C-Pap use and coughing

[CinnyAnn]

This may be a stupid & dumb question to some but is there any connection to using c-pap and coughing. Ever since I started c-pap I had this annoying cough. Then last year it seems when the doctor increased the pressure to 16 I started to then get coughing spells where I could not quit coughing until I coughed up quite a bit of phlegm. The would happen about every 2-3 days. My doctor thinks there is no connection. Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks. BTW I do go to a pulmonalogist.

[My2wins]

I had a similar issue where I was coughing chronically for a long time. CPAP definitely made it worse.

Turns out it was my blood pressure med, which was an ACE inhibitor called Lisinopril. Once I changed med type my coughing stopped.

[chunkyfrog]

Phlegm, hmm, sounds like an infection. Let the pulmo know what color and consistency it is, and how long you've had it.
(Take pictures if possible) My guess, FWIW, cpap has been helping you deal with the infection,
which should have been addressed MONTHS ago!

[kteague]

Since this cough is productive of phlegm, my usual thoughts are probably not valid. But, just in case..

Have you trying playing with your humidity levels to see if it makes a difference?
I also had a problem with Lisinopril. Always possible the coughing caused by a med brings up phlegm just by the very nature of coughing, not that the phlegm caused the cough.

What things has your pulmonologist looked at to rule out a respiratory problem?

[CinnyAnn]

I do take Lisinopril which I have for many years. I have adjusted the humidity. I have been through a patch of testing from my pulmo including a broncho which fould what they term as chronic interisitial lung disease. Nothing seems to be helping. It just seems to me that since the pressure was raised to 16 that is when the "coughing spells" got worse. I really don't have a sleep doctor just my family doctor. I go through him to the DME. You would think that a pulmo doctor would know if this could be the cause. Thanks for taking the time & comments.

[Lambeau]

I have the same humidifier that you have. I have taken Lisinopril for many years (40 mg tablet every morning) along with 3 other blood pressure pills on a daily basis, as well as a Lipitor and Aggrenox and insulin injections.

The first night I used my machine (last Monday), the heat was not turned on in the humidifier. I woke with somewhat of a scratchy throat, but there never was any coughing involved. The next night I turned the heat on to the lowest setting of #1. Much improvement, but still not perfect.

The next three nights I have had the heat on the humidifier set at #2, and (drum roll) not the slightest hint of a scratchy feeling in my throat, and my nose also lost any 'crustiness' in the nostrils.

[LSAT]

My pulmonologist recommended OTC Musinex (Guaifenesin) to thin my mucus.

[kteague]

I do take Lisinopril which I have for many years. I have adjusted the humidity. I have been through a patch of testing from my pulmo including a broncho which fould what they term as chronic interisitial lung disease. Nothing seems to be helping. It just seems to me that since the pressure was raised to 16 that is when the "coughing spells" got worse. I really don't have a sleep doctor just my family doctor. I go through him to the DME. You would think that a pulmo doctor would know if this could be the cause. Thanks for taking the time & comments.

As a side note, a reaction to a med can start at any time even when it was previously not problematic. My cough with Lisinopril felt like a feather was tickling just above and behind my tonsil.

I too have interstitial lung disease. After being told I had pneumonia and two courses of antibiotics having no effect, further testing revealed the ILD. I was on Prednisone for several months but it was not responding then I had to wean off the Prednisone pretty quickly because I was found to have glaucoma and my eye pressures were in the 40's. Increased eye pressure is a recognized side effect of Prednisone. My pulmonologist said that although the ILD hadn't improved, it had not progressed to other areas of the lung, which it tends to do. Thank you for the reminder that I am far overdue for followup for this.

Sure hope you find answers and solutions.

[Wulfman...]

I'm another one who had an immediate reaction (dry cough) with Lisinopril. After doing some research, I confronted my doctor and requested something different......he switched me to Diovan/Valsartan (an ARB class medication). About a year later, my blood pressure had dropped with the use of CPAP therapy and I quit taking it.
A couple of years ago, I started taking Cozaar/Losartan (for kidney protection from Diabetes), which is another ARB class medication. No cough with that, either.


Den

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[Dreamingofsleep]

Hi Cinny,
I have had a cough for years. It used to be only morning and has worsened. Doc recently said it is sinus drainage which I have all the time, even when not really aware. So he put me on a cortisoid nose spray and actually my coughing is getting better and sometimes stops!

I know too that silent reflux disease - different from GERD can cause a cough.

Hope you find a solution soon

Dreaming

[DreamDiver]

Are you allergic to wheat or dairy? These often produce phlegm and a hacking cough. If you're willing to go a few weeks without wheat and then a few weeks without dairy, you might find one of these to be the culprit if your cough disappears. Guaifenesin really is great for breaking up and thinning out phlegm, as LSAT suggests.

Another possibility could be [edit: not GERD] silent reflux. Apparently for some, pepsin that regurgitates as far as the back of the throat is enough to cause throat soreness and coughing. Sleeping on a wedge, or at least elevating your head could help reduce coughing induced by GERD. A sip of antacid to wet the back of your throat before sleep is supposed to also reduce the action of pepsin as well. I'm not sure if the phlegm is part of this, so it may not be specific to your cough.

[My2wins]

I do take Lisinopril which I have for many years.

I was on Lisinopril for 4+ years. I changed to Losartan and the coughing stopped almost immediately.

[LSparks101010]

Thank you soooooo much for this thread! I've been taking Lisinopril for over a year, and just srarted cpap a week. I've been MISERABLE with the conatant coughing all day and night. I keep calling the DME nurse and she's been very sweet, heloinv with adjusting humidity, etc, but i doubt she ever would've thought of this. I'm calling my doctor tomorrow!! Thank you!

[CinnyAnn]

Thanks to all who suggested that it might be my BP medicine.. It turns out the Lisinopril was mainly the problem. I still have the chronic institial lung disease but am treating it. Thank you all again. This is a wonderful place to get help & advice.