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Ramipril cough

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Guest

Have been on Ramipril now for about 5 months and the only side effects I have noticed is that damed cough and a very dry mouth especially overnight.

The cough isn't all the time but once it starts with a dry tickle at the back of your throat it can be quite a vigorous bout of coughing. This sometimes makes your chest ache and the immediate thought is here we go again.

The dry mouth is a real pain and any amount of drinks or boiled sweets dont make much difference.

1 like, 85 replies

85 Replies

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  • david27514
    david27514

    Posted

    After 3 months I can report that the change from Ramipril 10mg to Amias Candesartan 8 mg seems to have worked for me. No more Ramipril = no more cough.
  • jane243
    jane243

    Posted

    I think they put you on Ramipril to start with because it's cheaper than the 'sartans'. I also had the dreaded cough with Ramipril and was changed to Losartan last Sept since when no worries except some very low readings. Not sure whether to mention these to dr. 103/79; 88/59 recently - sometimes feeling rather spaced out. Is this too low I wonder. I take 50mg Losartan, nothing else.
  • tien40453
    tien40453 Guest

    Posted

    Hello people,

    My mum was on this god dame Ramipril for about a month, she has since stopped due to this dry hacking annoyign cough, but the cough still persist is thios normal??? we been to useless GP many times and the twat says its normal done xray etc nothing what to do? do any of you still have this annoying suicidal cough?

    • jane243
      jane243 tien40453

      Posted

      My cough didn't stop immediately I stopped taking Ramipril - I actually forget how long it took to get it out of my system but it did go eventually.
  • Dumper
    Dumper Guest

    Posted

    Hi Dumper here. Please keep the faith and stay off this drug. GPS are still prescribing it because it's cheap. The cough will disappear after a few weeks.
  • davidblair
    davidblair Guest

    Posted

    i myself had a cough and had to do some research with my heart failure team due to the fact my heart failure was discovered because of a cough.

    Ramipril does list one of it's sideffects as a cough and dry throught, there are other simular ACE  inhibitor that can be used but i am informed they are not as effective.

    so i guess you either bare the cough or go on a less stronger alternative 

    • jane243
      jane243 davidblair

      Posted

      My dr took me straight off Ramipril, there and then and put me onto an equivalent dose of Losartan. Ramipril is an Ace inhibitor and Losartan is an Angiotensin something-or-other. They both have very similar results and work in a different way to say a calcium channel blocker, or  beta blocker etc. I think the CCBs are often recommended for people over 55 [I'm 72 now] but I found out that you can't eat grapefruit with them so I refused them. Ramipril is cheap as chips and Losartan costsmore.
  • alpingtonman
    alpingtonman Guest

    Posted

    I too have had a cough since starting on Ramipril. It seems to build up around the larynx overnight every night. Another symptom now comes to mind having read through this blog. I havent had shin splints for 20 years since I walk the dog regularly, but in the last few weeks it has returned. As I need the walk for exercise, I think it might be best to change medication.
  • henbowalker
    henbowalker Guest

    Posted

    I'm on 7.5 mg/day and no recognisable side effects! Your dry mouth overnight could be caused by breathing through your mouth & not your nose! I'm 72 & had the same dry mouth every morning! I use nasal strips because my nostrils close during the night & force me unconciously to breathe through my mouth! Thanks to the strips (0.22p each) problem solved! You may have a problem with the Septum in your nose!
  • beryl00710
    beryl00710 Guest

    Posted

    I have this dry cough problem , losing sleep , also doing the drinks etc , but tried to reduce to 2.5 mg instead of 5 mg , but made no difference , apart from bp going up , i have an appointment at surgery to discuss alterative meds .
  • chris1959
    chris1959 Guest

    Posted

    I have also been taking Ramipril for about 8 months now and me and my family are absolutely fed up of the cough - exactly as many people describe - many times a day and quite violent sometimes - my skin also seems to be much redder and dryer than usual, not sure if that is connected - i will be visiting my doctor soon to come off this , many hours of loast sleep
    • De11
      De11 chris1959

      Posted

      If you haven't been given Losartan I would recommend speaking to your Dr and asking if this as a suitable alternative for you...since coming off ramipril it took months for the cough to go away but I am no longer affected with any of the side effects which is just reassurance to say...it will eventually stop once medication is stopped. And I function better on Losartan.

      I am shocked Drs give this out without advice however this is even more reason to read what the effects are and not to suffer in silence as I had done. As this cough became coughing up blood which was a frightening experience when you start imagining the worse.

  • oz5
    oz5 Guest

    Posted

    Good advice to ask your doctor for an alternative. I came off Ramipil and was put on Valsartan until they had a problem with supply, then put on Losartan for 2+ years now and no problems.
  • Dumper
    Dumper Guest

    Posted

    Dumper here. Losartin is a good choice as an alternative. Ramilpril is cheap that's why it's still prescribed. Get off it as soon as you can.
  • Crozziefan
    Crozziefan Guest

    Posted

    I was put on Ramipril after a heart attack last December. I developed a dry cough by the end of January which used to make me cough at any time without warning. It woke me up in the night, started when I was talking to someone or even when I was sitting quietly reading a book. It was so annoying I told my doctor and she put me on Candesartan 8mg. I have not had a cough since. Brilliant. Ask your doctor for a different tablet as Ramipril is making your life a misery. 
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