Okay, made the appointment to get off Altace after 4 1/2 weeks. The coughing episodes are just not workable (had 3 today at work, one involving throwing up).

What are some ARB's out there that have low levels of side effects?

Will I have to go through a whole new "getting used to the drug" period or are ARB's so similar to ACE's that I won't go through 2 weeks of misery while my body adjusts?

Hello,

I have tried Atacand and Cozaar but I had many side effects, my father tried them and he was very happy on both of them. The cough gone away from my father too while he was on any of these ARBs :). I think that you might encounter some side effects while your body adjust. You know each one react differently to the same drug. I felt so dizzy and sleepy all the time while I was on any ACE or ARB :(, my father didn't so I guess you have to try and find out.
Good luck
Michael

I've taken only Cozaar (losartan)...few side effects but little usefulness.
From reading the board a long time, I'd say that the consensus is that Diovan is both gentle and effective.

Thanks for the thread and thanks to you Lenny. My doc wants me to start Diovan, but I have experimented with my always 50mg/day of atenolol and now 40mg/day of Lasix. I think I need to start the Diovan. Potassium is a problem already, I think. I get my blood test results today. I have had cramping in my calves. I took 20 meq of potassium last afternoon and felt like heck.

My BP was 145/95 this early am.

Just got back from the doctor. I gave her options of Avapro, Atacand and Diovan. She prefers to go with Diovan. So Diovan it is! 80mg dose.

What's unfortunate is at the doctor my BP was 125/75...lowest doctor's office reading in years while on a drug that I now have to discontinue. :mad:

Alas Violet, ACEI's are good drugs, no denying it...and CHEAP to boot.
But for those of us who cough our heads off, they just aren't an option. :(

Look at the upside: anyone who does well on an ACE inhibitor will eventually form other chemical pathways to make Angiotensin-2 and need something different...usually within a year! You are just facing the conundrum a little early :D

Brad,
Try some extra calcium and see if it doesn't help with the calf cramps.

It took 10 days for the ACEi cough to go away. What a relief! Very glad to not have to constantly carry water and cough drops everywhere I go. Goodbye vomiting...goodbye gagging. Public speaking is my life. Did a two hour presentation this morning without a single cough (but admit I delayed taking the Diovan until presentation was over).

What's really odd is that today was the first day I had a "normal" gag cough. I used to always get a morning gag cough from brushing my teeth in the morning. Didn't get them at all when on ACEi's. I had one this morning and knew I was done with the ACEi cough. I was never so happy to gag cough in my life!

Unfortunately BP about 5-10pts higher with the 80mg dose of Diovan versus the 5mg dose of Altace. Big plus is almost zero side effects with the Diovan. I see a diuretic in my future to get me back into range.

For those who take ACEi's and don't have the cough...I wish I were you. That drug really worked on my BP. For those who do get the cough, I'm very pleased with the Diovan, but your experience may vary.

It took 10 days for the ACEi cough to go away. What a relief! Very glad to not have to constantly carry water and cough drops everywhere I go. Goodbye vomiting...goodbye gagging. Public speaking is my life. Did a two hour presentation this morning without a single cough (but admit I delayed taking the Diovan until presentation was over).

What's really odd is that today was the first day I had a "normal" gag cough. I used to always get a morning gag cough from brushing my teeth in the morning. Didn't get them at all when on ACEi's. I had one this morning and knew I was done with the ACEi cough. I was never so happy to gag cough in my life!

Unfortunately BP about 5-10pts higher with the 80mg dose of Diovan versus the 5mg dose of Altace. Big plus is almost zero side effects with the Diovan. I see a diuretic in my future to get me back into range.

For those who take ACEi's and don't have the cough...I wish I were you. That drug really worked on my BP. For those who do get the cough, I'm very pleased with the Diovan, but your experience may vary.


My mom tried lasix and avapro, the lasix helped to lower bp a bit but the avapro caused her to cough as well. Also, diuretics can cause glucose levels to elevate.:eek: and also cholesterol. My mom was on diuretics for over seven yrs. She is diabetic. She takes clonidine (causes cholesterol to rise(, verapamil, and sometimes toresimide (diuretic).

It took 10 days for the ACEi cough to go away. What a relief! Very glad to not have to constantly carry water and cough drops everywhere I go. Goodbye vomiting...goodbye gagging. Public speaking is my life. Did a two hour presentation this morning without a single cough (but admit I delayed taking the Diovan until presentation was over).

What's really odd is that today was the first day I had a "normal" gag cough. I used to always get a morning gag cough from brushing my teeth in the morning. Didn't get them at all when on ACEi's. I had one this morning and knew I was done with the ACEi cough. I was never so happy to gag cough in my life!

Unfortunately BP about 5-10pts higher with the 80mg dose of Diovan versus the 5mg dose of Altace. Big plus is almost zero side effects with the Diovan. I see a diuretic in my future to get me back into range.

For those who take ACEi's and don't have the cough...I wish I were you. That drug really worked on my BP. For those who do get the cough, I'm very pleased with the Diovan, but your experience may vary.


:eek: My mom tried lasix and avapro, the lasix helped to lower bp a bit but the avapro caused her to cough as well. Also, diuretics can cause glucose levels to elevate.:eek: and also cholesterol. My mom was on diuretics for over seven yrs. She is diabetic. She takes clonidine (causes cholesterol to rise(, verapamil, and sometimes toresimide (diuretic).