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Warm water no better at killing germs than cold. Developing cough while taking Lisinopril.
Q: I was interested in the column about a person who developed a cough while taking lisinopril. I myself was put on this medicine for high blood pressure and immediately began having violent coughing spells. If they started in a meeting, I'd have to excuse myself. It became extremely embarrassing. Nothing worked, no cough syrup or cough drops.
I never got more than 30 minutes of uninterrupted sleep at a time. Sometimes the coughing was so severe, it caused vomiting. My doctor put me on different medicines but never took me off lisinopril.
Then I went to a new doctor, who immediately switched me from lisinopril to Benicar. The coughing stopped immediately.
A: Not everyone develops a bad cough while on an ACE inhibitor like lisinopril for high blood pressure. But you certainly are not alone.
Another reader wrote: "My doctor was pleased with the results of the ACE inhibitor, but my cough became so frequent and violent that I could not sleep for weeks. I couldn't even lie in bed. When coughing, I would involuntarily empty my bladder, so I could barely leave the house. We eventually found another medication (Benicar) that I do not react to, and my blood pressure is even lower than when I was on the ACE inhibitor."
We discuss the pros and cons of common blood pressure medicines in our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (58 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. B-67, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
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