Taking Losartan and have on-going cough probs

My husband started taking Losartan and the same day he developed a dry hacking cough that affects his throat - he coughs all night long and wakes up with sore ribs and a headache (It keeps me awake too but worried about him).  He had read that flu like symptoms were a side affect but had no idea it would be this bad.  Googled the drug and cough and found this thread. His dosage is very low 12.5mg a day!!  He decided to continue with the drug to see if the cough would subside.  It's been 2 weeks and if anything it's gotten worse.  We've both been up all night and he's drinking ginger and honey tea right now to soothe his throat.  He will probably stop taking the drug today.  

I've been taking Losartan for several years.  During this time I have bouts of dry cough.  I'm in a bout of it right now and it is driving me crazy since I'm having trouble sleeping or talking.  An Internet search indicates that dry cough is a rare, but possible side effect.  For example, see:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2014204/

My GP, who I respect a lot, seems to think that the Losartan is not the culprit.  But I intend to take a Losartan break to test that hypothesis.  I'll report back later on the results.

Hi curlylox , I changed from ramapril to Losartin 10 years ago because of a cough. Over the last 2 years I have had 5 lots of antibiotics and steroids for a cough. I have just had the last of investigations for it and am waiting for an appointment for results. No one has mentioned that it could be losartin and am wondering now if it is this medication! 

I went to my primary care doctor today to ask for an alternative to the 20mg losartan prescription I have been on for over a year. I have developed a dry hacking cough. I can control the cough by taking psudephed pepper and mucinex liquid cough syrup. a couple of times in the past year my doctor had to prescribe a steroid (prednisone) and a antibiotic (zithromax) to try and "kik" the terrible cough. the first time he did this it worked but the cough came back. the last time I saw my doctor I told him I am still coughing he said it had to be either acid reflux or an allergy. I have a referral to a allergist but have not gone yet. I was searching the net the other day and it said that about 7% of patients that take 20mg losartan develop a dry hacking cough. I asked my pharmacist and he suggests that I ask my doctor for a different prescription from another family than losartan. so I hope this resolves this on going aggravating issues. I also have developed some muscle ache and pain. I see that it might cause that too. hopping for the best

Antibiotics can restore health and get rid of almost any type of infection.

I'm so relieved to hear all of this I have been on Losartan for 10 years and it works like a charm. However, throughout those 10 years, I have a note on my phone titled Tickly Cough which I have been adding to because I’m trying to find some correlations somewhere. I have the cough once or twice a year and it’s this harsh, hacking cough, especially at night for about 8-10 days. I take my losartan at dinner and I am finally piecing it all together that it is the losartan that’s creating this problem. There are many articles written about this. How come this isn’t a main side effect since it seems so many people have it?. I will have to weigh out the benefits because it has maintained my high blood pressure at a safe level.

I may just have to deal with the one or two times a year that this happens but it’s awful when it does.

Good luck everyone thank you for starting this conversation.

p.s i take 100mg