ACE inhibitor for BP

[jyl]

Started lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, for high blood pressure.

I was previously on atenolol, a beta blocker, for 20+ years. After I started cycling, my heart rate got kind of low on that drug, like 40 bpm in the mornings. I went off it and for a couple years, exercise seemed to bring my BP down to normal or borderline normal. But now my BP has risen again, significantly, so I went to my doctor who started me on lisinopril. He also checked me for signs of stroke (this is my belief based on the questions and examination) and told me to set up an echocardiogram (to check out a suggestion of left ventricular hypertrophy in the office EKG).

Any thoughts on this med? No side effects noticed so far - no dry cough, edema, etc. Lipid and metabolic panels came back with all measurements within normal ranges.

[Don Ro]

I was on lisinopril for a couple of years...I guess it was OK.
I spent 3 days in the hospital a few weeks ago...congestive heart failure.
I had such shortness of breath that I could not lie down to sleep...sat up and slept not a wink for 2 nights...went to ER finally.
Did an echocardiogram, etc....left ventricle operating at 30%.
Am now on 5 different meds...one of which is Hydralazine 10 mg 3x daily to drop BP as well as whatever else it does.

[Oh Haha]

I've been on isinoprol for about 3 years now. 20mg daily.

BP is normal and the only side effect for me has been an occasional dry cough(mostly in the winter months).

One of the biggest changes made to my lifestyle was not having work related stress.

Wifey won't let me stop taking the meds, though. Says I get crabby without them.


EDIT--I just turned 48 and at a healthy weight for my height. I don't exercise routinely but eat pretty healthy overall.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

That "cough" was something I only noticed during heavy exercise, such as riding full tilt on bikes- it was like I had phlegm in my throat and at anaerobic threshold, it would cause me to gag. There is a more expensive lisinopril analog that supposedly does away with that if the cough even turns out as a problem. My doctor would give me free samples the drug rep had given him, but it was never such a problem that I needed to switch to it, just embarrassing because as I was about to whoop someone else's ass while racing, I'd start coughing like I had overexerted myself, when infact I felt great, except for the sensation of having a bug caught in the back of my throat. This greatly reduced my can of whoop ass factor because I really like riding at redline like that. Otherwise a good drug.

[jyl]

Did you guys notice any effect on your heart rate from the drug?. So far it seems to lower mine a little, like <10 bpm.

[Oh Haha]

No heart rate change for me, just the drop to normal BP levels.

[jyl]

I'm reading about LVH. Seems it can be caused by exercise (ok) or by some disease process like hypertension (not ok). Also seems it can be reversible. Interested in what my echocardiogram will show.

[John Rogers]

I have been on Lisinopril since my total by pass surgery in May of last year along with some other stuff the heart and stroke doctors want me to take. I have had EKG's yearly ever since I turned 60 and was racing the 914-6 as a requirement for the US and also international licences called for it. They all came out fine even had one that passes in April 2013 just before the stroke I had in Sept. of 2014. The MRI showed areas of reduced blood flow so the heart specialist had me get a proper stress test in May of last year and about 2 minutes into it a heart attack started. I had about 30% flow in the area around my heart so they went in and looked the next day and said stints would not work. So 10 days later I had the surgery and so far all is way, way better.

I would suggest a stress test, mine used the drugs since I can not run well enough, but they can watch what your heart is doing and can see the blood flow. My heart surgeon said there are 4 choices: do nothing and have an attack and I'll probably die, try drugs but he said they work slowly and most of the time not well, stents but I was too plugged up for them and finally by pass surgery which fixes things pretty much for the rest of your life which in my case since I am 70 will be a few more years.

I imagine whatever health insurance you have now may affect what the doctors decide to do as it has become the nature of our health care now?

[jyl]

Just following up for fellow HBP sufferers.

I upped my lisinopril dose to 30 mg. My BP is well controlled, 112/78 this morning. But I've had a dry cough for months. My wife was convinced I had walking pneumonia, then lung cancer, then tuberculosis. I finally went to the doctor. He said most likely the higher dose brought the "lisinopril cough", so I'm being switched to an ARB drug. I liked the lisinopril, and didn't think the cough was a big deal, but for the sake of marital harmony I was trying the new drug.