Question about Lisinopril
 

I don't know where else to post this and if I'm wrong, then move it to the correct forum, please!. I have a question about Lisinopril.

I take 20 mg every day. No problem.

I just found out that I can get a 90 day supply at Costco for $10.00 and a 365 day supply for $20.00. The web pharmacy just informed me of that.

People can get a one year prescription for a high blood pressure medication? I never knew this in all my life.

I just wrote back to Costco and ask them to again, verify what they just wrote to me.

If I knew this, I would have done this last year. I mean, 365 pills for $20.00? jeez!!!

Anyone else know this?

Thanks much

Melody

I've never heard of a year's worth at one time. It would be a great money saver for me....but my doctor would never write an rx for it. I have to go in and have my BP checked at least 2X a year to get a refill on my rx. The most he'd agree to is a 90 day supply.

Sounds like something new. If your doctor will give you the RX I say go for it.

You might want to ask what generic they are using first however.

I got one RX for my lisinopril at WalMart and it was from Lupin drugs in India. It made me ill, and very dizzy...I transferred to another place and now get Watson, and that is much better.

I have used Ivax and Watson with no problems.

Mrs. D.

I have the bottle on my counter. Would it indicate which generic it contains (Lupin, Watson, etc??) or do I call for this information.

Thanks much
Melody

It should say on your label... If it doesn't call the pharmacy up or whatever. The Lupin brand comes in a flat blue plastic unit dose pak...not loose tablets in a bottle. Don't assume you will get the same brand you are now using...they may use a cheaper brand for the yearly fills.

You can also go to Rxlist.com and use their ID checker.

My only reservations about a year's supply at a time...is that you have to store your whole supply very carefully to avoid moisture, heat etc. (I'd open it once a month and take out 30 and put in another container moisture proof RX bottle-- the less you open it the better). If you react to the company that they are using, you would be stuck with 365 tablets as they don't take them back (health laws prevent this).

Mrs. D.

Went to Rxlist.com and I looked up LISINOPRIL.

Well!!! it seems that there is a Prinvil, a Zestril, (that was on the bottle when I was in the Accord Program), and then there is a Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide (water Pill, this I know), named Prinzide and then there's the same thing caled Zestoretic (I was on that for a while YEARS AGO.

When I left the Accord study, the bottle said ZESTRIL, and I've been getting the generic ever since.

How come there's more than one Lisinopril (I'm not referring to the water pill one)???

Oh, I just looked at the back of the bottle. It says:

Markings: LUPIN 20 pink round debossed. Luckily I have had no problems with what I've been taking for the past year.


I have 3 refills left so I'm good for the year, but I was thinking NEXT year.

Thanks much

Melody

I can't take that Lupin brand! YUK. I take 40mg.

Have either of you developed a cough since being on this drug? I stopped taking Diovan and switched to Lisinopril due to cost. The Diovan had no generic and was upwards of $80 a month! I couldn't do that. I tolerate the Lisinopril well but at first I had the most annoying cough.

Nope, no cough. I've been on one prill or another since I was 26 and diagnosed with hyptertension. Of course I was 300 lbs at the time, and that MIGHT have contributed to my having hypertension.

But with the diabetes, I gather the reason I am still on this is that it's supposed to protect the kidneys in a diabetic.

So, in my case, the only meds I'm on are 20 mgs a day of lisinopril and 15 or so of the Lantus.

My goal is to be off of any diabetic meds but that's going to take another 20 lbs or so and at the age of 62 (even thought I eat the way I do), I've hit a big plateau. The doctor told me "for you to lose weight you have to exercise MORE". I laughed and said "I'm 62, what do you want me to do, jump over hills?" Dr. Fed laughed. He is pleased with what I've accomplished so far so I'm not going to beat myself over the head for 20 or so pounds. When the weather turns nicer (and you WON'T BELIEVE THE SNOW THAT IS HERE IN BROOKLYN, NY), well, when the frost goes away and I get out my pedometer, well, we'll see about those 20 lbs.

I should go on the Biggest Loser. I'd probably fall off of their treadmill.

I don't know HOW those people over the age of 50, do what they do.

Unbelievable!!

lol Melody
P.S. Thanks Mrs. D for all the good info.

Diovan is less likely to have the cough.

All the ACE inhibitors can do this tho. It is due to an increase of bradykinin in the tissues. I had the most cough from Vasotec, but no cough with lisinopril or Accupril.

The lisinopril I think is the best one, of the bunch. It is not metabolized and is excreted whole, so it does not interact with other drugs or affect the liver. It has also been shown to enter the brain and reduce inflammation there, and is linked with a decrease of Alzheimer's potential. There are some studies showing it benefits MS patients too.

Kitty, you might try breaking it in half and taking 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night. What dose do you use? In the lower dosage range breaking in half is probably not going to make much difference. Lisinopril has a long half life, anyway, so splitting the dose may reduce the side effect a bit.

This article is interesting --near the end it gives potential things to try... If you know you are low in iron...this simple thing may help. Also aspirin, but long term use of that can cause bleeding, of the GI tract. The connection to arachidonic acid etc, gives me a clue that fish oil may help you too. It is not mentioned in the article, but it is a Cox-2 inhibitor as well. I use fish oil and consume salmon and other foods with it added, so maybe that is why my cough is less than it used to be back in the Vasotec days! ;)
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/484537_2
(if you can't view this, you can join for free...very easily).