Iron Supplements May Stop Drug-Induced Cough - cough induced by ACE inhibitors - Brief Article

Healthfacts, Sept, 2001 by Maryann Napoli

Iron supplements may stop the persistent dry cough that is a common side effect of a class of drugs frequently prescribed for people with high blood pressure and heart disease. The cough can be so irritating that it causes many to stop taking their medication. It affects about 39% of the people who are on ACE inhibitors (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors).

To test the hypothesis that a small amount of iron could stop the cough, a team of Korean researchers conducted a study of 19 people who had this side effect as a result of taking ACE inhibitors. They were randomly assigned to take a daily morning dose of iron (256-mg ferrous sulfate) or a placebo (inactive substance) and instructed to keep a cough diary by scoring the severity of the cough on a scale of 0 to 4.

Neither the study participants nor the investigators knew who was taking the iron supplements and who was taking a placebo. After four weeks, a significant reduction in cough scores was recorded by the people taking iron, but not in those who were given placebos. Three people in the group given iron supplements reported that the coughing ended completely.

This study was conducted by Sang-Choi Lee and colleagues at the Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul. It was published in last month's issue of the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension. The AHA cautions people with heart disease against taking iron supplements without expert advice because too much iron can be harmful.

ACE inhibitors are sold under a wide variety of brand names, including Lotensin, Apo-Capto (Canada), Monopril, Zestril, and Altace.

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Maryann Napoli is the associate director of the Center for Medical Consumers in New York City.