I've been on Enalapril for a few months now and I am getting pretty tired of the persistent dry, nonproductive cough (and post nasal drip) side effects. I knew that these were possible side effects when I started taking it but it's still a PITA. I thought I'd start a simple poll to see how many people have these side effects when taking ace inhibitors and how it effects your daily life. I've set it up so you can choose more than one option. If you have side effects besides the ones that drive me crazy please feel free to choose that option and share what these side effects are.
Ace Inhibitor Blues
- Thread starter Bryan B
- Start date
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I've been on an ACE inhibitor (Lisinopril 20mg) for more than 10 years before my AVR and the symptoms (dry cough and post nasal drip) actually disappeared. Now after the operation they are back with a vengence. The cough is very noticible in the morning and dissipates by about 11 am.
I never knew or even thought to consider that enalapril might've been causing my nasal issues. I recently switched to an ARB (cozaar) and a better beta blocker (bystolic) and my serious allergy and asthma symptoms have pretty much gone away. I was on Tenormin and Enalapril for 5 years and I was miserable with allergies and a weird non productive half cough most of the time. At one point I was taking multiple meds daily for both allergies and asthma. I haven't hit my inhaler in a month and my bottles of Zyrtec and Benadryl are collecting dust.
So in summary, I experienced:
-dry cough
-post nasal drip
-ridiculous allergies
-anxiety
While I can't prove it, and I can't contribute all of the anxiety to the ace inhibitors, I do believe enalapril caused some nervousness that wasn't very explainable. The anxiousness would generally go away or diminish when I reduced or skipped my dose.
So in summary, I experienced:
-dry cough
-post nasal drip
-ridiculous allergies
-anxiety
While I can't prove it, and I can't contribute all of the anxiety to the ace inhibitors, I do believe enalapril caused some nervousness that wasn't very explainable. The anxiousness would generally go away or diminish when I reduced or skipped my dose.
I was on analapril in the beginning and I ditto Duffman's anxiety. My GP then switched me to lisinopril and the anxiety went away but the dry cough and post nasal issues remained and he suggested I get used to it and just live with it.
Ace
Ace
I have been on Peridopril for 5 years post surgery and have given no problems at 6mg per day.
Do not get me started on beta blockers, fortunately I was able to convince the cardio to stop them 15 months post surgery and heart remodelling.
If the medication makes me feel bad I will not continue with it, I challenge the doctor for something different or discontinue in the suggested controlled manner.
I had surgery to live an improved quality of life not to just extend life.
My personal motto better to die on your feet than live on your knees.
Ace
I have been on Peridopril for 5 years post surgery and have given no problems at 6mg per day.
Do not get me started on beta blockers, fortunately I was able to convince the cardio to stop them 15 months post surgery and heart remodelling.
If the medication makes me feel bad I will not continue with it, I challenge the doctor for something different or discontinue in the suggested controlled manner.
I had surgery to live an improved quality of life not to just extend life.
My personal motto better to die on your feet than live on your knees.
wasnt on any before op,but my bp went up after and kept going up gulp :-( so am now on 30mg lisinopril 5mg bisoprolol 2.5 bendoflozide,my bp is great but dry throat and whezzing can be a problem,have had to increase my asthma meds,but hey cant grumble well i can but it dont do no good lol,l
but dry throat and whezzing can be a problem,have had to increase my asthma meds,but hey cant grumble well i can but it dont do no good lol,l
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
Dry Cough is a common side effect of *some* ACE Inhibitors.
You may want to ask your Doctor (and Pharmacist) about other ACE inhibitors that may not have this undesirable side effect. (I'm thinking Cozaar might be one but not sure). You may just need to experiment (with your Doctor's direction) to find one that works better for YOU.
'AL Capshaw'
You may want to ask your Doctor (and Pharmacist) about other ACE inhibitors that may not have this undesirable side effect. (I'm thinking Cozaar might be one but not sure). You may just need to experiment (with your Doctor's direction) to find one that works better for YOU.
'AL Capshaw'
AgilityDog
Well-known member
I forgot to mention daily migraines. I got switched to an ARB, instead.
I've been on a small amount of Vasopro (ACE inhibitor) since my surgery, along with my Beta Blocker, and have had post nasal drip and a sometimes productive cough. I'm not certain it's from the Vasopro, but I'm beginning to think so, as it's not going away.
Best wishes,
Best wishes,
Hi Bryan
. Pre-op, I was on Ace inhibitors for several years. I had a lot of trouble with the dry cough -- it was quite annoying in that it would frequently awaken me from a sound sleep -- and my doctor eventually switched me to a different one that didn't cause me the cough. I'm not positive of the spelling but I think it was called something like Diovan.
Ross
Well-known member
I'm no longer on it, but I was on Captopril and the cough is what got me.
Adrienne
Well-known member
Before my surgery I was on 10 mg of Monopril and had no side effects. My husband is on 20 mg of Monopril (for high BP) and he has no side effects either.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I knew before I started taking the ace inhibitor that the common side effects were dry cough, post nasal drip which probably has something to do with the dry cough (it's more like a tickle in my throat that won't go away), headaches, fatigue, and possible dizziness from lowered BP. My only noticeable side effects are the post nasal drip and dry cough. My surgeon put me on enalapril until I have surgery to try and slow down the progression of the aortic regurgitation due to my dilated aortic root. The problem is that I don't have health insurance and I'm just now starting the process to try and get some financial help (NC Vocational Rehab which works in conjunction with SSDI. My condition does not qualify for SSDI alone according to their list of cardiovascular conditions that do. Meanwhile my aortic valve (which my surgeon thought there was a 70% chance of saving in August) continues to take a beating from the regurgitation. I'm afraid that by the time I am approved for financial aid (if I am approved) my valve will beyond the point of salvaging. My doctors have strongly suggested that I do not work until my case has been decided since the whole idea of applying for vocational rehab assistance is to help me get better so that I can go back to work. And even if I did go back to work and get group insurance I would get slapped with a pre-existing condition clause which means I wouldn't even be able to get a heart checkup (spending my own money) for up to a year or the amount of time I had to wait would start all over again.
Well I got a little off track there. I'm just pissed because I can't even afford to get the echo that would tell me if my surgeon wants to save the valve and do surgery ASAP or not save the valve and wait as long as he feels is possible without damaging my heart. They want 1,950.00 for the echo and that is supposedly the discount by paying cash.
Well I got a little off track there. I'm just pissed because I can't even afford to get the echo that would tell me if my surgeon wants to save the valve and do surgery ASAP or not save the valve and wait as long as he feels is possible without damaging my heart. They want 1,950.00 for the echo and that is supposedly the discount by paying cash.