Changing meds

[TanteMuh]

Hiya folks, until now i was on Ramipril and i had as a side effect a very irritating tickely cough. Doc has change it now to Losartan Pottasium. I wunder if any of you have any experience with this meds and if so which? Any 'funny'side effects? Cheers! Have a nice 4day weekend you all!!!

[Chappychap]

It took nearly a year before the tickly cough I had with Ramipril started to subside. And even now, after three years, I still get the occasional tickle or hoarseness.

So why have I stuck with Ramipril?

Two reasons.

Firstly, it's well known that statins can help stabilise our atherosclerotic lesions, therefore preventing heart attacks. What's less well known is that Ramipril has the effect of turbo charging this benefit from statins. Therefore reducing still further the risk of heart attacks.

Secondly, another benefit of certain Ace Inhibitors (and Ramipril is one of the best in this respect) is reducing the risk of Vacular Dementia and Alzheimers. There are plenty of articles on-line, here's just one.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

We all need to take our own decisions about what level of inconvenience or discomfort we'll put up with, but personally I concluded that a few months of tickly cough was a price worth paying for these benefits.

Good luck!

[TanteMuh in reply to Chappychap]

Thank you so much. I didn't know about the alzh benefit!! I'll have to look into it and maybe i change back after a trail perid!

[Nettekin in reply to Chappychap]

Hi chappychap. Thank you for that fascinating information. I had no idea, but will be carrying out some full on research now. Thankfully I have never been affected by the dreaded "ramipril cough".

[Dustjacket1]

Hi, I was put on Ramipril after my triple bypass in Oct 21 and suffered with a terrible cough so was changed to Losartan which unfortunately gave me a rash all over my chest, stomach and back so was taken off it also. I was told there was no suitable replacement so my bisoprol dose was increased instead. As usual different drugs affect all of us differently!

Keep well and live life to the full ! Every day is a bonus😁

[MountainGoat52]

Ramipril gave me a cough which kept both myself and my wife awake at night. My GP changed it to Amlodipine which did not suit me and then to Losartan. I have had no issues whatsoever with Losartan which I have now been taking for over a decade. I hope that you find the same. 😀

[Harefieldfan]

Hi TanteMuh. Same here. And a year on I still have the cough. No side effects from Losartan though. I’ve been told that the cough will go away … eventually.

[TanteMuh in reply to Harefieldfan]

Oh! A year later? Have you asked/investigated if it something else rather than Rami-cough?? Don't want to scare you but... Long Covid. Cancer??

[Ecki]

I changed from Losartan to Ramipril. The Losartan made me so nauseated that I couldn't even keep water down, good for weight loss, I suppose. Been on Ramipril 3 years now and fine on it.

[croggler]

I was on ramipril , made me so damn itchy! GP changed it to losartan & so far no probs . She did say the itchiness would continue for 6 weeks after I stopped the ramipril. She was spot on