Hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril and Dizziness: What Users Say

• tim...
• April 4, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "I am presently on Lisinopril HCTZ, and for a while, I was doing well. Then I got upped from 10/12.5 to 20/25, and within a month of using, I have headaches, dizziness, nausea, the cough sometimes to the point of falling over. I can't seem to make my brain work the way I need it to, and my whole body hurts. My blood pressure is down, no question about that, but this is freaking me out."

• Dee...
• December 28, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "My MD wanted me to take Lisinopril rather than Lotensin, for some reason. It sure worked well in lowering blood pressure, but the side effects were a pain in the neck. I was taking 20/25 mg and was dizzy, headachy, awfully tired all the time, stomach upset, aching all day in my feet so that I could hardly walk, as well as other side effects. On my own, I cut it down in half and feel much better. My blood pressure is still on the low side, but these miserable side effects have finally let up. Guess I'd better tell the doctor."

• Sha...
• August 20, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "Was on Toprol for a long time and was having to constantly increase the dosage. My doctor switched me to this and I immediately noted a great balance of blood pressure. Went from 145/98 to 127/78 (ish). Only side effects I have noted are ones that are easily cured with water intake. I get the cough and am lethargic and dizzy when working in the yard (I live in Texas so it's a billion degrees outside). Both of these however are mitigated with increased water intake. I drink flavored water throughout the day and these side effects have subsided. Very happy with this medicine."

• Rob...
• July 26, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Don't take any medicine unless it's absolutely necessary. I've taken this for 5 years... Extreme dizziness, especially when working out. Brain fog was incredible, and your hair may also thin. It's not a good experience at all. I stopped the medicine a little while ago and now control my blood pressure with diet and exercise (without the feeling I am passing out)."

• Mea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 15, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I used lisinopril for approx 4 years with no noticeable negative effects. Suddenly, I began having severe nausea and lack of energy. I attributed it to the heat at the time. It didn't appear to make a difference what I ate or drank, it came back up. Then I started to feel dizzy upon standing and noticed an inability to see anything but white fog until the dizziness disappeared. I finally went to the doctor, who did blood work. The next morning, I was given a diagnosis of end-stage renal failure. I was in stage 4. The first thing he did was take me off lisinopril, which he said was the culprit. He then referred me to a nephrologist who confirmed his thought, and he started me on Tekturna. Luckily, and to his astonishment, the kidney disease regressed from stage 4 to stage 2. I am fortunate this drug didn't finish me off, but I now have permanent kidney disease and can't take anything metabolized through the kidney. Avoid this medication at any cost, it is dangerous."

• 515...
• June 17, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Lisinopril 20/HCTZ 12.5 for about a year now. I took it before and then switched medicines because of the coughing side effect of the Lisinopril. The new medicine did not provide the same results, so I switched back. I have the cough off and on, sometimes it is pretty strong for a few minutes. It goes away and recently has been minimal. The only other side effect I notice is dizziness or lightheadedness sometimes. I started taking the pill late morning after eating breakfast. The side effects seem to be much better for the most part."

• FL ...
• November 16, 2015

Hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril for High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Zestoretic 20-25 mg along with Norvasc 5 mg for 30 years... brand only as my original doctor prescribed and have never had any more issues with my high blood pressure. The generics released medication more up front than Zestoretic brand, and I would wake up with severe headaches. Zestoretic, along with the Norvasc, was perfect. My blood pressure is normal, and I have no signs of any side effects after all these years... I am now in my 70s. I do have to avoid being out in the hot sun for extended periods of time as it does make me a little dizzy, and I have to drink lots of fluids, but a small price to have my blood pressure under complete control."

• Emm...
• April 4, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was on atenolol for 15 yrs with leg swelling, facial swelling, headaches, joint aches, insomnia, no restful sleep, erratic bp in maybe 1 hr. Switched to lis/hctz 10/12.5 3 yrs ago. The only pill I take. BP steady 125/80. Throat sore, swelling closed, mouth breather, headache 12 hr after taking, tinnitus, dizzy when rising, then began vertigo, real vertigo. Dr said food allergy, stopped lin/hctz for 3 days = BP high, no tinnitus, no dizzy, no headache. 3 days ago had a bleeding floater in left eye. This morning, the ophthalmologist said lin/hctz can affect floater and macular degeneration. Deciding what to do.... lose 50 pounds and get off drug! Or put up with side effects and go blind?"

• Emm...
• April 4, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was on atenolol for 15 yrs with leg swelling, facial swelling, headaches, joint aches, insomnia, no restful sleep, erratic bp in maybe 1 hr. Switched to lis/hctz 10/12.5 3 yrs ago. The only pill I take. BP steady 125/80. Throat sore, swelling closed, mouth breather, headache 12 hr after taking, tinnitus, dizzy when rising, then began vertigo, real vertigo. Dr said food allergy, stopped lin/hctz for 3 days = BP high, no tinnitus, no dizzy, no headache. 3 days ago had a bleeding floater in left eye. This morning, the ophthalmologist said lin/hctz can affect floater and macular degeneration. Deciding what to do.... lose 50 pounds and get off drug! Or put up with side effects and go blind?"

• TCT...
• October 7, 2009

Hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril for High Blood Pressure "Initially, I had to get used to the dizzy feeling after standing up too quickly. I rise slower now. I combat the mild dry mouth and cough by drinking lots of water. The diuretic effect, plus my coffee and water intake in the morning, makes me wish I could move my cubicle into the bathroom. That effect tapers off during the day."

• Bro...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 27, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Every day when I take it, I feel sick, lightheaded, dizzy, my stomach knots up, and it is awful pain. I have to lay down for a while to get over it, and after reading all of the reviews on lisinopril, I'm wondering if it hasn't been side effects all along since I've been taking the medication."

• Tru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I started on this medication because my blood pressure was still high even on amlodipine 5 mg. It lowered my blood pressure significantly from the 150s to the 120s, but the side effects are painful. I have aching pain on the left side of my chest, plus a cough, as well as some dizziness when I lay down on my right side. I had to cut my pill in half to minimize these effects, but I will let the doctor know on my next visit. I would like to stop it altogether, but I worry about rebound hypertension."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I started on this medicine 5/4/22. Ended up with a 2-day stay in the hospital because of it 6/5/22. Within 3 days of starting it, I got a terrible ringing in my ears. To the point I couldn't hear the TV. Next, every time I stood up, leaned over, or turned my head too quickly, I got terribly dizzy. Then my feet and ankles got so sore it was really hard to walk. I stopped taking it on a Sat and went to the Dr. Mon morning. Dr. told me I'd feel a lot worse if I had a stroke. But he cut down to half a pill. I took the half pill for about 5 more days, and by then I felt unsafe even walking inside my own home. Between the dizziness and terribly sore feet, I was very unsteady. At the ER, they tested my potassium level, and it was way too low. Under 2.5. So I had an IV for a day and a half. I think this is supposed to be easy on your P levels, but for some reason, it did a number on mine! I still can't walk right, I just hope it clears up. And my BP has been 90/60 w/o meds, so I have no idea, but I will never take it again!"

• diz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Day 3. BP 84/37, dizzy, tired. Stopped taking on my own."