Generic Name: Hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril for High Blood Pressure (hydrochlorothiazide-lisinopril)
Hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril for High Blood Pressure Reviews
"I started this drug combo hydrochlorothiazide with lisinopril 3 years ago, and I didn’t realize what it was doing to me. I began to suffer serious joint pain, numbness/tingling in hands and feet, and overall muscle pain, which continued to increase over the last 3 years. The doctor diagnosed me with an autoimmune disorder as I went from a perfectly healthy 55-year-old male to crippled in 3 years. I couldn’t do anything. Through experimentation and never wanting to accept that I just all of a sudden had succumbed to an autoimmune disease, I began eliminating supplements, drugs, and foods from my diet. 2 weeks ago, I finally weaned off of lisinopril, and I am 100% sure that this was the cause of ALL of my ailments. I am on the road to full recovery as every day my symptoms are improving significantly and are mostly gone. My life was ruined for 3 years on this drug. Stay away from it or at least be aware of the symptoms early on so you can stop it."
"I am presently on Lisinopril HCTZ, and for a while, I was doing well. Then I got upped from 10/12.5 to 20/25, and within a month of using, I have headaches, dizziness, nausea, the cough sometimes to the point of falling over. I can't seem to make my brain work the way I need it to, and my whole body hurts. My blood pressure is down, no question about that, but this is freaking me out."
"I was taking this drug for high blood pressure. I took it for about a month and noticed coughing really bad, back pain really bad, flu-like symptoms. I stopped taking it and could not understand. When I explained to the doctor, he would say it must be something else. Now I see all these reviews saying the same - coughing and other side effects. I don’t know what’s going on. Where in the United States is getting their medicine from? But I have surely noticed the medicine now is like poison - really no good. Is it a money game or what? Very disappointed with doctors and medication nowadays - must try to find a natural source. I thought the medicine was going to kill me."
"My blood pressure was 170/100. Doctor gave me a 10mg per day prescription, and within hours of taking the first pill, my BP was 108/70. I was super lightheaded for the first 4 days when I walked, and I have an occasional cough. After 6 weeks of hovering around 117/79, I reduced myself to 5 mg per day, and my BP is now 102/77 as of today. I eat healthy and walk an average of 5 miles every day for exercise but remain stubbornly overweight."
"It's just okay. Lowered my BP marginally. However, the coughing, constant acid reflux, and muscle aches are terrible. Both of my shoulders and forearms are sore and tingly - this was never an issue until I started this medication. I've woken up with severe leg pain and cramps. I've gone to the doctor, and they've run every test possible, and nothing shows up as being wrong; so it has to be this medication."
"My MD wanted me to take Lisinopril rather than Lotensin, for some reason. It sure worked well in lowering blood pressure, but the side effects were a pain in the neck. I was taking 20/25 mg and was dizzy, headachy, awfully tired all the time, stomach upset, aching all day in my feet so that I could hardly walk, as well as other side effects. On my own, I cut it down in half and feel much better. My blood pressure is still on the low side, but these miserable side effects have finally let up. Guess I'd better tell the doctor."
"While on this medicine, I experienced back and neck pain and coughing headache. And always tired and sleepy. Is there someone who can relate? I'm sleepy all the time, it makes me restful. I don't like that lazy feeling."
"Explosive watery diarrhea, without warning, no cramping, no stomach upset, it just pours out of me without notice. I have taken Immodium like candy while I'm working. Leg cramps, almost every night. I thought medicines were supposed to make you better, not worse. It has helped my BP, but it has made the rest of my life awful. I tell my doctor, and nothing. She does nothing."
"Dreadful experience, even after just 8 days. Itchy face, sharp pin-like pain in eye, severe foot and leg cramps, sharp pin-like pain in heels, frozen feet and hands, mind-numbing pain in left kidney, general feeling of illness and debility. Honestly, I thought this drug would kill me. Immediately after stopping the drug, all of the above symptoms cleared up. I felt like a guinea pig, tortured with each dose. Awaiting a visit with my doctor to discuss dietary and lifestyle changes I'm putting into effect without toxic chemicals."
"Took lisinopril hydrochlorothiazide, had a reaction after 15 years, throat swelling, tongue swelling. Dr. said he thought it was lisinopril, so now just HCZ. So stopped taking it because I now have ringing in my ears and my ears are plugged as if I was on an airplane.... Bottom line, we don't have high BP because of lack of drugs! They are all poison and just keep the big pharma in business as well as the 'Drs.' I no longer can put faith in western 'medicine.'"
"The only problems I had were frequent trips to the restroom, but my blood pressure is under control, and I've never experienced any of the things people are complaining about. I would say try it, and if you don't like it or react badly, try one of the many other options."
"As I struggled with side effects from this drug, I looked for others who were experiencing the same issues. Yes, I had the cough, but the stomach upset was the worst. Didn't see that this was a problem with others. My doctor said the med could not cause the constant explosive diarrhea I was experiencing. I took Imodium and started ulcer meds. I then submitted a stool sample and was looking at an endoscopy. My instincts said it had to be the drug, so after 3 months of misery, I got on a new BP drug and stomach is fine!!! So angry that the doc didn't listen to me sooner and kept saying I had a virus or food poisoning. So yes, this drug does cause terrible stomach issues for some people, so I hope this helps someone else who is dealing with what I was. DON'T WAIT 3 months to get a different drug!"
"I am 56. I have partied a lot having grown up in LA and Hawaii. Lifestyle payback is high blood pressure. I ignored all doctors' advice because I was going to the gym every day and surfing and trail running. But I started a new job and have Kaiser. The nurse took my blood pressure. Her eyes betrayed her calm... she took me aside and asked if I drank. Yes, a lot of red wine. She didn't even want me to go to the lobby and wait and asked if I wanted to wait in the doctor's office. I guess my blood pressure freaked her out, like 180/100. Anyway, he talked me into 12.5 lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide and said to take 1/2 tab a day. Unreal! In one day my blood pressure, I take it at home, was in the 117/75 range. Immediate gratification."
"Although Lisinopril-Hydrochlorothiazide worked very well for lowering my blood pressure and not causing swelling, there were some problems that have caused me to seek a different solution to my high BP. The first thing that occurred was sudden, painful night leg cramps. This happened each night from 1 to 5 times. I also had new painful attacks of arthritis in my toes and instep. I also had warnings of kidney stone formation and crystals in my urine. Finally, I experienced heaviness in my legs that made it difficult to walk quickly."
"The only side effect that might be causing a problem for me is that I cannot keep my potassium in the proper range while on this medication. It is wonderful for my blood pressure, but I do need to drink lots of water with this medicine to stay hydrated."
"Was on Toprol for a long time and was having to constantly increase the dosage. My doctor switched me to this and I immediately noted a great balance of blood pressure. Went from 145/98 to 127/78 (ish). Only side effects I have noted are ones that are easily cured with water intake. I get the cough and am lethargic and dizzy when working in the yard (I live in Texas so it's a billion degrees outside). Both of these however are mitigated with increased water intake. I drink flavored water throughout the day and these side effects have subsided. Very happy with this medicine."
"Don't take any medicine unless it's absolutely necessary. I've taken this for 5 years... Extreme dizziness, especially when working out. Brain fog was incredible, and your hair may also thin. It's not a good experience at all. I stopped the medicine a little while ago and now control my blood pressure with diet and exercise (without the feeling I am passing out)."
"Read all prescriptions profiles provided by the pharmacy! Have taken drug for 3+ years and by accident learned I had side effects to it. I have experienced 80% of all adverse reactions listed; the worst being constant copious amounts of choking mucus/phlegm from throat/sinus, asthmatic bronchitis, severe fatigue, etc. Never in a million years would I have guessed it was Lisinopril, but just happened to be out of the medication for 3 days and woke up on the 3rd day without any of the choking phlegm in my throat & bronchial tract every morning for the past 3+ years. Current doctor (who didn't initially prescribe the drug) is thrilled to discover the culprit he's been searching for 2+ years! Good-bye erroneous early-stage COPD diagnoses, I'm cured!"
"Minor: For about an hour after taking, I have to pee a lot. MAJOR: Sometimes, very bad foot pain/cramps to the point of hardly being able to walk. I take this and amlodipine for high blood pressure, and it works."
"I have been taking 5 mg Lisinopril for a year and thought it was great at first. It was effective at lowering my blood pressure, however, lately, when sleeping, I have had such extreme muscle cramps in my legs, I thought it was the end of me. This went on for many months until I found online that muscle cramps were a side effect of this drug. I stopped taking it and now take my old drug Atenolol. The night after I stopped taking Lisinopril, I have had no more leg cramps."
"I was prescribed this medication at 20 mg and took it for 10 years. I never associated the drug with my constant cough and breathing problems, and neither did any physician. I was even hospitalized and tested for everything. Diagnosed over the years with asthma, gout, and high blood sugar. I had a complete workup and heart cath, and there was nothing. I had many pulmonary workups and all the treatments. Who puts up with years of coughing? Avoiding social situations, close contact, speaking engagements. I tried everything. FINALLY, an allergist said it was my meds. Stopped taking this drug, and within 10 days I was as good as new. Terrible drug for me!"
"Lisinopril 10 for 1 day, plus thyroid medicine and not eating or drinking enough, so I blacked out. Dr. couldn't get blood pressure because it was too low. Pain in shoulders, stuffy nose, hard swallowing, cramp in foot. Dr. said to wait 3-5 days, then start with half dose."
"same as someone else posted, this hydrochlorothiazide/lisinopril destroyed my kidneys at the end of it-my doctor refused to simply listen and wean me off from it. I truly felt that this medication was damaging me, but fear of stroking out and believing the fable that stopping these drugs WILL cause "rebound" back to the extremes that got you on it kept me taking it. On hydrochlorothiazide with lisinopril had tremors, insomnia, extreme fatigue, severe muscle aches and pains, even at time feeling impending DOOM - you name IT - finally was seen chronic renal failure ! I was switched over to another garbage losartan then I finally tapered that off and am FINISHED with these drugs and THOSE prescribing them and truly went through a form of withdrawal after about being off losartan for about a week=extreme sweats and fatigue-finally FREE and feeling better but still with chronic renal failure up to stage 4 now--THANK YOU lisinopril AND losartan. garbage drugs."
"I have been taking Lisinopril 20/HCTZ 12.5 for about a year now. I took it before and then switched medicines because of the coughing side effect of the Lisinopril. The new medicine did not provide the same results, so I switched back. I have the cough off and on, sometimes it is pretty strong for a few minutes. It goes away and recently has been minimal. The only other side effect I notice is dizziness or lightheadedness sometimes. I started taking the pill late morning after eating breakfast. The side effects seem to be much better for the most part."
Zestoretic (hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril) "I've been taking Zestoretic 10/12.5 for a few weeks now, and it has done a great job of reducing my blood pressure to where I want it (not too high, not too low). However, just a couple of weeks ago, I was thinking of giving it up because of the constant annoying cough. It went from a tickle to downright chest discomfort. But for some reason that I can't explain, the coughing eased up (I didn't do anything different) to the point where I can tolerate it. Hopefully, someday it will be gone for good."
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