A nurse is caring for a client who takes lisinopril for hypertension. Which of the following client statements indicates an adverse effect of the medication?

A. “I seem to be bruising more easily.” is incorrect because lisinopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, does not affect platelet function or blood clotting mechanisms. Easy bruising is more commonly associated with anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications, liver disease, or clotting disorders, rather than antihypertensive medications like lisinopril. B. “I have a heightened sense of taste.” is incorrect because altered or heightened taste is not a characteristic adverse effect of lisinopril. While some medications may cause taste disturbances, this is not a commonly recognized or clinically significant side effect of ACE inhibitors. C. “I have a nagging, dry cough.” is correct because a persistent, nonproductive (dry) cough is a well-known and common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors, including lisinopril. This occurs due to the accumulation of bradykinin and substance P in the respiratory tract when ACE is inhibited. These substances irritate the airway, leading to a chronic cough that is not related to infection. The cough can appear weeks to months after starting therapy and often resolves only after the medication is discontinued or switched to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). D. “I have to urinate frequently.” is incorrect because increased urinary frequency is typically associated with diuretics, not ACE inhibitors. Lisinopril lowers blood pressure by inhibiting the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, causing vasodilation, not by increasing urine output.