Question about ARB's vs ACE's

[bethsheba]

Susan,

Looking back I wish I had always taken half of the dose...I have since learned that a friend of mine (who happens to be larger than me) always asks for the pediatric dose whether it be for an otc or for a rx med. I think that's a very smart thing to do.

It's been over a year since I took the lisinopril so it's difficult for me to remember everything, but the notes I kept suggested it also interfered with my sleep. Although I had severe respiratory problems with at least hct and the beta block atenolol, I don't recall respiratory problems (nor did I note them) with lisinopril. Since the time I was taking the drug I became aware of the potential for cough (and I've read that some people can get rid of the cough by increasing iron in their diet).

Although I didn't have respiratory issues with lisinopril, I did have stiffness and arthritis but I could still ambulate.

Beware...this med made me dizzy FAST...so if you decide to start taking it, try to have someone with you if at all possible....don't do ladders (my mistake) and don't drive until you know how you're going to react.


Good luck...

Bethsheba

[suki1724]

Bethsheba,

I still am having back pain from the atacand, so I'm going to wait a few days to start the lisinopril. My uncle takes it and he said that he has some dizzy spells occasionally as well.

My Dr. gave me 2.5 mgs to start and he said I could double that dose in three days if I feel O.K.

I'm amazed that people take these drugs and actually tolerate them.

Susan

[flowergirl2day]

Hi Susan,

We are going to the beach for spring break next week and I'm not sure if I should try the lisinopril now or wait until we get back.

This might not be a bad idea. You should be able to enjoy your time away from home. You might be fine but there's no way to tell for sure.

I think that I wasn't given an ACE initially because I have asthma and ACE's can cause coughing? I'm running out of things to try, though.

Some things to consider:

Cough is a common side effect of ACE Is. It could be mistaken for symptomatic asthma. It could also worsen any cough already present. ACE inhibitors initiate a production of bradykinins-prostaglandins- in the lungs of some people. Their increased levels are what causes the cough.
It can take weeks or longer for these effects to show up and just as long for them to clear up after stopping the drug. If the cough develops and becomes a problem, calcium channel blockers or diuretics would be good to try for reducing blood pressure. I can't remember which drugs you've been on to date. Beta blockers are out, of course.

Presence of GERD worsens asthma symptoms. A huge improvement in asthma symptoms can occur after a chronic sinusitis (frequent with GERD) is treated with antibiotics and decongestants. If the asthma symptoms are consistent with GERD, an aggressive PPI treatment should help. This would also indicate a possible reflux-triggered asthma.

I can't believe how many people with asthma also have GERD, breathing and sinus issues. I think there's an association between these conditions and symptoms.
I hope the ACE inhibitors work for you. As mentioned previously, I find them tolerable. I had severe allergic reactions to both of the ARBs I tried (Micardis and Diovan). I would be willing to try another type of an ARB in the future.

Good luck,
flowergirl

[bethsheba]

Originally Posted by suki1724

...I still am having back pain from the atacand, so I'm going to wait a few days to start the lisinopril. ...

Susan,

Just out of curiosity, is your back pain sharp or dull? I'm asking because I had very sharp back pain with hct but from what i've read people experience different kinds of back pain with their meds. Has anyone ever explained to you "why" we get back pain on this stuff? I haven't come across it in my reading...only that it is a side effect of some of our bp meds.

...I'm amazed that people take these drugs and actually tolerate them.....

Well, I suspect only a few tolerate them...thus the huge number of people who are not being treated for their hypertension. I forget what the statistics are, but I believe over 50 percent!

Bethsheba

[bethsheba]

Originally Posted by flowergirl2day

...I can't believe how many people with asthma also have GERD, breathing and sinus issues. I think there's an association between these conditions and symptoms.

There's definitely a relationship...find the cause of one symptom another symptoms disappears (that's why it's so important to find the cause of something rather than treating the symptom). Sleep medicine has shown that treating the sleep apnea can "cure" the asthma and "cure" the acid reflux.

Bethsheba