If it is not cough, it must be dysgeusia: differing adverse effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in the same individual.
Presented is an unusual case of a 66-year-old-resident of a long-term care facility, who manifested severe dysgeusia and impaired quality of life attributed to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril; not realized at the time was the fact that he had an adverse reaction-cough-just weeks earlier from another ACE inhibitor in the same class, quinapril, thus illustrating different adverse effects to two antihypertensives in the same class. Cough and dysgeusia are symptoms that may be easily overlooked as side effects of medications. As polypharmacy is common in nursing home settings, health care providers need to be vigilant about adverse drug reactions which are common, but preventable and often reversible.
Division of Geriatrics, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
D
D
Unnikrishnan
P
P
Murakonda
T S
TS
Dharmarajan
D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077583:Quinapril; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000009:adverse effects
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D004656:Enalapril; D000077583:Quinapril