Lisinopril and allergist

I am so glad I found this page. I was on Lisinopril and I just quit taking it 30 days ago. I have developed a cough and at times when playing sports I begin to feel like I cannot breathe. My doctor has prescribed a new medication but I hear lisinopril will stay in your system for approximately 90 days after you stop taking it.

I have also seen an Allergist just in case it was allergies and just by luck he had attended a conference recently regarding the side effects of Lisiopril. He diagnosed me with having the side effects but still took blood samples for further testing,

~ Mig

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 have been on Lisinopril for almost 10 years now for minor HTN. A few months after beginning Lisinopril, I began having swelling in my lips and slight swelling in my tongue. I figured I was probably allergic to something but did not give the medication a thought. Approx 1 year after taking it, I had a severe allergic reaction that caused my tongue to swell to the point my tongue was sticking out of my mouth and I was having difficulty breathing. I drove myself to my family doctor and was treated with epinephrine and steroids. The doctor had the crash cart ready in case I "punched out." After about 3 hours the swelling subsided. My doctor and I tried for several weeks to determine the trigger for the episode. There didn't seem to be any specific reason for it.

Fast forward almost 9 years to last week. I have been battling severe sinus conditions for about 10 years or so. I have now had 5 sinus surgeries to remove severe polyp growth in my sinuses. My ENT finally decided I needed to see an allergist. After going over my history and my medications with my young doctor, I told him about the swollen tongue episode. He immediately told me that it was due to the Lisinopril. He told me ACE Inhibitors are notorious for those types of reactions and it could happen again at any time, even thought it has been over 9 years since the only episode. He told me he would contact my GP and advise him to take me off the Lisinopril and prescribe something else.

Like many others on this site I too have experienced many symptoms that have not been properly explained. I am just wondering how many could be attributed to Lisinopril. Based on many of the side effects I have read here, some or all can be attributed to the Lisinopril, including the sinus conditions I have been battling for the last 10 years. My GP and I will be having a very serious talk at my next visit.

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.

In November, 2007, we moved to a new house. I immediately developed a terrible cough, which I attributed to new house construction dust, plus I had started spending 4 days a week at our cabin in the woods, which tends to be damp and moldy. I just figured my allergies were really kicking in. The doctor treated me for a "sinus infection" with antibiotics and codeine cough syrup. Over the next three months, with no improvement in the violent coughing spells, the doctor ran me through 2 more rounds of antibiotics, plus 2 rounds of steroids.

I sing in a competitive choral group and were preparing to travel to Italy for an international choral competition. The terrible coughing was really messing up my rehearsals and the concerts that we had to do prior to leaving for Italy. Since November, I've probably been through 6-8 bottles of Tussionex. That is the only relief I can get from the cough, especially at night, and for concerts. I know the druggist has me on a list somewhere as an excessive cough syrup user.

Then my doctor sent me to an allergist, who administered the 80 pin pricks, concluding that I'm allergic to grasses, dust, mold, summer trees, etc. So she started me on nasal spray, fexofenadine, and singulair. AND weekly allergy shots.

Anyway, it has been CONSTANT COUGHING since November. When I went back for my 2 month check up at the allergist, I told her my symptoms had not changed, still couging, coughing, coughing. She looked at my chart and said, "You know, I see that you take Lisinopril. That can sometimes cause cough." She asked when the coughing started, and when I started taking the drug. NOVEMBER, 2007 was the answer to both questions. YOU ARE KIDDING ME!!! AFTER ALL I'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH THIS, WHY DID MY REGULAR DR NOT SUGGEST THIS?????

Needless to say, I've quit the Lisinopril, then my regular doctor put me on Tekturna (which also has cough as a side effect.) I'm going to quit all of them for a while and see if the cough stops after all this junk is out of my system.

It has been a nightmare!!!

For three months I have had a hacking cough. I was on pro-air, symbicort, nasanex, singulair, and allegra plus atenolol, lipitor. I went to my family dr. four times during this period and ended up with a pulmonologist last week and an allergist this week. My main doctor, a nice young doc, suggested it might be the linsinipril was causing the cough. His P.A. even had me off it a week. Bottom line is this: it takes longer than a week to find out if the cough is from Lisinopril and the cough does not come as a result of Lisinopril until you have a n infection or cold. I had been on the Lisinopril for two months when I got a cold at Christmas. I have been hacking ever since. Blood work and skin tests today revealed no allergies. I am to go off all allergy meds and the lisinopril. I am hopeful the hacking will subside.

My friend has been taking Lisinopril for several years,then suddenly last week she woke up with a swollen face and tongue! Went to ER. When asked what meds she was on, they told her was the Lisinopril. It can happen anytime! They gave her benadryl to bring the swelling down. She was really frighten.
No longer on this bad med!

Maxine

I have been taking Lisinopril for about 13 months. For about 13 months I have been coughing; gagging, choking coughing. Even vomited at times. I have been seeing doctors for over a year trying to get rid of this cough. I have had numerous tests, taking numerous medications trying to make this better. Two days ago an allergist told me about the side effects of this horrible drug. No other doctor has ever mentioned this. I also have trouble sleeping, waking up hourly or more coughing. I have also been sleeping a lot during the day which I attributed to depression before this. I can't believe I have gone this long without knowing. I immediately stopped taking this drug and have contacted my doctor for an alternative. I am hoping and praying that the coughing and other side effects will go away soon. This drug should be posted with large warnings when prescribed.

After less than two weeks on Lisinopril I felt terrible. I told my doctor, but he insisted that I continue to take it because "it was so good for my heart." I do not have a heart problem.

Over the next year, I fell multiple times; and was seen in urgent care for hives, facial swelling, and other symptoms of allergic reaction. I was ultimately referred to an allergist who diagnosed an allergy to Lisinopril.

The drug did not control my blood pressure, and in fact could have caused anaphylactic shock. I was prescribed Epipens to carry at all times, in the even my airways closed at a cost of $500 out of pocket before Lisinopril was identified as the culprit.

I personally know of two other women with the same experience. The drug is not as great as it is made out to be by the medical profession.

Last year in March I was put on Lisinopril for elevated blood pressure. Two months into taking this medication, I started having swelling of lymph nodes in my under arms. Mamogram and chest x-ray were done to rule out lymphoma. I suspected the lisinopril and upon stopping the medication swelling of lymph nodes (slowly) subsided. This year my mother who is 88, was put on Lisinopril for congestive heart failure, again two to three months into taking the Lisinopril she developed what seems to be medically induced lupus erythematosus (rash) on her wrist. She was concerned that it might be a cancerous as the eruptions were so unsightly. Her family Dr. referred her to a surgeon, and mother has since underwent surgery with general anesthesia to remove two of these eruptions that were not cancerous thankfully. A co -worker was on Lisinopril also for blood pressure and suddenly developed terrible swelling of the lips, which would subside and then return. His Dr. referred him to an allergist. These episodes were not only scary but resulted in time lost from work and unnecessary costs. I would be interested to know if anyone has experienced the severe rash or swelling of the lymph nodes.

I'm a 30 year-old female. I've been on Lisniprol for almost four years. And these four years have been the worst of my life. I've had test after test and seen dr. after dr. trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I have a terrible cough, my face gets hot and I get the chills (kinda like the flu), I'm very achy with pain in my legs and back, headaches, confusion, memory loss, sensitivity to heat/cold, swollen throat, very tired. Chest pain and trouble breathing (wore a heart monitor and had stress test, but everything was normal). Heart rate is rapid. Gained a lot of weight in the last three years. Everything test-wise always came back normal. Saw an OB/GYN to see if I was premenopausal; nope. Had an MRI and CT for the backpain; nothing; Labs done to rule out throid disease; nothing. Saw a neorosurgeon for possible nervous system disease from so much pain. Nothing he could do. Went to allergist for possible allergies; nothing. Oh....but wait..I go to the dr. today to tell him I'm still not feeling better and that I ran acrossed some information on the web about possible side effects of the bp pill Lisinopril and that I still recall that I started experiencing side effects about the time I started the medication of 10mg. Then when he increased it to 40mg, I really felt terrible. He looked back through my labs and saw that an allergan level had been very high in my CBC. He said, "bingo, you must have an allergic reaction, or maybe a perisite". He said this CBC is done on a normal blood test and will show elevation if the body is trying to fight off an infection or has an allergic reaction to something. So...went off the BP pills today. I'll keep everyone posted. My email is ****** if anyone wants to email me with similar situations.