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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Headache And High Blood Pressure

My husband is having headaches with a pounding pulse, blood pressure 177/84 - he has a cough and congestion. He is on Lisinopril for his blood pressure and has been for several years, 40 mg. I got some OTC Coricidin HBP for his cough/congestion and it has made his BP higher, plus the fever, and his headaches and pulse are high because of this. What can we do tonight? he is 65
Fri, 7 Aug 2015
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Hello, madame. Thank your for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.

First, I would like to inform you that dry cough is a side effect of lisinopril and other ACE-I (angiotensinogen converting enzyme inhibitors). So, if you are not treating the culprit, symptomatic treatment is just for the moment. Therefore, I would recommend to switch the lisinopril with a ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker: losartan, eprosartan, olmesartam etc.). Both classes have same effects, except for the cough (the latter group drugs do not cause it). Be patient, since ACE-I-induced cough can take up to three weeks to subside.

Furthermore, combining his age, gender and the blood pressure figures you provided, they are totally unacceptable figures. I would suggest that he should be put on another drug, preferably a beta-blocker or a calcium channel blocker (if the beta-blockers are counterindicated), since both classes also reduce heart workload and have a beneficiary effect on it. A diuretic agent can also be effective. For his risk factors, his blood pressure should be kept under 135/85 mmHg.

I hope I was of help. Feel free to ask again. Take care.

Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
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Suggest Treatment For Headache And High Blood Pressure

Hello, madame. Thank your for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. First, I would like to inform you that dry cough is a side effect of lisinopril and other ACE-I (angiotensinogen converting enzyme inhibitors). So, if you are not treating the culprit, symptomatic treatment is just for the moment. Therefore, I would recommend to switch the lisinopril with a ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker: losartan, eprosartan, olmesartam etc.). Both classes have same effects, except for the cough (the latter group drugs do not cause it). Be patient, since ACE-I-induced cough can take up to three weeks to subside. Furthermore, combining his age, gender and the blood pressure figures you provided, they are totally unacceptable figures. I would suggest that he should be put on another drug, preferably a beta-blocker or a calcium channel blocker (if the beta-blockers are counterindicated), since both classes also reduce heart workload and have a beneficiary effect on it. A diuretic agent can also be effective. For his risk factors, his blood pressure should be kept under 135/85 mmHg. I hope I was of help. Feel free to ask again. Take care. Kind regards, Dr. Meriton