Expert: Charles Cusumano, FMP, PA-C - 7/20/2007

Question
My grandmother has uncontrolled hypertension. She is currently on Metoprolol
50mg daily, ASA 81mg daily, Lisinopril 20mg bid. Lisinopril is giving her
terrible dry cough which I know is the common side effect and she cannot
tolerate it. Can she switch to Diovan to replace Lisinopril?Do ARBs have side
effect of cough? (She used to be on CCB but MD replaced it with Lisinopril and
her BP is improving)"


Answer
Hi Den
Yes, she can switch to Diovan and get the same results in most cases. ARB's have a far less cough side effect although it can still happen. It is definitely worth a try. I do this sort of thing all the time in my practice when a patient has an ACEI cough.