I have been taking Lisinopril/HCTZ for about six years. I was initially prescribed 40 mg/day, but about three years ago the dosage was changed to 20 mg/day. It seemed to be working well, until Tuesday, January 21st, about 2:00 PM, I noticed tiggling in both my hands after taking a shower. The tingling turned into viscous red itching hives on my hands that traveled up my forarms to my elbows. The next morning I went to the ER, where they told me that it was probably a reaction to penicillian that I was given for a throat infection. I have taken penicillin before in the past, (I m a 48 year old African American female), and was suprised to hear that after having taken the medication for about nine days, I would develop an allergic reaction. I threw the last two remaining doses of penicillin away, took the prednisone medication and benydril capsules given to me and went to bed. The next morning, I noticed that my hands had swollen up painfully. The hives I had previously on my forarms had gone away, but new more numerous smaller hives were there. I also had numerous hives on my lower torso, and thighs, some small about a quarter of an inch in diameter, some huge, almost five inches in diameter! My lower legs, feet, upper torso and face were completely unaffected. I took more benedyl and my second dose of prednisone and went to bed. Today I woke up with a swollen lip, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and even more vicious, numerous hives on my forearms, lower torso, and thighs. The benedryl capsules were useless and the predisone was not working. I went back to the ER where the doctor gave me benedryl intraveneously, and a stronger 6 day regime of predisone, and blamed this time the Lisinopril that I have been taking. My question is this. Why on earth would I have such severe hives and swelling now after being symptom free with Lisinopril for six years. Also, I wanted to add that I had been using a new body soap for about two weeks without any adverse reactions, and I had bought a new laundry detergent that I used for about a month without any previous adverse reactions. I have been going over my movements for the past week and can come up with absolutely no changes in eating, bathing, hygiene practices, etc. that would begin to address such a strong acute reaction. Your comments please... Sincerely, Ann Coney Denver Colorado