Side effects

[Annamarg]

Has anyone ever had a bad dry cough and wheezing while taking these tablets..my husband has been on them for a month and started getting these symptoms about a week into first month did not give it much thought but still has the symptoms and now wondering if it could be the statins..

[Yllek]

Hi

I think you may have posted on the wrong forum. This isn’t for general medical issues.

This part of Health Unlocked is for people with Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Hughes Syndrome (sticky blood).

I’m presuming your husband doesn’t have that?

[Annamarg in reply to Yllek]

Hi Yielk , no my husband has high cholesterol and that’s why he’s on these statins , thank you for that I will check it out a bit more

[sos007 Ambassador]

I did not have a cough while on statins (I no longer take ANY medications). It could just be a coincidence and your spouse may have a virus. However, it is well known that blood pressure medications known as 'ACE inhibitors' DO produce a dry cough. These medications are prescribed to control blood pressure.

Examples of ACE inhibitors include:

Benazepril (Lotensin)

Captopril.

Enalapril (Vasotec)

Fosinopril.

Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)

Moexipril.

Perindopril (Aceon)

Quinapril (Accupril)

----------------------

If your husband has been prescribed both blood pressure and cholesterol medications it is an indication that he is likely overweight.

Medications are band-aid solutions and have detrimental side-effects that will permanently reduce the quality of life. Ideally a dietary and lifestyle change is in order to correct the underlying condition.

Your best solution is to get your husband to eliminate all sugars in his diet and all simple carbohydrates. Examples of simple carbohydrates are:

- white flour products - i.e. white bread, white pizza dough, white pasta

- white rice and white potatoes

- fruit juices, soft drinks and excessive alcohol

These items should be replaced with fresh vegetables (you can cook them) and fruits. The best vegetables for reducing blood pressure naturally are green leafy vegetables:

- arugula (roquette)

- spinach

- kale

- collard greens

- swiss chard

Other good foods for reducing blood pressure include - beets, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, blueberries, and dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa in it.

By swapping vegetables and whole fruits for the simple carbs noted above, you will naturally eat fewer calories and lose weight.

Furthermore, (to oversimplify) simple carbs convert into glucose in the body which results in insulin spikes. You know when this happens because it produces that drowsy feeling you get after eating these types of foods. Glucose and other sugars in the body trigger an increase in seratonin in the brain which in turn produces feelings of pleasure. This begins a vicious cycle of increased cravings for sugar and simple carbs causing people to eat too much. Furthermore, this process results in the 'leptin' hormone in our brain being shut off. Leptin tells you when to stop eating. With excess sugar and simple carbs in your diet, you lose control of your appetite and you tend to gain weight.

Finally it is important to exercise daily, so a minimum 30 minute walk will significantly improve your health.

With these changes your husband won't need statins or ACE inhibitors.

Good luck.

[Woody26 in reply to sos007]

Totally agree with you, I used to take Lisinopril my self until a routine medication check up with my pharmacy and she said do you have a dry cough, which I had a she said they are known for that , mentioned to my doctor about it , although he wasn’t best pleased about changing over , but ever since then cough has gone!!!