Question: Dear Ask The Doctor: I have been on benazepril hydrochlorothiazide (20mg/12.5mg) for about 3 years and Bystolic 5 mg for a year and a half (both for hypertension). In August 2013 I began having symptoms thought to be an allergic reaction to one of these medications. The symptoms are a feeling of a lump in my throat, tightness in my throat, difficulty swallowing, feeling that my upper lip is swollen, difficulty in feeling like I'm getting a full breath, constant nasal and inner ear congestion, light headed (occasionally), ringing in my ears. I spent a week off of each medication under my doctor's instructions but to no avail. I saw an ENT who diagnosed silent reflux after seeing irritation in my throat and larynx, and I began taking a PPI that didn't seem to help. I saw an allergist who found allergies to tree pollens, cat dander, dust and dust mites, but he did not think that was causing my symptoms other than possibly the nasal and ear issues. I began taking Zyrtec that didn't really ease the symptoms. A gastroenterologist gave me an endoscopy and found that everything is structurally fine with my upper GI tract but I could be having reflux from stress. Since all of these symptoms are associated with both acid reflux and adverse reactions to medications such as the ACE inhibitor and beta blocker I am taking, could it be possible that I wasn't off of either of the medications long enough to accurately identify one of them as the culprit - wouldn't the symptoms get worse if it were one of these medications that I continue to take?

Thank you, Dr. XXXXXXX Would I continue the Bystolic with the CCB? I am already taking 12.5 mg diuretic as part of the benazepril. Also, after having been on the ACE inhibitor for two years before the symptoms developed, can angio-edema develop after taking for that long a period.

Thank you.

Dr. XXXXXXX How long does it typically take the angio-edema symptoms to go away after withdrawing the ACE inhibitor?