Lisinopril
3 medicines
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor for high blood pressure and heart failure; it must not be taken during pregnancy because it can seriously harm or kill an unborn baby, and it can rarely cause sudden, dangerous throat swelling (angioedema).
Zestoretic
Lisinopril, Hydrochlorothiazide
5/12.5g/mg
Zestoretic is a heart blood pressure medication containing Lisinopril + Hydrochlorothiazide, available as 5/12.5g/mg tablets.
Key facts
- Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor. It relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, treats heart failure, and protects the kidneys in some people with diabetes.
- It is taken once daily by mouth, usually starting at a low dose that a doctor increases gradually while checking your blood pressure and kidney function.
- Lisinopril must not be taken during pregnancy. It can injure or kill a developing baby's kidneys, especially in the second and third trimesters, so stop it and tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or plan to.
- Seek urgent care for sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat (angioedema), which can block breathing.
What Lisinopril treats
Lisinopril treats high blood pressure, and it is used alongside other medicines for heart failure and for people recovering from a heart attack, where it reduces the strain on the heart. It also slows kidney damage in some people with diabetes who have protein in their urine. It does not relieve pain and is not a treatment for a hypertensive emergency.
How Lisinopril works
Lisinopril blocks the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which your body normally uses to produce angiotensin II, a hormone that narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure. With less angiotensin II made, blood vessels relax and widen, blood pressure falls, and the heart pumps against less resistance.
Before you take it
- Do not take lisinopril if you are pregnant, and stop it as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. It is not recommended in breastfeeding either.
- Avoid it if you have had angioedema with any ACE inhibitor before, or if you take a medicine containing aliskiren and have diabetes or kidney disease.
- Tell your prescriber about potassium supplements, salt substitutes, potassium-sparing diuretics, and NSAIDs, since these can raise blood potassium and reduce how well lisinopril works.
- Mention any history of narrowed kidney arteries or severe kidney disease before starting.
Side effects
Common effects include a dry, persistent cough, dizziness, headache, and tiredness, especially after the first few doses.
Seek urgent care for:
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or sudden difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- Fainting or a severe drop in blood pressure.
- Signs of high potassium, such as muscle weakness, numbness, or an irregular heartbeat.
- A sharp reduction in how much urine you pass.
Safety essentials
- Lisinopril is contraindicated in pregnancy: it can cause fetal kidney damage, low amniotic fluid, and death, so confirm you are not pregnant before starting and use reliable contraception if there is any chance you could become pregnant.
- Angioedema can occur at any point in treatment, even after months of use, and needs emergency care if it affects breathing or swallowing.
- Your doctor should check blood potassium and kidney function before starting and periodically afterward, since lisinopril can raise potassium to dangerous levels, especially combined with other potassium-raising drugs.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.