Overview of ace inhibitor induced coughs

If you have high blood pressure, heart failure or chronic kidney disease, there’s a good chance you’re prescribed an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. This class of drugs was

initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the early 1980s. Today, there are 10 ACE inhibitors on the market, with the most prescribed medications including lisinopril,

enalapril and ramipril. If your medication’s name ends in “pril,” you are taking an ACE inhibitor. These medications are typically the first line of treatment for high blood pressure and

cardiovascular conditions because of their effectiveness, preventative properties, compatibility with other blood pressure medications (such as diuretics or calcium channel blockers) and

their reputation for having relatively minor side effects. That said, some people — roughly 1 in 10 — can experience a lingering dry cough when taking them. To better understand why this

symptom occurs and the best ways to treat it, AARP spoke with pharmacist Zac Cox, a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. HOW DO

ACE INHIBITORS WORK? ACE inhibitors work by blocking an enzyme that converts angiotensin I into angiotensin II, which is a hormone known to raise blood pressure. With less angiotensin II

circulating in the body, blood pressure decreases. WHAT IS A LISINOPRIL COUGH? An ACE inhibitor cough, sometimes called a lisinopril cough, is dry, without the presence of mucus or phlegm.

Symptoms usually appear within the first two weeks to a month after starting an ACE inhibitor. In rare cases, the onset of symptoms may be delayed up to six months, but this data could be

due to delays in reporting, says Cox. “It’s really persistent. It’s sort of that itchy need to cough. It’s not productive. And then it just doesn’t go away,” he says. Some patients find the

cough affects their quality of life, while others can carry on with their daily activities unaffected.