What should I do about a persistent dry cough from an ACE inhibitor?

[Joshua_H]

I’ve been on the same blood pressure medication for years, but lately I’ve been getting this annoying dry cough that just won’t go away. My doctor mentioned it could be a side effect of the ACE inhibitor I’m taking, and I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what they discussed with their doctor as an alternative.

[Penelope.H]

Yes, me too. After years on an ACE inhibitor I started with a dry cough that wouldn’t quit. My doctor suggested switching to an ARB, like losartan. It took about a week or two, but the cough eased and my blood pressure stayed in range after the adjustment.

[Paul.S]

I tried to ride it out for a while, thinking it was allergies. It got worse during workouts, which felt odd. We finally talked about it and, yes, the consensus was that the med could be the culprit, so we discussed alternatives rather than doubling down on the same pill.

[Emma2]

I did switch to an ARB after a long chat with my doc. The cough stopped for me in a couple weeks, and I could breathe easier. Has anyone here switched and found the cough went away or did you try something else?

[Paul88]

I still wonder if the cough was really about the med or a dry air thing at home. My humidifier helped a bit but not completely. Either way, talking to the doctor about a switch felt right, and I’d do it again if the coughing came back.