Warning issued over blood pressure medicine taken by millions | UK | News
A common class of blood pressure medication prescribed to millions in the UK can trigger a chronic dry cough lasting up to three months, a general practitioner has warned. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as Ramipril, Lisinopril and Captopril, are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the UK, with around 65 million prescriptions issued each year.
These medications are essential for managing high blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood. However, GP Dr Suraj Kukadia, known as Dr Sooj on TikTok, warned in a recent video that one of the most common side effects is a persistent cough.
“Any of these ACE inhibitor drugs can cause irritation to the airway, which can lead to a dry cough that can be chronic,” he said in a video viewed more than 119,000 times.
The British Heart Foundation estimates that around one in ten people on ACE inhibitors may experience this reaction. Dr Kukadia added that while it typically resolves within a month after stopping the medication, in some cases it can linger for up to 12 weeks.
“If you can persevere with it, carry on,” he advised. “If not, it will be worth having a chat with your clinician to see if you can be changed to something else.”
Other side effects of ACE inhibitors may include dizziness, headaches, diarrhoea, blurred vision and, in rare cases, impaired kidney function.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects approximately 14 million people in the UK, with an estimated 5 million unaware they have the condition. It remains one of the top risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and kidney complications.
Dr Kukadia also outlined two other reasons for persistent coughs that often go undiagnosed: asthma and whooping cough.
He explained that one in four people with a chronic cough may have asthma, especially if symptoms worsen at night, early in the morning, or after physical activity.
“We use inhalers to try and open up the airways and reduce inflammation,” he said. If symptoms persist, patients may be given stronger medication.
He also pointed to whooping cough, also known as pertussis, as another overlooked cause. This bacterial infection typically mimics a viral cold in the early stages, but can progress to severe coughing fits with a loud “whoop” sound.
“It’s not a conspiracy theory, doctors aren’t trying to hide it from you,” Dr Kukadia said, noting the illness can cause vomiting and exhaustion after coughing.
Antibiotics may be prescribed if the condition is caught early, but the best protection remains vaccination. The whooping cough vaccine is often administered alongside immunisations for diphtheria and tetanus, especially in infants.
While persistent coughs can have several causes, Dr Kukadia stressed the importance of speaking to a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.