Why do ACE inhibitors cause a dry cough and how does bradykinin fit in?

[SofiaJ]

I’ve been trying to understand the mechanism behind how ACE inhibitors cause that persistent dry cough. My doctor mentioned it’s related to bradykinin accumulation, but I’m unclear on why that specifically irritates the airways instead of causing other symptoms.

[Zachary_T]

I had that cough too. Started a couple of weeks after I began the med, stayed dry and persistent, worse at night, and kept me up. No phlegm, no fever, just this scratchy throat thing.

[Larry_L]

From what the doctor explained, something called bradykinin can build up when you block the enzyme. That chemical can irritate the throat and airway nerves, so you get that persistent dry cough. It doesn’t usually come with other symptoms.

[William_M]

I tried to push through it for a while, but decided to talk to my pharmacist about switching to a different blood pressure medicine. The cough lingered for a bit after stopping, but it eventually faded on its own, which was a relief.

[LunaR]

I keep wondering if the cough is really the drug at all or if it’s something else like seasonal allergies or a post-nasal drip. It feels like there’s more to the puzzle, but I’m not sure how to tell what’s what.