AboutDomenic Sica Expertise All aspects of hypertension as well as any consideration in drug therapy for the management
of hypertension.
Experience Heavily published in the area of drug therapy in hypertension and renal disease. Primary management physician for a large multi-state referral practice for diagnosis and management of complex hypertension
Organizations Multiple including the American Society of Hypertension, International Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, American Heart Association, American College of Clinical Pharmacology amongst others.
Publications Over 250 publications (see PubMed)
Education/Credentials Board certified in internal medicine, nephrology, clinical pharmacology, and hypertension
Awards and Honors Multiple awards as clinical and/or teacher of the year.
Question QUESTION: Can I stop taking this suddenly or do I have to step down like with a beta blocker? Been on it for three months, having significant side effects.
ANSWER: You can stop this suddenly without any adverse effects other than your blood pressure going up some. Per chance did you relay the fact to your treating physician that you are having significant side effects?
Regards,
Domenic Sica, M.D.
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QUESTION: Yes I have told my physician. I was previously on a beta blocker which caused me to gain 20 pounds. I switched to Lisinopril, and lost 10 of those pounds in a week, but despite 7 days a week in the gym and 1200 calories a day the scale won't budge. Doc won't listen to me that its the drug. Insists its something else like me eating bad. Thyroid function is fine, BTW. I've gone from 115 pounds to 131 I am 5'2. Very frustrated by working so hard and nothing happening. I want to try to go off it and see what happens with the weight. My blood pressure was not all that high before maybe 135/90 at max. But it really helped with my migraines.
Answer Certainly seems reasonable to go off the medication and see what happens. Having written extensively in this area however, I have never seen where an ACE inhibitor (lisinopril)/diuretic is associated with any weight gain.
