It was early morning in February when Ana B. realized she was slowly dying and didn’t know why. She was coughing, almost constantly now. Air to her lungs seemed elusive. As she tossed bedding off and hoisted herself up with the grab bar, she realized again her nose was plugged and she needed her inhaler again—but it had only been an hour since the last dose. Her “oxygenator” (i.e. slang for the oxygen concentrator) was set higher than originally called for; in fact, when she started using oxygen, it was only for sleep, but now her breathing was so labored with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) that her doctor prescribed “continuous oxygen” for her. Yes, there was wind outside whipping around the valley sand, but she had rehomed allergens like birds and cats long ago. When she stood, she was dizzy and coughed constantly; sitting or standing, her muscles ached; arthritis in her feet, knees, hands increased as did asthmatic attacks. What was the culprit?

Coughing and drowsiness were the mainstays of her daily life. With oxygen in tow and still coughing, Ana B. mustered all her muscle to walk to the mailbox, to grocery shop or visit thrift stores that had seating in strategic places. These rest spots allowed her a full tour of the store, and time to steady her breathing before her purchase and subsequent path to the car. So, that was the extent of her exercise ability. Going for her allergy shots had stopped too because she coughed so much.

Then on Monday, a friend dropped by and shared her experience with Lisinopril. Ana B.’s friend Mia explained that almost the minute she began taking the medicine for high blood pressure that her dry cough began. She recognized the cough as mirroring Ana B.’s constant cough. She stopped her Lisinopril and the coughing stopped that day.

Ana B. reacted, “Really?”

Together they examined the list of side effects from the manufacturer, the physician medicine guide, and the Mayo Clinic. 

According to the Mayo Clinic coughing is the most common side effect; excessive coughing suggests that breathing is interrupted; and therefore, this drug may not be the right one for the patient. Ana B. nodded her head that along with the every-5-minute coughing spells, she had less well-known adverse reactions too like numbness around the lips, sore throat, some face swelling, tingling, headaches, insomnia, skin shedding—even the tinnitus she had was more pronounced. The urine stream is often narrowed, and she had experienced that as well. Liver and kidney damage is possible with Lisinopril—several web sites stated. One website noted not to use Lisinopril if a diuretic was prescribed.

Although consulting one’s doctor is recommended before quitting any medication, Ana B. decided to stop it anyway. Within a few hours, her breathing was better because she wasn’t coughing. By the next day, she hardly coughed at all. “I’m sleeping better, too,” she told her doctor at her appointment. 

Two months later, Ana B. walks around her outside gardens. She hopes others reconsider their experience with Lisinopril if they too have struggled with breathing. “From now on,” she vows, “I’ll talk to the doctor about side effects BEFORE I have to quit the medicine.” Yes, she deals with daily environmental allergens, but not having the cough has improved her living. Now she is slowly living more by walking more: and she’s noticed her oxygen tank isn’t so heavy anymore.

—Nelda Curtiss is a retired college professor who enjoys writing and fine arts. Contact her at [email protected]