Ramipril

[AustrianAndyGull]

Anyone ever taken this and did you have any problems?

[Gullscorer]

I'm taking Lisinopril which is probably much the same thing; they belong to a group of medicines called ACE inhibitors. I was prescribed mine for high blood pressure, and developed a persistent dry cough, which is a possible side-effect. So I stopped taking them for a while. I now take one 20mg tablet daily, along with 10mg Amlodipine, also for high blood pressure, and half a dozen other medications, for almost as many ailments. The precise dosage and medications will depend on your own individual problems and symptoms, but you if you notice any possible side effects you should tell your GP who will change your prescription if necessary.

[AustrianAndyGull]

The dry cough thing is what I was hoping someone would say Mick. Been on these for about 4 years now and had dry tickly cough for 2 years plus lump in throat sensation, stiff neck, sore throat, really bad retching without vomiting especially in the morning. All which the doc has thought it was either reflux or anxiety. I only found out about the really horrendous side effects of ramipril the other day and apparently shedloads of people have similar problems and they want them banned! I remember conversing with you about oesophagitis and related conditions Mick the season before last if you can remember (you sent me a very nice and informative PM about it) well I'm still getting it and it's getting worse. I've had loads of tablets for reflux which did nothing and modified diet and the like and still I've got this debilitating cough/retchiness and assorted throat problems. I'm thinking it's because of the ramipril and going to ask my doc to change my meds. Did your cough feel tickly/irritating and made you cough that you wanted to retch?

[Gullscorer]

I never had any retching, Andy, and my cough (which otherwise was as you described) is not so bad or as frequent now, but I've also had a chest pain of which acid reflux is a possible, even likely, cause, and I took Omeprazole for this which definitely helped, but another possible cause of any chest pain is a pulled/damaged muscle as a result of all the coughing. Anyway, if your symptoms are getting worse I would suggest you try the following:
1. Have your gullet checked for damage caused by the acid (which could also be a cause of the throat problems), and also for possible hiatus hernia;
2. Have a chest X-ray;
3. Stop taking the Ramipril for two or three weeks, to see if this helps to reduce the coughing; also ask your doctor to try a different dosage and/or medication;
4. Have your heart checked; perhaps you have a damaged/enlarged heart? Probably not the most likely cause of any pain and I don't want to scare you unnecessarily, but it may be worth checking;
5. Try changing your doctor, perhaps initially see a different doctor in the same practice, not because your current doctor isn't brilliant, but sometimes an additional look at things by a different brain can be helpful..

[ferrarilover]

That'll be those feminists, Scorer, using drugs to make you sick and subdue you into believing... whatever it is you think they're trying to make you believe.

Andy, mate, sack the drugs. If you want to drop your BP, just keep off here, you'll be cured within a week.

Matt.

[Gullscorer]

=D Matt the problem with women is that they are very believable, i.e. they can be very good liars, and very persuasive advocates. To illustrate, here's one of the voices of feminism: http://www.avoiceformen.com/allnews/ott ... e-killing/

Oh, and I forgot, probably the best thing Andy can do is to stay completely off the booze. It's a bit too much to expect him to take up celibacy, though at my age the alternative is not to be recommended...

[AustrianAndyGull]

That'll be those feminists, Scorer, using drugs to make you sick and subdue you into believing... whatever it is you think they're trying to make you believe.

Andy, mate, sack the drugs. If you want to drop your BP, just keep off here, you'll be cured within a week.

Matt.

I've been really calm and quiet these last few weeks on here. In actual fact Torquay NOT playing makes me calmer.

Maybe it WOULD be best if we went down, went bust and then I'd be fine. :na: