Cough

timberwood · Post by **timberwood** » Fri May 11, 2007 9:14 am

Hi, I've been on CPAP for 5 months now and for the last 4 it has been great. However, I seem to have developed a persistent cough that I think is related to CPAP use. I'm not congested in any way and still sleep well. At first I thought it may be too high a setting on the humidifier so I turned it way down, kinda felt like I was drowning in the morning (seems like I have to adjust the humidifier a lot due to the machines inability to sense room humidity levels and auto adjust).

The cough seems to stem from the lungs resulting from an irritation.

Has anyone else experienced this? I guess I'll make an appointment to see my ENT.

Thanks

Daryl

Daffney_Gillfin · Post by **Daffney_Gillfin** » Fri May 11, 2007 10:33 am

You might consider doing a Google search for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) and/or Gastroesophageal (GERD). It sounds a little off since you feel that it stems from lung irritation, but just in case....

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Fri May 11, 2007 10:38 am

Hi Daryl

I have the same thing. It's a loud, dry, hacking cough and is the worst in the morning.

I was diagnosed with GERD years ago but I don't medicate it. I recently asked my doctor if the coughing could be the CPAP / GERD combo and she said absolutely. She wants me to try Tums at night to see if that helps. I'm on a ton of medications for other things so we're trying to see if we can avoid one more at this point.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri May 11, 2007 11:05 am

I would look at any Hypertension medication you might be taking like an ACE inhibitor such as Lisinopril.

You may not have a problem until you go on cpap which can naturally lower your blood pressure, if still taking the same medication you can develop a cough and end up with hypotension. If that is the case talk to your doctor and take your BP regularly.

Cough can also be related to cpap use is normal the first few weeks until your body gets used to the extra dryness. Drink more water and you might try a squirt of BIOTENE before bed, it will keep you from drying out so much. If the cough persists see your doctor there can be other causes of cough.

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Sat May 12, 2007 1:10 pm

Snoredog beat me to it about ACE inhibitors, such as Lisinopril, which I take. It's notorious for causing a dry cough, which I had. I get excellent BP control with it, and none of the tiredness that I got with beta blockers, so I did some research (e.g. http://hyper.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/38/2/166.pdf, which indicated that iron supplements, taken 12 hours apart from the Lisinopril, reduced the cough. I was skeptical, but Bless Pat if it did not work for me.

Other suggestions were cough lozenges (but I avoid sugar), and Dextromethorphan (which I keep around only if I'm speaking to a group). All of these help, but 325 mg Ferrous Sulfate at night basically does the trick for me.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:10 pm

After having bad experiences with Lisinopril (coughing) even before PAP therapy, my PCP prescribed Diovan.....which was better.

After about a year on that and CPAP, I went off of it about a year ago and my BP is within reasonable ranges.

Den

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:15 pm

Den: I'm hoping for that result. I've lost 35 ponds in a year, largely due to xPAP, but I've got a good 40 to go before I'm likely to be able to do without BP medication.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:26 pm

cwsanfor wrote:Den: I'm hoping for that result. I've lost 35 ponds in a year, largely due to xPAP, but I've got a good 40 to go before I'm likely to be able to do without BP medication.

Good luck, Wally.
I've still got a long ways to go with my weight, but at least my BP came down (a lot). Even when I was "skinny" in the early 80's and did a lot of running, my BP never really was LOW. That's what makes me suspicious that I've had OSA in increasing stages for most of my life. Even back then (in my early 30's), I snored alot.

Den

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Sat May 12, 2007 5:03 pm

My gosh people, you really need to get off the meds.....