp pains like pin pricks. The doctor said to stop Lisinopril and switch to Cozaar (for Losartan). I didn't want to start another medication until I got this out of my system, so I stopped Lisinopril 4 days ago. My symptoms started to subside in about 3 days, but then I started to get horrible cramps behind my thighs. For 2 days now the pain keeps me awake at night...I can't get comfortable. At 11:00 p.m. tonight I had to take 1 Lisinopril to "wean" off this horrible drug. I don't have hypertension, but was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes--so the medicine is supposed to "protect" my kidneys. Does anyone know whether Cozaar is any better? I hate taking meds!

Get off this nasty drug. It has the most horrible side effects.Is there a lawsuit against this drug. If so I need to follow-up.I had,:
THROAT SWELLING AND LIPS SWELLING
EXTREMELY DRY ITCHY THROAT.
DRY HACKING HEAVY COUGHING CONSTANTLY(could not get sleep)
ENDED IN ACUTE TONSILLITIS WITH FEVER
after getting of the drug I had no more problems with coughing or respiratory infections.these side effects are common with this drug. Yet the docs are pushing it. What are the pharma companies giving thes doctors??I no longer trust doctors.

I have been on Lisinopril for 6 days...taking 20mg along with norvasc 5mg. I don't have headaches usually and the last two days I have had sharp and very painful headaches, my throat started hurting yesterday and I had cramps in my abdomen, sides and legs so severe that I cried last night and I could not sleep. I am glad that I found this website. Besides all that, if I walk more than a few steps I feel as if I have to lie down and my heartbeat is very high. It is not the Norvasc 5mg....I have taken it for 3 years or so.

Calling my doctor and changing meds....it did reduce the BP, but I can't put up with this pain.

Hi
My husband has been prescribed 2 different blood pressure meds Lisionpril and metoprolol back in June. Come mid July he started to have trouble sleeping and slight tingling in hands and feet. Then it progressed to the arms and legs and then the face and chest. We have seen cardiologist, neurologist, sleep apnea doctors, Had EKG, MRI, Heart sonograms, Nerve test done due to the symptoms. Everything came back normal. He is miserable. The burning and pain is unbearable to wear he wants to cut his feet off and the only thing we keep hearing is well LETS DO ANOTHER TEST or TRY THIS MED. So now he is taking a a sleep med for insomnia and some seizure med for the nerve pain, thinking he may have neuropathy. This is going on 2 months now of trial and error and after reading 20 minutes of experiences, I THINK ITS THE MED!!!!!!!
What do we do then? He had high blood pressure so what meds are good with no side affects of burning or insomnia? Any suggestions or help would be of great appreciation. Thank you!!!

Update on my experience with Lisinopril.
After 3 ER visits & 2 hospital stays the palpitations quit when the HCTZ (diuretic) was removed. Adjustment of dosage got the B/P readings down to acceptable levels but some side effects remain after 2 weeks. Dry-eye syndrome and over-the-counter drops do not help. I'm up most of the night-time.
However in the daytime after I exercise I feel sleepy and can sleep for a couple hours time.
Wondering if this side effect will go away or what. Anyone with the experience ?

HI, I am a 56 year old woman with elevated BP. I was put on Lisinopril/Hctz about a year ago. I am not exactly sure when the cough started, since I am an asthmatic and have trouble with coughing already, but this cough is different and much worse than my asthma coughing. I like many others on here cough in the night and mornings until I vomit, cough up fluids, gag and can't breath. The cough was so bad on Friday I broke the blood vessels in my face, the coughing spell lasted for 30 minutes. It was just yesterday that I looked at the Warning for this medication as I picked up my refill on Friday. There on the warning was dry cough. So I looked on this site and there was my answer...most of you described exactly my symptoms....I feel so much better now that I think I know what has caused it, since my doctor was chalking it up to the asthma. I have emailed him with my new info, and hope that he will change my medication ASAP. I also have researched cronic fatigue sys....because I am always tired and unable to get anything done.....I was never like this before. Good luck to the rest of you, thanks for sharing or I would never know that this medication could cause all my problems.
DL

WoW! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO glad I found this website!

I had been taking Lisinopril HCTZ 10-12.5 once daily since April of this year. I was on Labetalol 200mg/2x's daily as I developed Hypertension during my pregnancy. Once I delivered my baby I was then switched to Lisinopril HCTZ by my primary care physician.

The Lisinopril did wonders for my blood pressure but by mid-June I started having side effects. I went to my doctor numerous times and then to the ER since I thought I was having a heart attack. The ER doctor suggested that I was having panic attacks or just symptoms from the cold I had. So, I went to my primary doctor and she immediately jumped and gave me Prozac. Never once did either doctor ever link the symptoms to the Lisinopril.

My symptoms included:

*Light Headed
*Dizziness
*COUGH COUGH COUGH!!!!!!!!
*EXTREME DIARRHEA - Everything I ate or drank came out like water almost immediately!
*Chest Pain and pain down into my left arm and fingers
*Chills
*Blurred Vision
*Rapid Heartbeat
*Cold/Sweaty Feet
*Sweating
*Bloated Feeling
*Tight/Itchy Skin
*Rash on chest 2x's
*Nausea
*****Panic attacks and feeling like I was going crazy!!!!!******

Upon finding this website Friday, August, 22nd, I went to my doctor and told her NO MORE was I taking this medication! It's POISON! I am now taking Ziac 5/6.25 once daily. Ziac like Labetalol is a Beta Blocker rather than an ACE Inhibitor and may not be as effective but I sure would rather this than Lisinopril.

I am still experiencing some of the side effects of the Lisinopril but I am hoping that they will deminish soon. PLEASE!!

I, like a lot of others have mentioned on this website felt like I was loosing my mind. I felt like I couldn't explain all the things I was feeling because some of the feelings just didn't come out right and did make me sound crazy. At one point my doctor told me it was "all between my ears!" Okay?!?!?

I hope this has helped others and I plan on making a complaint on the FDA website, this medication needs to be removed from the pharmacies! It's poison!

If anyone knows how long the side effects last after stopping this medication I would surely appreciate the info!

Hello all thanks very much for your comments on this drug. I need help quickly. My father is 55 years old and the Doctor have him taking this drug Lisinopril. All night long he is have a dry cough and only gets about 3hours of sleep a night. Please help with other options then this drug. you can e-mail me at ******

I started taking 10 mg. of Lisinopril on July 8, 2008. At first, I experienced extreme fatigue and weakness. However, this wore off after a few days. The dosage was increased to 20 mg. on July 21, 2008. I started having horrible symptoms on July 29, 2008: rapid pulse (as high as 118 b.p.m. while I was quietly reading), heaviness in my chest (which felt worse after I exercised), and shortness of breath. I had never felt so bad before in my entire life!!! I suffered with these symptoms until August 15, 2008 because I was hoping that they were just temporary. Unfortunately, they only got worse the longer that I waited. It is such a shame, too, because Lisinopril really did a good job of keeping my b.p. down.

This is the third day that I haven't taken Lisinopril, and I am feeling a little better. I am now on Metoprolol, which is helping with my rapid pulse. For those of you who experienced breathing problems while taking Lisinopril: How long did it take before your breathing returned to normal?

I've had some issues with Lisinopril also, headaches, back aches and some dizziness. Just wondering if is normal for a drugs to have all these posting of people having issues ..maybe is only 1% of the population and I am one of the unlucky ones?

I have been on Micardis for years and have had no side effects at all. Ran in two marathons and worked out daily. Now I have been on Lisinopril-HCTZ 20 MG. and have not been able to work out without feeling dizzy, seating and cannot remember the last time I got a good nights sleep due to persistent coughing. The best moment was today finding this website and reading everyone elses comments. I plan to flush my remaining pills down the toilet and paying full price for Micardis since my insurance company will not pay.
This has to be thek worst pill available! If I knew today what I knew when this pill was first prescribed I would have never taken it. Hopefully it will not take long to get this out of my system and I can get my life back.

I was started on Lisinopril about a month and a half ago.

Initially I was taking 20 mg. I started having a dry cough and it was worse at night. After a month the doctor increased my dosage to 40 mg. The cough has grown much worse. As someone stated above...any phone conversation I have that is of any length at all will find me coughing continually.

At night I sleep for about 1 1/2 hours and then am awake for many hours before I can fall back asleep because my legs are aching and I have Charley horses in my toes. I have had problems with achy legs at night, in the past and ibuprofen always helped...now it doesn't and the achy legs are every single night.

Two nights ago I went to bed at 10:00 and woke up at 11:15. I was awake until 4:30 the next morning.

I decided after doing some reading on lisinopril that I was not going to take it any longer. The doctor had told me at my last visit that if the coughing increased they would change my prescription.

I too have experienced some nausea and headaches.

I commonly suffer the side affects of drugs so I'm not really surprised.

I've been on Lisinopril for a couple to three years. I often get tingling and numbness in my arms when I sleep. Also, my sense of smell diminished
greatly. I've now gone off the 5 ml. and am noticing my SENSE OF SMELL is much better!! Has anyone had this problem?? My hands swelled badly too, and that has improved too. Cough all gone. I'm monitoring with a bp monitor, and my pressure is normal. Exercise and good diet seem to be working.
Am so glad to have my sense of smell back after years!!!!

oh yea...i forgot to mention dry eyes and a hacking cough that was severe but has since gone away, really bad pain in legs, elbows and joints and toes that feel broken to the point that i recently had to get on pain meds, over counter meds didn't do the job. the more i read about lisinopril the more i'm convinced to start a half dose tonight. i'm going to experiment by tapering myself off and if i live through it i'll let you all know if the side effects leave.

I'm 55, Female, and have been on hbp meds for a long time. i take atenelol and lisinopril. they are both the affordable meds that seem to keep my bp in pretty good check. only problem is that i have been feeling sooo badly that i got on here to check out the side effects of these drugs i'm on. i hurt all over, i'm gaining weight, can't seem to lose, i'm constantly fatigued, depressed, very low energy, want to sleep all the time, feel like sand bags hanging on my eyelids all day, sweat profusely till it looks like i've just stepped out of the shower and haven't dried my face off yet which is very unattractive and i also have the reddest rashy cheeks. after reading the side effects of both meds i'm on, i'm very tempted to cut them in half or discontinue them. only problem is that i'll prob die of a heart attack because of high bp. i also have trouble with my blood sugar dropping to the 60's sometimes. i feel like if i continue feeling like this, i'll be checking out soon...any comments??

MY mother of 73, who was just put on lisinopril and had a pace maker put in do to heart rate of 38per minute. She was also coded and we were kicked out of the room when her heart rate dropped past 7. A emergency pace maker was put in ...then her permanent one followed 2 days later. She was released from the hospital on Sat. the 21st and since she has been home, she cant sleep properly and when she does she wakes up gasping for air. Could this be a cause of the drug? lack of the oxygen that she was on in the hospital? We have put a call into the doctor, but still haven't heard a replay....wondering if anyone can give us some info...Thanks

I am a 43 yr old female and have recently developed high bp. I have been taking lisinopril 20 mg for about 1 1/2 months. I have not been able to sleep for the past few days, as my heart is racing and I have a constant feeling of anxiety. In addition, I am having trouble swallowing and my throat feels raw. I thought that the fever and aches I had last week were the flu, but after reading other similar stories, I will contact my doctor as soon as the office opens in the morning.

Ive been taking Atenolol 100mg for years but it wasn't enough so my doc added Lisinopril /Hydrochlorothiazide 10/12.5mg......great at controlling my bp but the side effects aren't so grand. Recurring cough that sometimes triggers the gag reflex, especially late at night while lying down attempting to sleep. Also my libido has been cut in half. Time to go back to the doc.

About 1 1/2 years ago my allergist recommended I switch BPM from Lisinopril to Atacand because of congestion problems associated with Lisinopril. I made the switch and had no problems with Atacand other than my co-pay was considerably higher. Because of this I asked my family practice MD to switch me back to Lisinopril because I remembered it worked okay. However this time - a couple of days after the first dose of Lisinopril I developed flu-like symptoms (aching, congestion, fatigue). I thought I was coming down with the flu AGAIN. After about three days I started having chest pain, a headache that wouldn't go away, blurred vision, dizziness, shortness of breath, very shaky, weakness, couldn't sleep. I thought I was on the verge of a heart attack at times. The fatigue and weakness worsened. I often felt that I couldn't get off the couch or out of bed. My legs felt like weights. It wasn't until I checked out the side effects on this website and read the comments of other users of the drug that I realized what was most likely happening. Needless to say, I called my doctor and asked to be switched back to Atacand. I'm more than willing to pay the extra $'s to feel better.

62 year old female, taking Lisinopril for over a year. I was at lost for my symptoms until I read this site, pain in arm, don`t sleep, itching all over, Head ache, pressure on back of head Dizzy, trouble walking,depression,loose of memory etc.( history of a benign brain tumor about 10 years ago) Pressure was so bad I made a appointment with my neurosurg) Talked to a Pharm. He suggested to not take it one night and see. I did and the pressure went away.I called the Cardiologist. His nurse really told me off and that I was not having any side effect, something was going on, but not Lisinopril as I had taken it for so long. She was just plain rude! She would not call anything else in for me either. I am titrating it and and looking for a new doctor!!

I am a 56 year old woman and my doctor started me on 10 mg Lisinopril in March. Within 24 hours of starting it I developed a very annoying cough. At my next doctors visit she told me my bp was not down enough and wanted to increase the dosage. When I asked her if the cough could be from the Lisinopril she gave me some samples of Benecar HCT. The only problem I had with that was muscle weakness and some palpitations that went away after a few days. When I got the prescription filled I found that my insurance didn't cover it and it was quite expensive so I called my doctor back and she wanted me to try the Lisinopril again at 20mg and see what happened. That very same night the cough came back with a vengeance, along with dizziness. I decided to try to tough it out but after ten days now the cough is so bad it's unbearable. It keeps me up at night and I cough till I gag and cry. On several occasions I have coughed until I vomited. I couldn't take it any more and stopped taking it two days ago. I called my doctor today and she told me to stop taking it and now we're going to try Norvasc.

I am a 40 year old female and both my husband and I are taking Lisinopril 40 mg. I have mild tingling in my arms at night, however the tingling/ burning sensation is so great in my husband's arms that he can't sleep at night. His rest is continually interrupted by this uncomfortable sensation. I have noticed a host of things like tiredness, an occasional dry cough, feelings of depression, rapid heart beat, and lack of energy in myself. My husband has experienced all of the above and muscle pain and irritability. I thought his irritability was being caused by lack of sleep, but I have learned from this website that it may be yet another side effect of the medication. We both have to get off this. Thanks for all of your helpful comments.

taking lisinopril -2 yrs. tues. 6/2/08 - started feeling like the flu. by wed. was so sore in places i had never had muscle and joint pain, all i could do is lay...by wed evening was feeling a little better so, ok it's the flu. took med to go to bed and had one of the most miserable nights ever...what i call severe neck and left arm pain. could not raise or put weight on my rt. hip,leg, knee or foot (those were just the worse spots). by the by been i have been having very poor sleep about 4 months. managed thru thurs, by fri i was convinced it was lyme. saw physician...of course all blood was normal. on sat. 6/7 i kept thinking it was the lisinopril because i would start feeling better (not over the pain, just better) in the evenings and then be right back in severe pain by 2 am.

Hi,

My husband is 41 years old, and he has been on Lisinopril 20 mg for about 6 months. He is experiencing dizziness, numbness on his feet due to that he is unable to walk at times. He also has chest pain in the morning, which wakes him up and lack of sleep at times and memory loss. Since he has been taking this medication he is experiences extreme tiredness. The worst of all is the palpitations. The doctors are unable to find anything wrong with him. He had Cardiac Catheterization, and stress test and all come back normal. We do not know what do at this time.

Regards,

After a lifetime of good blood pressure, I was so reluctant of surrendering to the fact that I needed to be on blood pressure medicine but finally did so for the fear of a risk in having a stroke. My doctor put me on Lisinopril about 6 weeks ago. The good news is that my blood pressure is now 120/60 HOWEVER....I have had the most unusual, annoying, dry, itching cough that simply stops me in my tracks!!! It just sneaks up on me without warning and I suddenly feel like a lint ball is stuck in my throat and I can't swallow and the tears pour down my face. I cannot even walk into the post office without a bottle of water in my hand for fear of an attack coming on. The only relief I can get is to drink water. It really hits me at night when I am trying to sleep...so guess what I DON't get much sleep!!! I went thru 1 gallon of water 2 nights ago!!! Along with this condition, I have also felt extremely irritable!!!! I did have enough sense to know that the level of anger or the amount of tears I was experiencing seemed to be over amplified. Thanks to my good friend for caring enough about me to discover this web site so I can discontinue this medicine. No more high blood pressure but I may just choke to death!!!

I was placed on this drug by my PCP after a change in my insurance this year. I had been taking Avalide to control my BP but my new insurance said my co-pay for the medication would now cost me $200 for a 90-day supply, or $50 for a 30-day script. The customer service rep suggested my PCP put me on lisinopril, as it was a generic in the same class as Avalide. I started taking lisinopril in February 2008 and almost immediately developed a tickle in the back of my throat that worsened into a dry, hacking cough. I initially thought it was due to the dry air of furnace heat (Indiana resident) and started using a humidifier in my bedroom. My PCP prescribed me a codeine-based cough syrup to control the coughing, which wracked my body so hard I often was incontinent. The syrup helped -temporarily. For the past month, I've been wracked by chronic and severe dry coughing spells. The coughing was worse in the morning and would frequent awaken me from sleep at night. My PCP took me off the lisinopril today and appealed my insurance to place me back on Avalide. This has been the worst experience I've ever had with a prescribed medicine, although my BP reading yesterday was 120/76.

I was prescribed Lisinopril on 2/2008 to protect my liver, after taking I started with a tickle in my throat that would turn into one of those coughs that would make you cry which would occur at least 3 or 4 times a day. Then I would have pain in my neck, arms around my ankles and knee joints. Now I have developed a cough that is uncontrollable and happen all during the day and night I could not get any sleep, have bag under my eyes. I went to see my doctor and he told me to take robitussin DM, which did not help. The cough was so bad, until it made my chest and stomach hurt. It made me feel as if I had to throw up. I went to see my doctor today to tell her that I was not going to take the LISINOPRIL anymore, but when I told her about my cough, she said it was from the LISINOPRIL and not to take it any more.

I forgot to ask her was any of my other vital organ affect by this drug.

I started with 20mg of Lisinopril this winter. Within two months I was coughing. Within a month I was diagnosed with pneumonia. Antibiotics were prescribed and eventually the pneumonia symptoms went away, but I still have the cough. It is dry, deep and constant. I cannot sleep at night. I have a rash along my neck and on my scalp. I can't focus and I've gained weight. Food tastes funny and I have a metallic taste in my mouth sometimes. I have lost so much sleep I can hardly function. The only way I can sleep is to take a Benadryl at night, but that is not good restful sleep. I taking myself off of it starting tomorrow.

Im a 57yr old female, when i was given Lisinopril 5mg 6months ago my doctor said it was the cleanest HBPT, around so i started taking it, i was on medication for cholesterol about 6 different ones, which made my life hell, so BP went up hence this medication, the mood swings, have been terrible, happy one day the next i hate everyone who comes into view even my husband said he cannot take this verbal abuse i send his way, i have felt so depressed, in the last couple of days i have just felt like ending it all, cant sleep, crying, all the time, headaches, coughing, heavy legs, noise in my ears, swelling of legs and fingers, i have got to find an alternative remedy, my life is worth more than feeling like this, im back to see the doctor tomorrow as i cannot cope any more, neither can my family

I have been on Lisinopril (20 mgs) for around 6 months and although it has reduced my blood pressure to a 'normal' rate, I have been suffering from swollen hands, particularly my right one, and they become uncomfortably hot and red looking. I sometimes find it difficult to sleep at night. Does anyone have a similar symptom? I am so worried about it, I have actually had a blood test by my doctor and am still awaiting the results to see if I have some form of arthritis. The only other side effect that I have noticed is the irritable cough, which also wakes me up during the night.

Hello folks - thought I would post here as well.........I am on 20MG of LISINOPRIL 1 time daily. I notice during regimented times of the day I get the side effects. I take it when I wake up in the morning. I have been on this for about a year now...........it has lowered by HBP from 150's/80's to about 130/80..............regular........I am a 37 year old Male

Problem is the multiple side affects:

1. Tiredness - comes and goes all throughout the day - almost like I could just close my eyes and go to sleep anywhere.........feels like someone threw sand in my eyes.......
2. Shortness of breath
3. Sore Muscles - everywhere - it doesn't discriminate!!!!
4. Pain in the chest mostly the left side but sometimes the right
5. Headache in one spot in the head - doesn't last long
6. Wake up often in the middle of the night with dead hands or legs
7. Sometimes I just have a total memory blank on things I should know right away - usually only occurs when I'm getting tired.
8 Of course the panic from thinking something is wrong with me!!!

Anyone else with these set of symptoms????

Drop me a note!!!!