I have developed a persistent cough and believe it could be coming from one (or more) of my tablets. Would it be alright to stop all the tablets, except pred, for say 3 or 4 days, to try and see what's causing the cough? Any ideas?
Cough!: I have developed a persistent cough and... - PMRGCAuk
Cough!
Written by
Constance13
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
49 Replies
•
PMRproAmbassador
Now then - off to the doc!!! At the very least you need a chest x-ray!
Which tablets are you taking? If you stop all of them, and more than one has a side effect of cough you won't know which it is even of the cough stops! Had you started any of them shortly before the cough appeared?
See list in my reply to DorsetLady below.
I had taken all the tablets for years with no problems. As I mentioned before the doctor changed the BP tablet a couple of months ago - that MUST be the culprit.
Will go back to Exforge until I see the doctor.
Hi Constance, Which meds are you taking now?...
I was started on Perindopril which caused a tickly cough.... Switched to Candesartan which was and is fine... 🌻
I'm really surprised that so many people suffer with coughs when taking BP tablets. Have you any ideas what the chemical ingredient is that causes this? I would have thought someone would have studied this by now!
No idea and it isn't everyone. But there are loads of different BP meds - just a question of finding one that suits you. Lots of people complain of fatigue, especially with betablockers. Don't bother me at all.
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
It really depends what tablets you are on, and what for. You shouldn’t just suddenly stop the majority of tablets. Plus you would need to exclude each one at a time.
If you gave us a list, we may be able to give you advice on the individual ones from experience/knowledge.
Apart from Pred: BP, Statin, folic acid, Cocodamol.
Vitamins: D3, K2, Magnesium.
I've taken them all for years!!!
From experience I would plump for BP tablet - is it Ramapril?
But you do probably need to get GP to check.
The doctor did change my BP tablet a few weeks ago (not such a strong one as I had before). I must admit I thought it might be that? Will try stopping only that one for a few days and see what happens. I check my BP quite often as it goes up and down so much. Thanks!🤗
• in reply toConstance13
Is it ramapril? My dad had a terrible dry cough with that one (and some others).
Constance13• in reply to
No, it's Candesartan. Different in Germany.
It can cause cold-like symptoms including cough,
Is it just a lower dose or did he change the actual drug?
Changed the drug from Exforge to Candesartan.
Exforge causes cold-like symptoms but cough isn;t mentioned. The candesartan could be the culprit but speak to your doctor about it. Don't just stop taking it.
Do not stop taking your BP medication without at least talking to the doctor by phone first !
Jeezaloo, Constance, don't stop taking medication for your blood pressure!
Go see a doctor.
Some BP medicines cause coughs. Namely Captopril, Ramipril family. I had been taking Ramipril for 25 years before I started to get problems, so don’t assume that because you have been on them for years that you can’t suddenly start to get problems.
Check with medics before stopping any medication.
Or have you stopped a tablet recently. Thinking codeine/opioid type drug.
See your doc. My persistent cough was asthma based. New diagnosis.😡
Thank for all the quick replies everyone.💐🍀🍀
No , it isn't if any of those medications are for significant health reasons , just like the steroids.
You cannot be sure if the cough is because of your medication or some enviromental factor like pollen, air pollutants , heat , or something you have ingested , or because your immunity is low and you have got a summer cold or sinus related infection.
You need to be checked out and request advice from the GP and if you want to try coming off or changing medications to eliminate one thing you might be intolerant to you need to do it under supervision.
If the cough is persistent and accompanied by breathlessness or palpitations , dizziness or vomiting go to A and E to sort it out immediately , if it does not feel urgent or like severe allergy then get an appt with your GP , an urgent or emergency appointment in the next few days.
If they think it is a contraindication , or intolerance they may be able to change your medication or advise you about the best time to take them , rather than putting you through unnecessarily harsh withdrawal effects , on top of the cough.
I know lots who suffered horrendous coughing with blood pressure pill so check that first Constance hope all better soon .
I too have had a cough since having PMR. I don’t know if it’s the medication but also have some swallowing and chest problems. It’s difficult If there are other health conditions which have developed over time, but largely ignored due to concentrating on Polymyalgia! I think the others can give you better advice, whereas I can only give personal experience.
That suggests that maybe you have large vessel vasculitis affecting the arteries in the upper thorax. Cough can be a symptom of GCA and cause chest problems.
Oh no!😱 Squeamish about throats and eyes. Am seeing dr tomorrow, but not sure which problem to discuss in my 10 mins. I will make some notes!
Go on - cheer me up!!😏😂
Think that post was meant for ClarkB though. Wasn't it?
Not you!!!!
I’ve had a persistent cough for years. My GP at that time told me it was a known side effect of some hypertension tablets. She changed them more than once but they all reacted the same way. In the end, I settled on Losartan and Amlodipine plus the cough. Reckoned better to have lower blood pressure and an annoying cough rather than high blood pressure.
That said, I have had chest x-rays every few years to ensure there was no other reason, and you do need to make sure you check that and don’t just assume it’s just a side effect.
This all pre-dated PMR by years, and Prednisolone has had no effect on the cough at all.
I've had BP ever since I was 42 (80 now😀). Doctor tried 7 different types of tablet before I got one that stopped the cough. Just two months ago I told him the tablets were too strong now (BP 117/60) so he changed them. Guess what? Cough started again. I'm going back to my old ones till I see the doctor again.
I started taking Ramipril last November and have had a dry cough ever since. The pharmacist thinks it could be the culprit, so asked Dr if I could change it. He wants me to ask the Cardiologist first. Been waiting for an appointment with Cardio Clinic since November, was told it would be Feb/March, still waiting. Back to Dr today.
One could be dead before one saw a doctor in England!!😏😂
That one way of reducing the waiting lists! 🤦🏻♀️😳 bit drastic though!
NHS is brilliant but it needs a whole lot more investment if it is not to collapse in a heap.
One of my drugs caused a cough, I forget which one but it could have been Ramipril. I ended up seeing a Cardiologist who wasn't terribly helpful. However, I now take 4 drugs that keep my BP in the realms of ok:
Bisoprolol
Bendroflumethiazide
Sprironolactone
Losartan.
I take the first 3 at 06.00hrs & the Losartan at around 14.30hrs
My hypertension is affected by the other drugs that I am given, so is being constantly reviewed.
Good luck Constance
Blood Pressure tablet change is the culprit. BUT do NOT stop . go to doc and tell him or her of the cough and when it started!
I had a cough at some point. Just a shallow cough with pain in my chest. Went to my doc and she thought it could be heartburn related. I never took stomach protection pills with prednisone as I try to take as little pills as possible. However after taking Zantac (or ranitidine) for acid reflux - cough went away. Just something to consider.
If you are taking blood pressure pills STOP ! The people’s Chemist here in the US makes natural supplements for BP that work. I’ve been using them for 6/7 years
With good results.
Wow! You should NEVER advise someone to STOP taking BP meds before they have spoken to their doctor!!!
• in reply toConstance13
I was just going to say the same!!
Which may, under medical supervision, be fine. But telling people on a forum to stop taking their BP medication without adding the qualification "under medical supervision" is irresponsible. Added to which - many of us are not in the USA and I personally would want to be sure that the supplements were subject to pretty close scrutiny - which they probably aren't.
My husband had a 'ramapril cough' It went on for ages,He's now on Losartan which is fine.
I was on a certain med BP, has a known side effect of a cough. Dr changed it and cough disappeared!
Hi Constance! A Canadian here from the west coast! I suffered horribly from coughing when I started my thyroid medication, Synthroid. Couldn't sleep, kept me up, at times I thought I was going to choke. So I found out that the manufacturer's of the meds use lactose. I am very lactose intolerant. My pharmacist said that many meds have lactose added as a filler, for what purpose, I don't know. I now have to have my meds made by the pharmacist at a huge expense. Synthroid $8, Compounded $148 for 3 month supply. Just to have meds without lactose. Makes me want to cry!
Possibly, your situation may be the similar? Something in the meds, fillers, possibly that you are intolerant to?
"In the pharmaceutical industry, lactose is used to help form tablets because it has excellent compressibility properties. It is also used to form a diluent powder for dry-powder inhalations."
and they claim "Most medications do not contain enough lactose to cause lactose intolerance."
Shame a lot of doctors believe that!!
I was coughing with two different BP meds for 6 mos... found out it was a side affect from both. GP finally put me on hydrochloride (a diuretic) no more coughing. And BP is fine! Yes always consult your GP first!! Best wishes!
I know my first BP was linsopril, but can’t remember the 2nd one. Only took it for a few weeks!
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Year long cough
Year-long cough
I had PMR symptoms a year ago December. At that time I started a cough. I would...
PMR cough
I have had PMR for 6 years and on the whole controlled with Leflunomide. Recently I have had a...
Cough cough cough - Methotrexate?
I have PMR/GCA/LVV – all currently under control on 5mg Pred and 25mg MTX.
However… I’ve had a...
Related Posts
Cough and Methotrexate? Is there a link? and 
PMR and cough
GCA and Cough/Interstitial Lung Disease?
Cold mucus coughModeration team
Fran_BensonPartner
SophieMBPartner
