Lisinopril and tiredness

Hi....I am a 48 year old male just starting on Lisinopril 10mg daily. Have taken it for 7 days now. Blood pressure before was 184/120 in the doctors office. Have seen it spike to 200/129 at the dentist plus 220/149 at the Oral surgents office removing a tooth. First day of taking Lisinopril it knocked down my BP too 123/75 thought that was great. Since has mellowed out now at 140/90. Im sure on my second visit the DR. will up my dosage which I will question. So far reactions have been that scratchy throat right of the bat that everyone discribes. Plus my stomach just groals the first hour as it trys to disolve. Takes about 4 hour before I can see it lowers my pressure any. Have been trying different times of the day best I can to find the best time to take it which I now have settled on right after noon lunch about 1 hour works best. I also have had alot of tiredness from it, which is different from the weakness I also get from a condition they say I have called N.A.S.H. (non alcholic steatohepatitis ) which basically is too much fat in your liver that drains me of energy worse each year. But why I bring that up is the feeling is different a tiredness compared to a weakness feeling I dont seem to like. The weakness I can jack away with some caffine but this tiredness nothing seems to help so far. Have had some dizzyness getting up which is something I can live with til it makes me faint or fall at some point then I surly will cry wolf get me off this. Getting blood work done soon to see how it affects my liver counts will update you on that later.

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

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.

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 have been on Lisinopril for 3 days now, for slightly elevated BP. Doctor told me to take 20mgs, I split it in fourths, and have been only taking a fourth, and have had tingling in my hands and feet, chest pain, tiredness, severe anger and depression, I had the same reaction when I took Atenolol, (beta blocker), 12.5 mg a day for three months, Also I am going completely bald!! I know that was from the Atenolol, so this med, is just as bad, I'm not taking it anymore, I like my hair,health, happiness and sanity to much to compromise it another second, I also have suffered from depression for many years and have asthma, so I should have never been giving either one of these drugs! I will take Garlic, Omega supplements and see where it takes me, God Bless and lets try nature instead! P.S. I am a 41 yr old female. hope this helps.

I am a 72 yrs old female. Put on Lisinopril-HCTZ 10-12.5mg 2 yrs. ago. Took Cozaar until drug provider (AARP) wouldn't pay for and told my doc to use Lisinopril. For a while I was ok...then the trouble started. Nausea, dizziness, headaches and swelling of legs and feet. All slow to happen. Then shortness of breath, cough and itching. Leg cramps got me up pacing and in agony several time nightly. Had a creepy feeling in the back of my neck, joint aches, tiredness, stomach PAIN, hot tingles in feet and toes late in the day. Slight weight gain, a runny nose and sneezing in the AM.. Hot one minute, cold the next. At some point I realized I had a feeling of ill-health, a def. loss of my usual feeling of well-being. I was edge, nervous and finally got depressed enough to call a psychologist. That's when I found this web site. Therapist told me to tell my doc and maybe get another BP med. instead of L. Ten days ago I stopped taking it and went back on the Cozaar...I will pay for it myself. I just want to feel good again. The mental anguish this drug has produced shouldn't happen to anyone. Also, I shouldn't have to find a web site that tells me I'm taking poison either. Last night I slept straight thru the night w/o awaking. First time in God knows when. Still some nausea but I can tell the effects of Lisinopril and lessening. Take hope all u people who have posted here...I think it will get better for you now that u don't take that snake juice anymore. I think it's good that we all stopped it before we started slithering through the grass of our front lawns. This too shall pass. Thanks for posting here for me so that I could finally feel good again. I owe you a huge debt for my sanity.

Oh my I am not alone.. I have tiredness muscle pain and am losing my hair.. has anyone else experienced this side effect.. I am only on this medication and I know it has to be the medication causing the hair loss.. Dr. says none has been reported but yet here I am.. I have a red bumpy like rash on the upper part of my legs that will not go away.. I am so glad for this site.. am calling doctor tomorrow --off this stuff now!

I was on lisinipril for 10 months. I have never felt so terrible in my whole life!!!! I am 34 years old and this was my first BP med. I had dizziness, bloating, 20 lb. weight gain, tiredness, pain in my arms, back and neck. I could barely eat yet I gained weight???? I had nausea and even vomited at times. I had anxiety, depression and my hands would shake. The symptoms would come and go so I figured this is how I have to live my life. So I tried to deal with it. I had to quit 2 jobs because of the dizziness and finally thank god found this website. After reading everyone else symptoms and knew I wasn't alone--- I decided to go to the Doctor's and get on a new med. I am now on norvac and I do not have a single side effect! All the symptoms of that poison are gone and I have never felt better!!!!!!! Get off lisinipril- It is not in your head-THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE REAL!

Took first pill (5mg) on 7/8. Second on 7/9. After lunch on 7/9, food stayed in stomach and would not digest. Felt like a huge lump. Digestion continues to be a problem. No appetite. Food does not look good. On 7/11, developed two hives with large red areas surrounding them, however, they were not itchy. Became quite tired also. Allergy symptoms of itching eyes, watering eyes, itching throat, stuffiness developed. Headaches to the point of taking a pain reliever. Developed muscle cramping in calves on 7/15. Still great difficulty eating with no appetite. Existing hiatal hernia became a problem at night with nausea. Terrible flatulence also. Exhaustion is now the description, not just tired. Feeling depressed, but perhaps that is a result of the exhaustion. Blood in urine on 7/18, the final straw. Discontinued med on 7/18. Hives have still not cleared up totally (7/28) and the tiredness has still not gone away. I have been told that when you have hives on the outside, you have hives on the inside too. I would never take this med again. Going to look into biofeedback.

I've taken Lisinopril (10 mg once a day) now for two months and am reasonably happy with it so far. My BP seems under control. I bought a BP monitor and record the results on a spreadsheet. Since starting Lisinopril in early May, my average BP is 112/64, down quite a bit from where it used to be. I often check it several times a day. I do have some side effects, the worst of which is light-headedness when I rise from sitting or lying down. I also have some tiredness. Lately I've developed itchless red spots on my right forearm that come and go. My big concern is what longterm use of Lisinopril will do to my body. My goal is to continue with a diet and exercise program and, with the doctor's guidance, wean myself completely off this medicine by the end of the year. I would suggest to anyone who hasn't to buy a BP monitor, record the results and show them to your doctor. The doctors treat you on one snapshot of your BP taken at their office, and BP readings can change dramatically during the day, depending on the situation. If your average BP, say, is 135/80 at home and you're being treated for what the doctor sees, perhaps 160/95, questions arise as to dosage and to the necessity of taking any BP medication at all. walterj

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.

After 25 days on 10 mg/day Lisinopril the following symptoms: extreme dizziness all day, hypotension so bad can't even get out of car seat without almost fainting, night time dry cough (tickle type), unusual muscle tiredness in legs and back (I bike 10 mi/day, 5 days/week for years) and now a rash on both forearms!! Doctor took me off the drug yesterday and prescribed Diovan 80mg/12.5 to begin next week. Wants all Lisinopril out of my system. The most disturbing side effect was Confusion. Even had dreams relevant to the effect on my thinking skills. I imagined this must be what it's like for a person when they realize they have Alzheimer's. Two days off Lisinopril, a little hypotension, dizziness gone, confusion gone, but rash remains and is worsening. All of the above discussed with doctor. He moved me to his own choice for his high BP...Diovan. We'll see

I have experienced many of the same side effects as you. Late 20's male..blood pressure has been mildly high for many years, was put on 10mg of lisinopril about a month ago- as many have mentioned the first 2 days my BP dropped considerably and I could hardly stand up without feeling like I would fall over due to the drop in BP. However, after 2-3 days this was gone and my BP stabilized in the 120-80 range. For 2 weeks I was great, no side effects. Then for the past week I have been very tired, very nauseas and noticed my arms/legs would fall asleep much more easily than before. All of these seem to be common side effects as you have all mentioned, however:
1) Not many of you mention nausea - I feel it 60% of the day, is this common also?
2) What do the doctor's then prescribe to make it go away - I cant live like this - cant concentrate at work due to tiredness and nausea
3) I go to doctor in a few days for my check-up, any suggestions on what to say?

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!!!!

I was just prescribed lisinopril a few weeks ago, for HBP, my pressure was always low but, I recently had a malfunctioned defibrillator change and my BP went very high, so the MD put me on lisinopril. I have been on it for about a month now, but the only symptoms I have been getting is severe fatigue,sleeping a lot and very thirsty. Are some of the symptoms putting on weight, I don't want that, and I did or have not had a bad cough. But sleeping is bad and very tired all the time. Should I ask my MD to change my meds? I did have 2 heart attacks and two by pass surgeries, l4 years ago one in 93 and one in 99. Then my heart weakened and I came down with arrhythmias after passing out. They inserted a pacemaker/def. thanks to medtronic after the pacemaker and def. were recalled I had to get another one, but if this drug is causing everyone a lot of problems I don't want to take it. I do get up a lot during the night (constantly going to the bathroom) due to thirst and am constantly tired I am 51,and came down with this disease (it is a childhood disease and have had it since I was l9), but it is a scary one, heart problems. They never ran in my family. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am going to get my blood taken on Tuesday to see if this Lisipril is working or not. Thanks for anyone help, I really need it on this new drug. Thank you.

Julie

I am a 45 year old male. My bp at dr's office was 144/90. He prescribed Lisinopril 40 mg once a day and said come back in a month and see how I'm doing. I tried it and immediately experienced dizziness with headache and lack of energy, then later I noticed I was getting winded with little exertion along with fatique. I could hardly climb a flight of stairs with out resting. Also would get out of breath just talking to people. Isn't this a high dose to start with? I stopped after a few days and tried later with same symptoms. I am 5'8 155 pounds in fairly good health except for borderline high bp. Should I keep trying to take this med.....or reduce the dose?

i have been taking Lisinopril for 4 weeks and have developed a violent dry cough, sore throat, tiredness, aching, leg and ankle swelling, and no drop in Blood pressure. I have also got the return of Angio Oedema (facial and throat swelling), which i have not had for 5-6 yrs. I shall not be taking this medication any more. Im sure there are other drugs that can help without these side effects.
Tanis.

I have been taking Lisinopril for approximately three weeks. Well, I have been experiencing lots of "itching". My appetite has decreased considerably and foods taste quite different. I have Lupus which keeps me tired all the time, therefore I did not contribute my tiredness to the Lisinopril. Now that I have read these comments, I can be assured that the additional fatigue can be connected to the Lisinopril. Otherwise, my bp seems to be better. I suffer with headaches normally, and have not worsened. I have not yet witnessed all the other side effects mentioned. I am, however, thankful for this site. It is good to know what could happen or if my symptoms change, this is an excellent source of reference.
Happy Holidays.

LOW POTASSIUM LEVELS,DIZZINESS,NAUSEA,VOMITING,FEELING FAINT/FAINTING,MUSCLE CRAMPS/SPASMS,FREQUENT URINATION,FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS,TIREDNESS,WEAK,HEART PALPATATIONS; I AM ONLY 30 AND FEEL LIKE A 70 YEAR OLD WOMAN.I HAVE TO HAVE MY POTASSIUM LEVEL CHECKED ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT KEEPS BOTTOMING OUT AND I WILL PASS OUT AND MY PRESSURE GETS TO LOW.BUT I NEED A BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION WITH A DIURETIC.WHAT ELSE CAN I USE I ASK YOU?

I was started on low dose Lisinopril 2.5 mg./day a few weeks ago. My pharmacist told me there are absolutely no side effects except for possibly an ACE inhibitor cough. That immediately made me think this drug was too good to be true. I am very sensitive to medication and have only had the need to take an occasional tylenol or motrin - ever. Usually I thrive on stress and am the type of person to go, go, go all day and once I hit the sofa after supper, I relax. Now I just feel unusually tired and wiped out during the daytime. I started with a headache yesterday that took 2 tylenol to make go away. I am able to get energy bursts, but then the tiredness! I have felt some fluttering of my heart as well. My hands feel unusually cold and achy when I type or hold the steering wheel of my car or a shopping cart. I am usually very focussed, but things are a little fuzzy in that department from time to time over the past few days. My most recent BP was 114/61 - perhaps too low? I see the MD next week for a follow up. If I tell her I'm unusually tired, she will try to put me on thyroid meds (I have been borderline for years). She also said my blood sugar and cholesterol bear watching. You know, I've been healthy for 52 years and all the doctor can say is that now my life is catching up with me. I can't help but think she has some long term pharmacological cocktail planned for me!

I've just started my third month on Lisinopril. The cough I assumed was either caused by either my recent exposure to airbag powder in an accident or allergies that had to go untreated since most medications don't work with HBP. Sometimes I just can't stop. I'll be fine and then the tickle starts and then the hacking. At night, I try to sleep with my head elevated so I don't gag. I insisted on a followup visit with the prescribing doctor because of the strange tingling I was experiencing in my hands. Wake up fine, take Lisinopril and by lunch time my hands felt like they were "fuzzy". Skin tingling like from cold, but hands actually warm. Doctor didn't believe this to be side effect of medication, but it looks like from the comments I've read it could be. I've also experienced the tiredness or lack of energy, but then sometimes at night it's hard to sleep. I really would like to stop the Lisinopril (10 mg dose). I didn't like what I read about Diovan either. Anyone going holistic?

I have had the same serious of same side effects as everyone listed in this site. Tiredness is the BIG one - Mostly to not being able to sleep...Timing is perfect with taking this Drug. i necver had this problem before. I feel great in the morning untill about and hour later after popping the pill and the rest of the day is a struggle. Doc' put me on Provigil (speed) to keep me going. Some days that doesn't even work. it's only been lately i have put two and two together and blame it on the Lisinopril.

Question? Anyone switch Med's and had beter results? If so which one??
Thanks
Rich

I’ve been taking Lisinopril for a few weeks and have some side effects, including night sweats, tired, achy and tenderness in the middle back (kidney area). I am an exercise nut including 150 miles a week of bike riding and I have noticed a decrease in my endurance and strength. Most notably this weekend I attempted the Seattle to Portland bike ride (204 miles) and was forced to quit after a 104 miles due to heat exhaustion like symptoms. I had been drinking and eating regularly during the ride as I had done many times in training, but as the temperature continued to rise above 80 deg at 11:00 am I was only getting worse. I realize this is an extreme case but I believe that Lisinopril had some effect on my ability to control my body temperature under long endurance efforts and higher ambient temperatures, is this possible?

How long does the fatigue and weakness last after switching off Lisinopril. My dad was on it less then a month and he started suffereing from extreme fatigue and lightheadedness. He's been off it now for a week or two and still seems to be suffering from these side effects. They've switched him to a different low blood pressure med now.

I looked this med up after being on it for a week and developing a chronic hacking cough, post nasal drip and increased tiredness. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I've had enough. It goes into the garbage tonight!

I have been taking lisinopril for about four months and my doctor increased my meds to 20mg from 10mg. Everything was fine except the tiredness so I take it at night before bed or I could not stay awake during the day. Then I wole up with numb feet one morning and just thought it was nothing as i get swelling when the weather gets warm. well the numbness is still there two weeks later. It is very uncomfortable and is moving up my legs and my arms and legs feel very tired and weak. Last night I counted the pills remaining from the last prescription refill and sure enough the amount left coinsides with the last refill, which by the way is a different manufacturer because the pills are a different color, shape and size. I went to the doctor this week and am waiting for the blood test results. I should know today. I am active and walk five days a week and work out at the Y three times a week. Has anyone else had funny feet problems?

Swelling of legs, metallic taste in mouth with burning feeling of the tongue, hive like rash that itches and goes away, dry throate, and tiredness.

I have been taking 40 mg morning and evening of this drug for about a year. Last month I started experiencing coughing, a dry hacking one. My doctor said that if it continues I would need to explore other options in controlling my high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. After 2 weeks of constant coughing and little or no sleep I am going off this drug. Beside the coughing I have tiredness and shortness of breath. I am hoping to be free of these side effects soon.

I am on Lisinopril 10mg I break the tab in half take it morn and night, also I am on Hydrochlorot 12.5mg once a day.
I have been having a cough, dizzyness, tiredness, knee pain and I have no control of wetting myself when I cough. for some time now. I have been on this stuff for a year. I went to the Doctor the 14th of Nov. only to find that my Triglycerides are out of the roof my Cholesterol is up and I have high blood sugar. My blood preasure is good though.
I watch what I eat very closley. I am a bit over weight 60#'s.
I have been on the web for 3 hours now checking out these problems well Hydrochlorot causes the Triglycerides, Cholesttrol and the blood sugar to go up. Then I find this web site stating all the problems that Lisinopril causes I am having some of the same problems as the rest of you.
I am not going to take any more of this poison. I am going to go the natural way. I found on www.rxomega3.com some information about Lowering Triglycerides the stuff is called OMACOR (omega-3-acid ethyl esters) it is FDA approved which means nothing to me. Your Doctor can prescribe it for you.
Thank you for all the information you all have shared about this drug. My husband and I do alot of the natural ways in the first place but I feel I was scared into taking these drugs.
I am just going to put my trust in the Lord from now on he is the doctor and the healer. He healed my Husband of Mastatic Prostate Cancer this year.
If you want to email me with any comments please feel free to do so my email is ******

i am 55 have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy,overweight and in wheelchair,type 2 diabetes,doctor prescribed lisinopril to counter slight kidney dysfunction 30 days ago. am also on; lipitor,metformin,amlodipine. side effects since lisinopril; cough,tiredness,sore left shoulder(already damaged by muscle strain 10 yrs ago,so i feel lisinopril may exacerbate pre-existing joint or muscle damage),digestive system problems,too much saliva,and feeling like a zombie. i looked up this site because i caught myself this morning,slumped in chair,slack-jawed and almost asleep 1 hour after getting up.i am going to contact doc for alternative or if not, to inform him of of stopping this particular drug.

My brother has been taking Lisinopril for 9 months and since he began taking this drug, he has no quality of life.
His side affects are: Tiredness, tingling in the feet and toes and at times he can't feel the ground under his feet and cannot walk properly on the street, there is dizziness, queasiness, hot flashes an hour after taking the pill, strange sensations in his head, and various other symptoms.
So he cut down the dosage enormously and still the symptoms are there.
This is a deadly drug and shouldn't be given to human beings.

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 think the lisinopril is causing tingling sensations in my hands, and my feet seem to sweat tho not hot, but that also could be the torprol I take.

I don't have a problem with coughing or anything or sleep problems but I do have problems with drowsiness and dizziness latly.

cut the dosage of my torprol but the dizziness persists. so I am guessing the tiredness is either the lisinopril or torprol. I did notice once I started to take lisinopril I went to the bathroom alot at first, then it stopped, and I noticed a slight increase in salt cravings despite being on birth control pills which stablizing hormones. never had salt cravings before. but the salt cravings are not nearly as bad as the salt cravings I got taking rapimil, can't remember the exact name.

RR

I just was prescribed this medication after going to a new dr twice and having very high BP. My last reading was 170/110. I've been on it 3 weeks now. The dr NEVER once mentioned the cough as a side effect.

I noticed it started 2-3 days after I started the medication and thought it was my allergies since I have severe allergies. The cough kept getting worse and worse, as did my tiredness. I'm up ALL night coughing my brains out from this crappy drug!

I'm 27 yrs old and now am wetting the bed thanks to coughing so hard at night!! I'm embarrased to have to sleep with a towel underneath me because I'm coughing so hard (even in my sleep) that I'm leaking urine.

I went back to the dr yest thinking I was sick because of the severe coughing and horrible sore throat. Not until I found this and many other sites did I realize it was the Lisinopril! The kicker is that yest my BP was just as high as it was pre-Lisinopril! I'm going to stop taking it as of tonight, especially if it's not even working!

How long did it take to have an effect on your BP? 3 weeks should have been enough time for it to work if it was going to IMO. I can't stand the coughing anymore! Even the codine cough syrup my dr gave me isn't helping me sleep. Now I just hope the cough won't linger for weeks like I've heard it can.

Reading the experiences of others has a way of telling us we're in the same boat. After having read several of the posts here, I understand SO clearly what has been going on with me. I had an angioplasty and a stent installed almost two years ago, and the doc put me on Lisinopril, Atenolol and a couple of cholesterol-lowering drugs (Niaspan and Lipitor have their issues too).
After several months, I began to experience the most horrific series of "colds" I've ever had. I sing in a band, and I'd begun to wonder if I was losing my voice (and my mind). Constant globs of mucus in the throat, and persistent coughing, especially at night, and I went through a box of facial tissue every few days.
About six months ago, I got a call from the doc saying that I should be taking half the dosage in the AM and half in the PM (he didn't offer any explanation as to why I wasn't told this at first). I don't know how it works, but the sore throat, coughing and overproduction of mucus has passed. I should mention also that I began taking Airborne effervescent health formula every time the symptoms began to return (even slightly) and this has helped tremendously.
Still, the double whammy of Atenolol and Lisinopril has its way with me. I occasionally experience nasty bouts of vertigo, extraordinary tiredness (even after a full night's sleep) and numbness in my arms and hands while sleeping. I suppose that's the price I have to pay for inheriting heart disease from my folks.

I started on Lisinopril 3 weeks ago and have had increasing problems ever since. First, I got the cough, which I was warned about by my pharmacist and my doctor. I also started having sudden, sharp pains in the toes of my right foot, like I was having an electric shock. I also had several severe leg cramps. Then my right knee started hurting and I had not injured it in any way. I have also had very severe burning eyes, that I atributed to allergies. My ankles also stay very swollen, something that has never happened before. Within the last week I have experienced extreme shortness of breath, tiredness beyond belief, a feeling that I could lay down whereever I am at the moment and go to sleep. I had no energy whatsoever, zero. last night I went to bed at 6:00pm and got up this morning at 9:30 am that's 15-1/2 hours! That signaled the end of my taking Lisinopril, I am not taking any other medication, so that has to be the culprit.
It is now 1:20 in the afternoon and as I did not take the lisinopril this morning, I feel much,much better as far as my energy level is concerned. We will have to wait and see if any other side effects appear or disappear, I'll let you know.

I am going to print out a lot of the comments on this forum and take them to my doctor and pharmacist.

There are so many postings of major problems with this drug that it may take some time to read them all. Please note that there are many many pages of problem reports. Go to the bottom and use the Page and Next buttons to see more issues. I found that I could only search one page at a time from my browser for words like anxiety. There are 42 pages of problem reports at this time, and rapidly growing too.

Among this group, anxiety and agitation are known side effects of this medicine. I believe the anxiety and agitiation come from the body knowing that something very bad is happening to it. I had severe agitation after a month or so of use. Later this turned into anxiety, and still later manifested itself as an intense and very scary burning sensation in my abdomin.

Needless to say, I saw several doctors: all were of no help and acted as advocates for the drug companies instead of as an advocate for me - they would say it couldn't possibly be the lisinopril, it must be you! What a cop out. And they prescribed paxil and later zoloft, since I kept complaining, neither of which was good for me. I finally made the association with the lisinopril, but unfortunately not before it had done some major and lasting destruction of quality of life. I got off the medicine and have been recovering ever since; that was over a year ago now. I'm much better (I was pretty bad off from this stuff) but not back to where I was before the lisinopril. I still have bad days rich with the side effects of this poison.

I have found calcium to help me with the pain in the lower abdomin side effect that was at the root of my anxiety and agitation. Later I discovered how helpful zinc is in getting rid of the cough side effect. And a small amount of manganese with some good vitamin-b helped me in combating the low energy levels and frequent tiredness side effect.

Hi just found this forum, and now believe my side effects are not mere imagination. Having slight cough on occasion but basically main problems are digestive (ibs) and bladder,which may be due to pressure from bloat and all. Also tiredness May be those pills to blame and not menopause after all! Am on low dose then cut that in half and am ready to stop pills now. Am trying different herbal things lately. Need to remind that maybe stopping any drug might be easier on the system by tapering off over a couple of days.If side effects not too unbearable- you don't want a huge sudden rebound effect of high bp which could land you back into the doctors office with some doc trying to talk you into even worse stuff. Many meds carry some warning about this anyhow. Good luck to all.

I started taking lisinopril 10mg after a full physical revealed nothing othere than slightly elevated BP. At my 3 weeks follow-up it was increased to 20mg. I had developed a dry cough and the general feeling of tiredness all day. At 6 wks HCTZ was added due to no significant drop in my BP. Exactly one week after starting the HCTZ I was back in the Dr's office with horrible flu symtoms and sent immediately to the emergency room. I was admitted in acute liver failure, jaundiced, and near coma elevated ammonia levels. I was fortunate to have a GI specialist called in that had seen this exact scenerio in a former patient and started testing and treatment right away.
He stated that this is a documented occurence to Lisinopril with the combination of HCTZ in at least 25 patients.
I was hospitalized for 13 days and have been out of work for 7 weeks. I have gallbladder surgery scheduled for next week and have a treatment plan established for the next year to cover the damage to my liver, kidneys, and bladder.
My recover is progressing and my liver is recovering rapidly. I am not able to take any medicaitons at this time due to the liver and will start treating the other organs as soon as the liver functions are within normal range.
I would make sure that anyone thinking of taking Lisinopril know the possible effects and follow up very closely with the Dr. about any symptoms.

Dang after reading all these side effects I am starting to gain a few I didn't have :) The worst for me is the cough ... I have been on other meds and the cough has been there but not as bad as on Lisinopril. I can't take some BP meds that are sulfa based because I am an insulin dependent diabetic and some meds shot my blood sugars past 400 ... So I can't just switch ... My BP is lower than its ever been however ...
Tiredness yes and joint and muscle stiffness definitely but I was attributing that to old age lol ... Well folks hang in there .. its sites like this that gives us information to help us get better.

20yo wm. 5'11"@220lbs.

I started taking lisinopril about two months ago. I have noticed tiredness and wooziness, severe indegestion, headaches, increased perspiration, and a shorter fuse. No cough though. Lisinopril does keep my bp down. Previous to meds, I was at an average of 185/85, now at about 130/70.

neck ache for 6 weeks but it has now passed; felt peculiar, then nauseous, then almost fainted and had blurred vision in a church service; wake up up to 5 times a night although I slept well before going on the medication; chronic constipation; face tingles and often by the evening my lips are swollen; heartburn at night a few times which is unusual; asthma much worse but not a real problem; a cough which drives my husband mad but is productiive not dry and probably due to the asthma; tiredness due to lack of sleep. The one plus effect is that I am not depressed and don't lack concentration as I did with bendrafluazide. The doctor puts all the side effects down to my age and is pleased because my BP is now normal!

Atenolol effects everyone "slightly" differently I imagine but it is relatively side-effect free and, with the lower dosages, there are almost none. Definitely no depression, tiredness or sexual dysfunction. No heart racing. My only problems with it is that it dropped my bp too low. So the recommended dosage of 50mg to 100mg is way to much for me. I'm on 24mg now and it drops my bp from about 150+/90+ to 117/80 (ball park figures, of course). Before the pacemaker, it was taking my heart rate into the low 50's and even 40's during the night. So it's a very strong drug, good for lowering bp, with none of the Lisinopril nonsense. I'm feeling much more optimistic about life after just a few days of cutting my dosage in half. I've gone from 5mg to 2.5mg a day; even brought some new clothes today and suddenly don't feel like killing myself. Am soooo glad I found this site!!!!

dry cough, and my head and neck perspire terribly. the perspiring is terrible I can't function. I also have the shortness of breath. Does anyone else have the perspiring problem???
forgot about the tiredness, always tired