[Mich]

I thought I would post this because of a recent experience with an ACE inhibitor. I was given this med 20+ years ago before I even had high blood pressure. The study had just been released saying that it would help protect kidney function in diabetics.

The first week or so, I was dizzy now and then and had a bit of a mild cough. Both symptoms disappeared.

About two years ago when my blood pressure began to creep up, my endo sent me for a baseline evaluation by a heart specialist due to my longstanding diabetes. My heart was fine and my vessels and arteries are healthy also but he doubled the ACE inhibitor and added a beta blocker. General principles I guess. My endo agreed with it so I went with it. I couldn't function with the beta blocker (I felt like I was made of lead, I was so tired) until I got it down to ONE SIXTH of the dose prescribed (25 mg now.)

Over the two years since, I began to cough--more and more. Eventually it got to the point where I gagged and couldn't stop coughing. I gagged so badly, it nearly made me throw up. It never entered my mind that it was the ACE inhibitor because I had been taking it for 20 years.

Well it was.

About a month ago, my endo switched me to an angiotensin receptor inhibitor which does the same job as the ACE inhibitor but in a different way.

Magic. I haven't coughed since that day.

Sooo, if you are taking an ACE inhibitor and coughing, don't just "tough it out." Ask your doctor.

Mich