Ace inhibitor and cough

grb · 09-22-2003, 08:41 AM

Hi,
Just started taking and Ace inhibitor a little more than a month ago. I was up all night with a terrible cough. I know this is a side affect, but what I was wondering, will it go away in time? Or should I just give up on it and ask the Dr for something else?

george

jerry78 · 09-22-2003, 09:17 AM

When my father started on ACE, his cough persisted for 2 months until his body adjusted. He has no cough at all from it at this time.

I'm sure all people react and adjust differently......I'd give it some time if I were you, but do mention it to your Doc.

Tick Tock · 09-22-2003, 01:45 PM

I'd also ask your Dr. about Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers - ARB's rather than ACE inhibitors. They work on a very similar mechanism only don't seem to create the signature ACE cough problem.

JJ · 09-22-2003, 03:44 PM

It took about 2 months for the cough to kick in for me, but MAN, it was brutal. Sometimes I would cough so bad tears would be running down my face. I asked my EX-dr. to please get me off these things, but she wouldn't, said "they are a great drug" and I would get over the cough.

She kept me on those things for almost 2 years, yes, the cough finally went away after about 5 months, but I had other lousy affects from Altace (Ace drug) and to be honest, it did nothing for my BP. I now have a new dr. and am on Atenolol, not crazy about it, but it seems better then Altace. I know a few people who swear by it, so maybe he will get use to it and have no other problems. Good luck!!

JJ

zip2play · 09-23-2003, 08:44 AM

george,
I coughed for 6 months day and night with VASOTEC (enalapril) and finally threw out the pills and moved back down to beta-blockers, then up to Cozaar (ARB.)

After 6 months trial I figured it was a "forever" thing. Note that none of these manufacturers bothers to research what CAUSES the ACE COUGH. I'm sure it's not without serious consequences- it's not doing NOTHING to our lungs. I'm convinced there will be eventual lawsuits over this drug class.

ps.(I got a sympathetic cough just TYPING this...

)

[This message has been edited by zip2play (edited 09-23-2003).]