Altace Cough - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Capttom48 · 03-27-2007, 02:20 PM

I have been on Altace 5 mg for about 5 years. It has worked very well for me.
In July 2006 I developed a severe cough following a respiratory infection. It just hung on. I also had some breathing difficulties.Since then I have seen 5 different doctors. (PCP,Pulmonologist,Ent, ER and Allergist) It seems as if they can't come to a consensus. 2 think asthma, 2 RADS and the allergist thinks altace may be the culprit . Could it be that simple? After 4 plus years of no problems could Altace suddenly cause my coughing and SOB?

It would sure be nice to be able to eliminate my respiratory problems by simply changing my BP meds. It would be a lot cheaper too. No more Advair,Singulair or Albuterol HFA.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
tom

Capttom48 · 03-27-2007, 06:46 PM

One result I haven't gotten is my barium swallow test result. Still waiting for results of that one. So I don't know if I have GERD or not yet.

I will ask about discontinuing the altace . No one has mentioned a ct scan .

In my case, I did test positive for asthma when I had the methacholine challenge test. But maybe it was a false positive.

I hope changing meds helps. thanks for the input.

tom

Lenin · 03-29-2007, 08:40 AM

tom,

My cough developed the first month on Vasotec but I think it can come onm at any time beacause you can get more and more sensitized.

If I were you, I would just STOP the Altace for a week and see if you stop coughing. It will become apparent quickly if you have the ACE COUGH. If you do, you really need a new class of drugs, most like an ARB.

famnd · 03-29-2007, 10:26 AM

Hi Cap,

The super b/p specialist who I saw at a well known medical center said that a person can get a reaction/side effect after years of no problems with a particular drug. That's why I keep a injection of adrenalin as I had a allergic reaction to HCTZ in the capsule form. We didn't do a challenge test but it looked like I was actually allergic to the dye in the drug. The Dr. wanted me to try the HCTZ (in the capsule form) again but my common sense & my primary care Dr. said NO. Luckily, his nurse found another patient who was having HCTZ made up without the dye which has been working fine. We often have to do our our detective work because most Dr's I've found don't have the time or motivation to do what is needed. Every year thousands of people are harmed by Rx drugs. On the other hand, its all we've got now to protect us from a stroke or heart damage from hbp so we have to experiment until we find a drug with the least side effects or at least ones we can live with. For example, lebatalol takes away my appetite as a side effect because it deadens the taste buds. Since I am overweight, this helps me with weight control. I've read that there are blood tests available to tell which drugs will work in a particular individual. If I was starting this whole thing over, I would certainly put my $300 down for the convenience. Not all drugs are included at this time but it won't be long probably until the majority will be. This service is available at a well know clinic which I'm not sure I can mention. Hope you can finally get rid of that annoying cough. Fam

bethsheba · 03-29-2007, 10:44 AM

Fam,

Yes, you can get side effects from a drug after being on the drug for days, months, years, decades. Our bodies change as we age and unfortunately, the doctors don't adjust our dosages unless we have reactions---and then they give us more drugs instead of altering or changing the orginal medication. I've found on more than one occasion that reducing my dose is more effective than increasing it...

Bethsheba