Why lisinopril causes cough

By weighing the pros and cons of a medication switch, you can make the right choice. The only way to treat ACE inhibitor-related cough is to stop treatment and switch to another type of drug. But this is not always possible, and you and your healthcare provider will need to weigh the benefits and risks to determine if changing is the right option. One of the more common side effects of ACE inhibitors is a persistent dry cough. The same activity that allows ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure can cause other substances, like bradykinin, to accumulate in the airways.

In some people, this can trigger airway inflammation and coughing. The only way to treat an ACE inhibitor-related cough is to stop treatment, but this is not always an option.

Though a similar type of drug called an ARB can also treat high blood pressure, it may not be the right choice for people with advanced heart disease or other severe medical conditions.

While taking ACE inhibitors, make sure to regularly monitor your blood pressure, follow-up with your healthcare provider, and contact them if you experience any side effects—cough or otherwise.

If the cough is affecting your quality of life, ask your healthcare provider if switching to another type of medication is a reasonable option. Stopping an ACE inhibitor can cause your blood pressure to spike and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. The abrupt discontinuation can also cause anxiety and an increased heart rate.

Never stop taking an ACE inhibitor or adjust the dose without first speaking with your healthcare provider. Looking to start a diet to better manage your high blood pressure? Our nutrition guide can help. ACE inhibitors. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Updated July 8, Incidence of discontinuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors due to cough, in a primary healthcare centre in Singapore. Singapore Med J. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors induce cough.

Turk Thorac J. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors vs. Am Fam Physician. The effects of antitussive treatment of ACE inhibitor-induced cough on therapy compliance: a prescription sequence symmetry analysis. The mechanisms underlying ACE inhibitor-induced cough are probably linked to suppression of kininase II activity, which may be followed by an accumulation of kinins, substance P and prostaglandins. Physicians should be aware that a dry cough is the most common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors and that this symptom may occur not necessarily shortly after institution of therapy but months or even a year later.

Two years ago, when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the doctor put me on Glucophage mg each morning to control my blood sugar and lisinopril 10mg each morning to protect my kidneys. I went on a low-carb diet, lost nearly 50 pounds and am now almost back to the weight I was in college. My blood-sugar tests are in the "excellent" range. About six months ago I started having coughing spells that seem to keep getting worse no matter what the doctor prescribes to control them.

He's tried various antihistamines, antibiotics to treat bronchitis, and lots of different cough medicines. Right now I'm taking amoxicillin mg twice a day , Robitussin AC 10cc every four hours , and Tessalon Perles every 12 hours. But the coughing spells last so long and are so violent that sometimes I almost pass out from them.

I never cough anything up. Can you help me find out what is going on? This is totally ruining my life. In my experience, prescribers often place their diabetic patients on lisinopril just as a precaution. While that approach may have some merit with younger patients, the reduced renal function of older patients tends to negate all the possible benefits of ACE-inhibitor therapy.

Information contained in the Ask the Pharmacist column by Dr. Armon B. Neel Jr. Any advice or information provided should not be followed in lieu of a personal consultation with a trained medical professional. Eight of the 10 subjects in the iron group showed improvement in cough scores; whereas one in nine subjects in the placebo group showed improvement. Three patients in the iron group showed a near complete end to their coughing with a cough score of less than 1.

There was no significant difference in blood levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron, TIBC or ferritin between the iron and placebo groups at the beginning of the study. Average ferritin levels increased in the iron group from Ferritin levels remained about the same in the placebo group There were no significant changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron, or TIBC levels in either group.

Iron supplementation has been reported to decrease the production of nitric oxide, which is known to have inflammatory effects on bronchial cells in the lungs. Hong says that further investigation is warranted to verify these findings and study the long-term effects of iron supplementation with ACE inhibitors.