Is feeling dizzy, tiredness and cough are the side effects of Lisinopril?

Posted on Tue, 11 Mar 2014

Question: I was given lisinopril on wednesday of this past week,I am 34 years old 6 foot tall 250 lbs,I am not on any other meds either and have never done so,the nurse practitioner gave me one in the office with something else because my bp was 140/102 in the office,within a few hours I felt very sick to my stomach and very foggy that day,she gave me a prescription that I did not fill until the following day around 7 that night,I instantly felt better after about 2 pm that day because I think the lisinopril had wore off,not sure though.The next 2 days I took it in the morning just llike she said and I felt dizzy,tired,cough,all together like I could not get out of bed,I did not take it yesterday and today and I feel fine but my bp is starting to rise,I am assuming because I am not taking the meds,and my heart rate is now up to 100-120 XXXXXXX at certain times,should I stay off the meds and try something else or split the pill?or is it the meds making me feel sick

Answered by Dr. Manjeth Kumar G (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Usual side effects. Wait for few days. Body adjust Detailed Answer: Hello, I have gone through your query and understand your concern. These are the usual side effects by Lisinopril. It does not warrant any withdrawal or stopagge of the drug. These symptoms will be there for few days to weeks. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the Lisinopril. To deal with abdominal pain, take non spicy and bland diet for few days. Getting up more slowly from bed or chair should help. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you do not faint, then sit for a few moments before standing. Cough is bothersome but this can also be come in control in few days as body your adjust to the new medicine. Thus these symptoms does not warrant to stop the medication. As your blood pressure is quite high, continue the drug. If the side effects are persisting for more than 2 weeks, better switch to alternative anti hypertensives like Calcium channel blockers and diuretics as per your treating physician advice. Hope this helps. Please write back for further queries. Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Manjeth Kumar G (25 minutes later)

can I cut this to half of a dose and monitor my bp?it would make it 10-12 milligrams.I still need to be able to function at work and drive to work without feeling horrible.

Answered by Dr. Manjeth Kumar G (30 hours later)

Brief Answer: Yes. Cut down and monitor BP. If not, better switc Detailed Answer: Hello, Yes. You can cut down the dose to 10 mg and monitor your Blood pressure regularly for a week or 10 days. If it is not under control and still you feel the symptoms, then better better switch to alternative anti hypertensives like Calcium channel blockers and diuretics as i advised earlier. Hope this helps. Please write back for further queries. Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E