
Like any drug, an ACE inhibitor is likely to have some side effects. They may include: Cough . If this symptom persists or is severe, contact your doctor. Ask your doctor what type of cough medicine you should use to control the cough. Red, itchy skin or rash. Contact your doctor; do not treat the rash yourself.
What are the side effects of ACE inhibitors?
A dry, tickly and often bothersome cough is the most common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors. Recent studies indicate that cough may develop in around 10% of the patients treated with ACE inhibitors.
Do ACE inhibitors cause cough?
A dry, tickly and often bothersome cough is the most common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors. Recent studies indicate that cough may develop in around 10% of the patients treated with ACE inhibitors. In half of these patients, the ACE inhibitor has to be discontinued. Cough has emerged as a class ef …
Is lisinopril cough a side effect of ACE inhibitors?
One of the more common side effects of ACE inhibitors is a persistent dry cough . This article will go over what causes Lisinopril cough, as well as when you should see your provider if you have side effects when taking ACE inhibitors. How Common Is Lisinopril Cough? Lisinopril cough is common.
What are the side effects of ACE-I cough drops?
This cough is typically dry with a tickling or scratching feeling in the throat. The incidence of cough associated with the drug has been reported to be between 3.9% and 35% among patients using ACE-I [4–6].

How do I get rid of an ACE inhibitor cough?
To ease the cough, you could continue on the Tessalon Perles until it clears or try dextromethorphan (Delsym), an over-the-counter cough medicine, at one teaspoon every six hours, as needed. It will probably take several months for the coughing to disappear entirely. Ask the Pharmacist is written by Armon B.
What type of cough is associated with ACE inhibitors?
Dry cough is the most common limiting factor of ACE inhibitor (ACEI) use.
How do I know if my cough is from lisinopril?
The drug may cause the body to produce very little or no mucus, resulting in a dry throat and scratchy cough. Lisinopril may also increase bradykinin levels in the body, causing non-vascular muscles in the bronchus and gut to contract, resulting in tight, dry coughs.
How long does it take for ACE cough to start?
The onset of ACE inhibitor-induced cough ranges from within hours of the first dose to months after the initiation of therapy. Resolution typically occurs within 1 to 4 weeks after the cessation of therapy, but cough may linger for up to 3 months.
What does a cardiac cough sound like?
You may experience a persistent cough or wheezing (a whistling sound in the lungs or laboured breathing) due to your heart failure. The wheezing is similar to asthma but has a different cause in heart failure.
Do all ACE inhibitors cause a dry cough?
Recent studies indicate that cough may develop in around 10% of the patients treated with ACE inhibitors. In half of these patients, the ACE inhibitor has to be discontinued. Cough has emerged as a class effect occurring with all ACE inhibitors with no clear difference between the single substances.
Is lisinopril cough worse at night?
We report 20 patients with chronic cough caused by ACE inhibitors and some of the characteristics of the cough. The cough is typically dry, nonproductive, and worse at night. Interference with sleep is common and was severe in three patients.
How does lisinopril make you cough?
Lisinopril cough is a persistent dry cough some people get when they take ACE inhibitors to control their high blood pressure. The same activity that allows ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure can cause other substances, like bradykinin, to build up in the airways and make a person cough a lot.
What is bradykinin cough?
Bradykinin induces sensitization of airway sensory nerves via rapidly adapting stretch receptors and C-fiber receptors that releases neurokinin A and substance P. This causes airway smooth muscle to constrict leading to bronchoconstriction and cough.
Which ACE inhibitor is least likely to cause cough?
The incidence of dry cough in patients receiving ACEIs vary among individual ACEIs, and is the lowest with perindopril.
How do you treat a heart cough?
“Once heart failure has been diagnosed and appropriate treatment started, the cough should improve or go away,” assures Dr. Jacob....How is a heart cough treated?Eating a heart-healthy diet.Maintaining or losing weight.Exercising.Managing stress.Avoiding or limiting alcohol and caffeine.Quitting smoking.
Is there an ACE inhibitor that does not cause cough?
Studies have shown that ARBs have the same beneficial effects as ACE inhibitors, but without causing patients to develop a cough. Because there are more studies showing the benefits of ACE inhibitors in heart failure, they are usually used first.
What is bradykinin cough?
Bradykinin induces sensitization of airway sensory nerves via rapidly adapting stretch receptors and C-fiber receptors that releases neurokinin A and substance P. This causes airway smooth muscle to constrict leading to bronchoconstriction and cough.
What are the most common side effects of ACE inhibitors?
Side effects of ACE inhibitors may include:Dry cough.Increased potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia)Fatigue.Dizziness from blood pressure going too low.Headaches.Loss of taste.
How long does an ACE inhibitor cough last?
The onset of ACE inhibitor-induced cough ranges from within hours of the first dose to months after the initiation of therapy. Resolution typically occurs within 1 to 4 weeks after the cessation of therapy, but cough may linger for up to 3 months.
What medications cause dry cough?
ACE inhibitors, such as enalapril (Vasotec) and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), are prescription drugs that treat a variety of conditions, including high blood pressure. One of the most common side effects of ACE inhibitors is a chronic dry cough. About 20 percent of people taking ACE inhibitors experience a dry cough.
What are the side effects of ACE inhibitors?
Probably the most common and irritating side effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors is cough. In this retrospective study the incidence of cough was investigated in 1113 patients with arterial hypertension who were receiving ACE inhibitors alone or in combination with other antihyp …. Probably the most common and irritating side ...
Can angiotensin converting enzyme cause cough?
Probably the most common and irritating side effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors is cough. In this retrospective study the incidence of cough was investigated in 1113 patients with arterial hypertension who were receiving ACE inhibitors alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
How does ACE affect the kidneys?
ACE inhibitors affect the process of renal perfusion, which is how the kidneys filter impurities out of the blood. As an older person loses kidney function, the change is reflected in his or her glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
How long does a cough last after stopping a kinin?
The coughing spells represent the body's attempt to expel the kinins from the lungs. Even after the drug is stopped, the cough can linger for months until all the kinins eventually find their way out of the lungs.
Can lisinopril cause hacking cough?
Any advice or information provided should not be followed in lieu of a personal consultation with a trained medical professional. More answers from Ask the Pharmacist. One of the telltale adverse effects of ACE inhibitors, including lisinopril, is a chronic, hacking cough — a potential side effect that patients often don't hear about.
How long does it take for ACE I to cause cough?
ACE-I-induced cough may occur within hours after first intake of the dose or even weeks or months later. ACE-I may sensitize the cough reflex. Owing to this reason, it may increase the severity of chronic cough due to other causes [25]. Coughs due to these medications can decrease within 1 to 4 weeks after discontinuation, but in some cases, this can take up to 3 months [26].
Is ACE I a coughing drug?
ACE-I-induced cough only occurs in susceptible individuals independent of the dose of the drug. Therefore, it is an idiosyncratic reaction. It is a non-immune type B hypersensitivity reaction according to the new terminology and is one of the well-defined side effects of ACE-I [21]. This cough is typically dry with a tickling or scratching feeling in the throat. The incidence of cough associated with the drug has been reported to be between 3.9% and 35% among patients using ACE-I [4–6]. On the other hand, ACE-I is responsible for 0%–3% of chronic cough etiology in prospective studies evaluating patients with chronic cough complaints [22–24].
Does ACE affect the respiratory system?
The means by which ACE inhibitors affect the respiratory system is thought to be through an increase of substance P, which is released from the vagal and glossopharyngeal sensory nerves in the pharynx and upper airways, and is naturally degraded by ACE [7,47]. In this case, this will increase the cough reflex. However, in a meta-analysis of ACE-I-induced cough pharmacokinetics, no correlation between ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism and secondary cough development was found [48].
Does capsaicin increase cough reflex sensitivity?
Experimental stimuli with capsaicin showed increased cough reflex sensitivity in patients with ACE-I-induced cough, which decreased with discontinuation of the drug (25,32). Capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity has also been shown to increase in patients with asthma [60,61].
Can ACE I cause cough?
The result of all these studies suggests that there cannot be only one mechanism responsible for ACE-I-induced cough. Only combinations of two or more of the above mechanisms may result in ACE-I secondary cough.
Ace inhibitor induced cough quiz
Take a quiz to find out what's causing your ace inhibitor induced cough.
What is an ace inhibitor induced cough?
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, known as ACE Inhibitors, are drugs used to prevent, treat, or improve symptoms in conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and diabetes. These drugs can cause a chronic cough that can affect your quality of life.
Symptoms
This cough is typically dry with a tickling or scratching feeling in the throat.
Treatment
You should see your doctor, who will discuss whether to change your medication.
See all treatment options
Buoy's medical team has found the best treatments for your condition and symptoms. While it starts with home treatments, you may also need to have a virtual or in-person visit with a healthcare provider, get a prescription, or consider other treatment options.
Can iron help with ACE cough?
Well, breathe a sigh of relieve. There may be an ir onclad cure for this "ACE cough ": iron supplements. If this cough remedy can stand up to scientific scrutiny, it will prove to be a major breakthrough, says Lynn Smaha, MD, PhD, a spokesman for the American Heart Association.
Do you cough up a lung with an ACE inhibitor?
On an ACE Inhibitor? You Don't Have to Cough Up a Lung
Does ACE cause coughing?
Hong says that although no study has explained the exact mechanism of the ACE-inhibitor cough, many experts think it is related to a natural compound called nitric oxide. ACE inhibitors cause the body to increase nitric oxide production, and nitric oxide is known to irritate the lungs and possibly cause coughing.
Do you cough up a lung?
You Don't Have to Cough Up a Lung. Aug. 16, 2001 -- As many as one-third of the people who take widely prescribed cardiovascular drugs called ACE inhibitors develop a dry, hacking cough that is so bothersome they often stop taking the drugs. Well, breathe a sigh of relieve. There may be an ironclad cure for this "ACE cough ": iron supplements.
Does iron help with cough?
Iron interferes with production of nitric oxide. Although Smaha isn't recommending the iron supplements for cough, he expects some people will ignore the cautions of medical experts and just try iron on their own. For those so inclined, Smaha warns that not all people can tolerate iron supplements.
How long does it take for a cough to develop after taking ACE?
Studies suggest that anywhere from 5% to 20% of users may be affected. The coughing can develop within hours of the first dose or even weeks or months later. 2
How Common Is the Cough?
A persistent dry cough is a side effect associated with all ACE inhibitors. Studies suggest that anywhere from 5% to 20% of users may be affected. The coughing can develop within hours of the first dose or even weeks or months later. 2
Can you take an ACE inhibitor if you cough?
If it is determined that the cough is more of an annoyance than a major disruption, staying on your A CE inhibitor may be advised. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are equally effective against hypertension, and your doctor may consider switching you to one if a change seems warranted.
Can you stop taking ACE inhibitors?
The abrupt discontinuation can also cause anxiety and an increased heart rate. 1 Never stop taking an ACE inhibitor or adjust the dose without first speaking with your healthcare provider.
Can you stop taking lisinopril if you cough?
A cough caused by ACE inhibitors requires no treatment other than discontinuation of the drug. That said, you should never stop taking lisinopril or any other ACE inhibitor without consulting with your doctor. Treating the cough itself may not be successful.
Does cough suppressant help with inflammation?
No. A cough suppressant doesn’t really help as it doesn't treat the underlying cause of inflammation in the airways. 6 If the cough is affecting your quality of life, ask your healthcare provider if switching to another type of medication is a reasonable option.
Can you cough while taking ACE?
If you develop a cough while taking an ACE inhibitor, it's important to speak with your healthcare provider and discuss whether switching to another medication is a good idea. It may or may not be.
What to do if you have a cough with an ACE inhibitor?
offer a new option to the physician faced with a patient racked by ACE-inhibitor-induced cough. Until now the options have been: (1) stop ACE inhibitor therapy , which is a remedy for the cough but creates a problem if an ACE inhibitor is the therapy of choice; (2) use of cromoglycate, nifedipine, or a nonsteroidal agent, which lends to modest improvement by exposing the patients to drugs with their own side-effect profiles; (3) use a lower dose of the drug or switch to an ACE inhibitor associated with a lower incidence of cough (rarely of benefit once cough has started); or (4) prescribe an angiotensin antagonist.
Does angiotensin 2 cause adverse heart changes?
This raises the possibility that unopposed stimulation of angiotensin-AT 2 receptors, which are abundant in human myocardium, by raised circulating levels of angio tensin-II in the context of complete blockade of AT 1 receptors, might promote adverse changes in the heart.
Can angiotensin converting enzyme cause coughing?
Only rarely is it severe enough to cause the patient to stop taking the drug. Pier Luigi Malini and colleagues (July 5, p 15)
Do angiotensin antagonists resemble ACE inhibitors?
The last of these possibilities has become a major marketing tactic by the manufacturers of angiotensin antagonists, but the switch may not be what it seems. Angioten sin antagonists resemble ACE inhibitors in some important respects but not in others.
Which agents causes bradykinin induced cough formation?
The possible mediators that play a role in the development of cough are bradykinin and substance P, which are destroyed by ACE. Thus, bradykinin and substance P accumulate in the upper and lower respiratory tracts by inhibition of this enzyme by ACE-I. Bradykinin also stimulates prostaglandins [4,27].
What is the effect of bradykinin?
Effects. Bradykinin is a potent endothelium-dependent vasodilator and mild diuretic, which may cause a lowering of the blood pressure. It also causes contraction of non-vascular smooth muscle in the bronchus and gut, increases vascular permeability and is also involved in the mechanism of pain.
Do Kinins cause cough?
The coughing spells represent the body’s attempt to expel the kinins from the lungs. Even after the drug is stopped, the cough can linger for months until all the kinins eventually find their way out of the lungs.
Why does bradykinin cause angioedema?
During bradykinin-mediated angioedema, increased levels of bradykinin results in overactivation of β2 bradykinin receptors and subsequently increased tissue permeability, vasodilation and edema (fig. 1).
Why does blood pressure medication make you cough?
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors These high blood pressure medications block formation of a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow, so vessels relax . ACE inhibitors may cause these side effects: A dry, hacking cough that doesn’t go away.
How does bradykinin cause bronchoconstriction?
Inhaled bradykinin (1 mM, 20 s) caused bronchoconstriction and influx of inflammatory cells to the lungs, but only when the enzymatic breakdown of bradykinin by angiotensin-converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase was inhibited by captopril (1 mg/kg i.p.) and phosphoramidon (10 mM, 20-min inhalation), respectively.
What is the mechanism of coughing?
The mechanism of a cough is as follows: Diaphragm (innervated by phrenic nerve) and external intercostal muscles (innervated by segmental intercostal nerves) contract, creating a negative pressure around the lung. Air rushes into the lungs in order to equalise the pressure.
What is ACE inhibitor used for?
ACE inhibitors are used as first-line therapy in the management of elevated blood pressure. They are also used in the management of heart failure, in preventing strokes, and in preventing and treating kidney disease (nephropathy) in people with hypertension or diabetes.
Why Does Lisinopril Cause Cough?
Lisinopril and other ACE inhibitors prevent the degradation of bradykinin, a substance that lowers blood pressure, making it abundantly available. Bradykinin is known to cause the contraction of non-vascular smooth muscle in the lungs.
How Is Lisinopril-Induced Cough Treated?
A cough caused by ACE inhibitors does not require treatment except the discontinuation of the drug. ACE inhibitors have a short half-life and low volume of distribution. This means that it should be cleared from the body within a day.
What is the name of the drug that does not produce mucus?
A class of drugs well known for inducing dry coughs, a type of a cough that does not produce mucus, is called Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Lisinopril is an example of an ACE inhibitor.
Can ACE cause a dry cough?
Though ACE inhibitors are in the forefront of causing a drug-induced dry cough, some other drugs can induce a cough. Nasal sprays containing Fluticasone, Simvastatin, and Carvedilol have also been reported to cause a dry cough.
Do angiotensin receptor blockers cause coughing?
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) are a group of blood pressure medications that have similar clinical profiles to the ACE Inhibitors. However, they do not interfere with the destruction of bradykinin, so they have a lower likelihood of causing a cough.
