ace inhibtor side affects

[dreamer40]

I was taking altace for 3 weeks but since it is not generic I decided to get prinvil, because it is generic thus cheaper but very similar to altace, well when I took altace my only side effects was increased urination, and cravings for salt.

but i started on prinivil and it is not making me go to the bathroom or crave salt but boy it sure is making me tired, all I wanted to do is sleep all day. why is that? lotrel never did that neither did varapamil.

I am curious as to why an ace inhibitor would do that?


RR

[Lenin]

dreamer,
That's a tough question because the Renin>angiotensin> angiotensin-2 system has SO many effects. It influences insulin release, growth of collagen tissue and can even effect the shape of the heart (remodelling.)
Weakness and fatigue are quite common.



Blood pressure is only ONE of the many effects of Angiotensin-2, and even the converting enzyme, ACE has many functions since it is KININASE and affects the production and breakdown of many prostaglandins/histamines all over the body. Messing with this system is SURE to provide all kinds of side-reactions, probably many that are poorly understood, in ADDITION to the dreaded COUGH!

That's why ARB's are less bothersome...the intervention is only made at the level of blocking the attachment of Angiotensin-2 and most of the other interactions are avoided.

[lindiana53]

Lenin,

Perhaps you can answer this. My handy list of drugs that can raise or lower blood glucose put both the ACE inhibitors and the ARBs in the "most likely to raise BG levels" category. Because I take such a low dose, I haven't noticed a difference on either (just switched to Benicar from lisinopril 'cause of the dreaded cough). I was wondering why these drugs would affect glucose levels. Thanks.

[Lenin]

Because they interfere with angiotensin and angiotensin exerts lots of influence over insulin.
I would think the Benicar would affect glucose levels a lot less than lisinopril but maybe diabetics should watch closely even with an ARB.

On the other dose, a low dosage of either is apt to have only a small effect as you found.

[Palamedes]

That's entirely opposite from what read on the subject. It's my understanding that ACEI's and ARB's improve insulin sensitivity. Thus, I'd expect BG levels to go down.

Pal