Ramapril

[Vegilove]

hi I’m new I had Ha on 23 June had two stents fitted now on seven medications Ramipril which has given me a cough and keeping me awake during the night what other blood pressure meds has others changed to successfully

[IndieDot]

I was on Enalapril originally but that gave me a dreadful cough 24/7. As you may know Ramipril, like Enalapril, is an Ace Inhibitor for high BP and apparently, as I found out from my GP, one of the common side effects is a cough. There seemed to be no sign that my cough was ever going away, I suffered it for 6 weeks, so my GP prescribed the Calcium Channel Blocker Amlodipine instead. Much to my relief the cough started to subside after just a few days. I have to say I also found my BP was better controlled with the Amlodipine too. I understand that getting the right BP medication can very much be a case of trial and error and that everyone's experience and tolerances of medication is different but this is my experience. Hope it helps and that you find the right medication for you.

[Vegilove in reply to IndieDot]

Thank you very much for your reply

[Oldsilver]

I had exactly the same issue, the Dr changed my meds to amlodopine, within a couple of days the cough had gone.

[Sb1171]

”Ramipril Cough” is fairly common. Losartan is one of the most common substitutions and worked well for me. It is an angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) rather than a angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, but they work in a very similar way.

[Jezzamont]

I already have bronchiectasis and found ramapril made the cough much worse so changed to Amlodopine which I can tolerate a lot better

[GeorgeAlexander]

my husband had the cough too and was changed to Losartan.

[LucyBoo21]

I've never been on rampapril but I'm on losartan and not had any issues with it. It's lowered my blood pressure nicely too.

Ask your GP if you can switch.

Hope you're recovering ok.

[Crabedu]

I had the cough too..was quickly moved to losartan amd am fine now. The cough took about 3 weeks to go after I stopped tak8ng ramipril but with losartan I am all good 👍

[scentedgardener]

I was prescribed ramipril, didn't give me a cough but horrendous indigestion, the worst ever and I have a hiatus hernia and acid reflux. I was given perindopril instead, and have no side effects at all.

[Murderfan58]

Had no side effects from Ramipril. But was also prescribed Amlodipine years later to help with BP but once diagnosed with PAF the AF clinic nurse took me off Amlodipine as made my legs and ankles swell and told me they don't like people with AF or PAF to be on it and wished GPs wouldn't prescribe it.

Others have different experiences with Amlodipine this is just mine. There is no drug that fits all you need to go back to your GP or cardiologist and get a BP tablet that suits you.

[Survivor1952]

I didn’t get on with Ramipril either, I’ve been on Losartan for quite some while now with no issues.

[Samsoncat]

I was on Ramipril following OHS for mitral valve replacement. It gave me rashes on thighs and back, so GP took me of them.

[Emacosta]

hi there morning

I have been taking Ramipril for years at some point in December I started coughing a lot and this cough kept me awake days and nights I had allergy tests asthma inhalers and nothing helped me after that I realised that it was acid reflux so I spoke to my doctor and he gave me an extra tablet that helped me and I stopped coughing. I wonder if u have acid reflux?

Take care

And get well soon x

[PeterpPiper]

welcome to the club non of us expected to be in . I had terrible side effects when I stayed taking my cocktail of drugs back in 2020 but I decided to push through and stick with it. The body can adapt, if you swap about too early it might be more confusing. My suggestion is stick it out a bit longer and try your best to focus on something in life - anything that is not health/drug related.

Good Health to you

[Sandrah01 in reply to PeterpPiper]

My cough went after a few weeks, annoying when it was happening but glad I didn't change my cocktail of meds, all has settled down now, 4 months post HA

[Heartbear in reply to Sandrah01]

Likewise, I started a cough whilst in Barts in the days after my HA in July 2020. The suspected covid (it was during lockdown) but after yet another negative result they concluded it was Ramipril. My cough cleared a few weeks later and I've had no problem since. It can also give us a runny nose, which I occasionally still get, but that's not a problem for me. As PeterpPiper says - maybe stick with it if it's early days. But I guess we are all different.

All the best, Heartbear

[irishwife93]

My husband was on ramipril but changed to entresto which had fewer side effects and made him feel better.

[AliceAnnie]

I suffered Ramipril for 18 months as the consultant didn't agree it was giving me a cough! Eventually I was given Felodipine but this made my ankles swell as well as causing my gums to swell and bleed. Thankfully I've been on Candesartan for some years now and get on fine with that. It's trial and error and a case of taking what suits you.

[Hopingstar]

Yes Ramipril (ACE inhibitor) Cough is common and for me other side effects was horrible . As my parents are on ARB inhibitors - my dad on Losartan, and my mum on Telmasartan . I requested GP whether I could try Telmasartan as my mum had less side effects and it worked well for me and even my diastolic readings are better now and I could sleep better than when I used to take Ramipril. But that’s for me . although I am not sure about their long term side effect on Kidneys health .

ARBs and ACEs which is better for Kidney health - any idea please

[Sb1171 in reply to Hopingstar]

I too switched from ACE to ARB and did a fair bit of reading of research papers on ARB vs ACE. You could of course do likewise, but the personal conclusion/summary I drew on the subject is as follows:

ARB is newer, they were initially more expensive so ACE was often tried first. Now that generic versions are available, cost is not so much of a consideration.

ARB causes less side effects

Research on efficacy (heart protection, kidney protection and all mortality) is mixed. Some say ACE has greater efficacy, but it is suggested that ACE studies were earlier and therefore the control groups differed from later studies. Other studies and the general consensus seems to be “no difference”.

ACE may more effective in younger patients due to their renin sensitivity. It may be less effective for black people.

Bottom line (in my personal lay opinion from my own reading) is that there is a small chance that ACE may be more protective, but probably no difference and less chance of side effects on ARB.

[Hopingstar in reply to Sb1171]

Thankyou

[Bhunabhoy]

Losartan👍🏻

[phollers]

hi there. I had a HA just over two years ago now and ramapril was one of six meds that I now take daily. In my case (and every case is not the same), I found the dosages and not the medicines were and are important to get right. I was initially on quite a high dose of ramapril, but after a few episodes of getting up and falling over in the night, I am now taking 1.25mg and although I too have a cough, it is not as severe as it was initially. In m experience, working with the nurses at the hospital tends to give you more knowledge around what works well, they see the effects of many patients daily and whilst they cannot generally prescribe, the can offer thoughts on what might be causing various issues. The same is true for all your medications, it’s a juggling act to get them right. Two ears in for me and I’m still juggling, but more tinkering with the balance. Good luck! Peter

[Farmer63]

Hi, do you have high BP , after my HA I was put on a cocktail of drugs, Ramipril being one of them, I didn't have any BP issues, apparently this drug can help strengthen the heart after a HA , my issues was cough and light head, dizzy when getting up. I discussed these issues with the cardiologist, they decided to remove Ramipril from my list. Unless you have high BP it's worth discussing it with your medical team.

[FakeNews]

I was given losartan to replace ramipril

[Parsley56]

My reaction to Ramipril was like yours. I switched to Atenelol which has been effective with no side effects (for me).

[dav2u]

Hi thereWelcome to the club. I had the same symptoms most nights and dry at the back of my mouth. I never changed as I was worried about other side effects from other meds. Funnily enough I went through a period of gargling with a mouthwash before bed and that has helped... I really don't know if it did anything but I'm much better.

(I might look into that acid comment above as I'm now on acid meds due to a couple of bad attacks)

All the best

[FiftyRoy]

Didn't get on with Ramapril but then was prescribed Candesartan which has been no problem at all!

[STEMI_Dave]

Candesartan 8mg works for me!

The few months I was on Ramapril were awful.

[tangotese]

I too had weeks of a persistent cough and zI was taken off zRsmpiril. Please everyone if you get edically accepted side effects on medications do "yellow card" it. That will go on your records so you don't get it prescribed again and also help other patients as reports accounted.

[Harefieldfan]

me too. I was switched to Losartan. Cough still there a few years on but chest x-ray negative they say.

[GranofH]

My GP started me on Ramipril it was managing my BP really well but I fell in the night and had a seizure so the doctor in the hospital changed me to Amlodipine, they thought the Ramipril made my blood pressure drop too low and caused the fit.

[David_A]

I was changed to Entresto but one of the potential side effects is referred to as "the Entresto cough".

Mine isn't that bad but it's almost constant.

[dipt]

My Dr took me off Ramipril because of the side effects.

[Alfie33]

I'm the same but not on ramapril ,I take amlodipine, nicorandil and atorvastatin. Every time i try to sleep i cough. I have changed my pillows dosnt help

[Eric_]

Hi, its normal to get a cough on Rampril. It is annoying but your body adjusts after a year or so. I am still on it 24 yrs later and dont notice it now! Good luck 🙂

[lizzieloo2]

My husband developed a cough due to Ramipril after a heart attack and stent fitted. His GP swapped his twice daily 2.5mg dose for one dose of 50mg Losartan which she said was also an ACE inhibitor but worked slightly differently. No problems with coughing now

[Tlyna]

Check yourself to be sure that is the only side effect you have. I was on Ramipril for awhile and had several bad side effects including eventually the cough. Sadly it took me some time to notice as I was unable to do much for several months as I was in severe pain from a back injury and thought the shortness of breath, tiredness and muscle stiffness was from the inactivity. Also had some blurred vision and lightheadedness. When the back pain was finally taken care of by a Radiofrequency Rhizotomy I found I still could not do much as I would be out of breath within walking about 20 feet no matter how I tried to increase my stamina. I finally checked and had the doctor change my meds, dropping the Ramipril and I was able to walk at least 100 feet without stopping and being bent over trying to breathe within a couple of days, the other side effect except for the cough went away fairly quickly. Unfortunately both the inactivity and the Ramipril were masking a serious heart condition, aortic valve stenosis which brought back the shortness of breath and inability to walk more than a few feet within a couple of months and was worse so ended up in the emergency room. Had a TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) done and wow, instantly after the shortness of breath was gone.

The cough had lasted for about 2 months after dropping the Ramipril. It was annoying but did go away finally.

[Bush73]

Hello

Yes that’s the big side effect of Ramipril

I had same ask your GP to prescribe LOSARTAN

Same BP control and your cough will disappear after a few days

Also helps your kidneys!!

Vic

[topbook]

I had to come off as I felt very dizzy about to pass out. The doc said it was bringing my bp down too low. I'm not on a bp med now.

[LylaR]

I developed a cough on Ramapril ,cardiologist switched me to Candesartan , no problems after taking it for a year

[Cairnview]

I was on Ramapril had horrendous headaches was switched to Emapril suffered the same side effects was put on amlodopine and losaratan no side effects with losaratan but swollen ankles and a slight redness to my lower legs but I can live withbthat

[carole99]

Hi I had the same problem and after trying various other blood pressure meds I have found that I can take Indapamide. If you have a cough on ramipril you cannot take it and they need to try a different tablet. I think I went through about 4 different types until I found the one I can take. It may take a while but there are a lot of blood pressure meds and you will find one that you can take. It is trial and error to find one that fits.

[Toffodog]

I was prescribed Ramipril 2 years ago and within 2 weeks I developed a cough I immediately stopped this medication and was then prescribed Amlopidine which I’ve been fine with ever since however the cough from the Ramipril still exists mostly at night when I’m falling a sleep.

[MustyK]

Hi

I had a similar experience. My GP switched it to Losartan several year sago and it has been fine ever since (no more cough). As it has already been mentioned, Losartan is probably the "de-facto" substitute. Have a word with your GP. Take care