Lisinopril

Lisinopril is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack. Lisinopril belongs to a group of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure and make the heart pump more efficiently.

Lisinopril is a prescription medication used:

• alone or with other medications for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults and children 6 years of age and older
• with other medications in the management of congestive heart failure
• to improve survival following a heart attack

Lisinopril is not recommended in children less than 6 years of age.

Lisinopril may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Prinivil

• Qbrelis

• Zestril

Lisinopril may cause serious side effects. See " Lisinopril Precautions."

The most common side effects include:

• cough
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• headache
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• body weakness
• upper respiratory infections (cold, flu)
• a decrease in sexual ability (impotence, erectile dysfunction)
• rash
• excessive tiredness
• chest pain
• stomach pain
• extreme low blood pressure

This is not a complete list of lisinopril side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. 

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. 

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• potassium-sparing diuretics such as:
  • spironolactone (Aldactone)
  • triamterene (Dyrenium)
  • amiloride (Midamor)
• other diuretics such as:
  • furosemide (Lasix)
  • hydrochlorothiazide
  • torsemide (Demadex)
• aliskiren (Tekturna)
• angiotensin receptor blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), losartan (Cozaar), and telmisartan (Micardis, Twynsta)
• aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as:
  • celecoxib (Celebrex)
  • diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam, Flector, Voltaren, Zipsor and others)
  • etodolac (Lodine)
  • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
  • indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin SR)
  • ketoprofen (Orudis, Actron, Oruvail)
  • ketorolac (Toradol)
  • meloxicam (Mobic)
  • nabumetone (Relafen)
  • naproxen (Naprosyn)
  • naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan)
  • oxaprozin (Daypro)
  • piroxicam (Feldene)
• Certain medications used to treat diabetes
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• potassium supplements
• injectable gold (sodium aurothiomalate)

This is not a complete list of lisinopril drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby and may even cause death. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. See "FDA Warning" and "Pregnancy Section".

Harm to your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or become pregnant. It is not safe to take this medication during pregnancy as it can cause serious birth defects and miscarriage. 

Anaphylaxis and other serious types of allergic reactions. This medicine may cause anaphylaxis and other serious types of allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth, or throat while you are using this medicine.

Angioedema. Lisinopril may cause a serious side effect known as angioedema, a rapid swelling of deep layers of the skin. Stop taking lisinopril and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms suggesting angioedema (swelling of face, extremities, eyes, lips, tongue, difficulty in swallowing or breathing).

Sweating and dehydration. Excessive sweating and dehydration can lead to a serious drop in blood pressure. Be sure to drink plenty of water during exercise and hot weather. Check with your doctor right away if you become sick while taking this medicine, especially with severe or continuing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These conditions may cause you to lose too much water or salt and may lead to low blood pressure. 

Low white blood cells. Check with your doctor if you have a fever, chills, or sore throat. These could be symptoms of an infection resulting from low white blood cells.

High potassium in the blood. This may occur while you are receiving lisinopril. Symptoms of hyperkalemia include: abdominal or stomach pain, confusion, difficulty with breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, nervousness, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, shortness of breath, or weakness or heaviness of the legs. Call your doctor right away if you have these symptoms. Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without first checking with your doctor.

Liver failure. Your healthcare provider will monitor for liver problems. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of jaundice such as yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes. 

Kidney problems. Lisinopril may change the way the kidneys work. Your doctor may want to monitor your kidney functions with certain blood tests as well.

Change in blood sugar levels. This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.

Keep all medical and laboratory appointments while taking lisinopril. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Lisinopril may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position. Make sure you know how you react to the medicine before you drive, use machines, or do other things that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert. Make sure you know how this medication affects you. 

Do not take lisinopril if you:

• are allergic to lisinopril or to any of its ingredients
• have had an allergic reaction to another blood pressure medication that belongs to the same class (ACE inhibitor)
• have a history of hereditary or idiopathic angioedema
• have diabetes and are taking aliskiren
• are taking the medication Entresto

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of lisinopril, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving lisinopril.

Follow dietary (food) recommendations made by your doctor and dietitian which should include a healthy diet. If your doctor prescribes a low-salt or low-sodium diet, avoid using salt substitutes containing potassium.

Before receiving lisinopril, tell your doctor:

• if you are allergic to lisinopril or any other medication
• if you have or have ever had heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, lupus, scleroderma, or angioedema
• are taking aliskiren (Tekturna)
• are taking sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto) 
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Lisinopril is usually not recommended during pregnancy. It may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking lisinopril call your doctor right away. See "FDA Warning".

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if lisinopril is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Lisinopril tablets and solution are taken by mouth, with or without food, usually once a day.

Take this medication at around the same time each day.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose.

Continue to take lisinopril even if you feel well. Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor.

Take lisinopril exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you based on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• other conditions you may have
• other medications you are taking
• your weight

The dose range of lisinopril tablets is 2.5 mg to 40 mg taken by mouth once daily.

The recommended dose range of lisinopril solution for adults is 5 mg to 40 mg taken by mouth daily. (The dose prescribed will depend on what is being treated)

The recommended dose for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) is 5mg within 24 hours of the heart attack followed by 5mg after 24 hours, then 10mg once daily. 

In children 6 years and older, lisinopril is dosed by weight at 0.07 mg per kg and can be given up to 5mg daily.

For those with whose kidneys do not work as well as they should, the dosing may be lowered. 

If you take too much lisinopril, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store this medication at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

USE IN PREGNANCY

When used in pregnancy during the second and third trimesters, ACE inhibitors can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, lisinopril should be discontinued as soon as possible.