What kind of pill is lisinopril

Like other ACE inhibitors, lisinopril relaxes and widens the blood vessels. This lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. This can improve the symptoms of heart failure. In diabetic kidney disease, it helps to protect your kidneys and slows down the disease. It does this by reducing the amount of protein you lose through your kidneys and by reducing high blood pressure.

Lisinopril starts to work within a few hours to reduce high blood pressure , but it may take a few weeks for it to take full effect. If you're taking lisinopril for heart failure , it may take weeks, even months, before you feel better. If you're taking lisinopril for high blood pressure or after a heart attack , you may not have any symptoms.

In these cases, you may not feel any different when you take lisinopril. This does not mean that the medicine is not working, and it's important to keep taking it. After a heart attack , you usually take lisinopril for 6 weeks. Your doctor will then decide if you need to keep taking it for longer. For high blood pressure , heart failure and diabetic kidney disease, treatment with lisinopril is usually long term, even for the rest of your life.

Lisinopril is generally safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best when you take it for a long time. But taking lisinopril for a long time can sometimes cause your kidneys not to work as well as they should.

Your doctor will check how well your kidneys are working with regular blood tests. Stopping lisinopril may cause your blood pressure to rise. This can increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

If you're bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to prescribe you a different medicine. Even if your blood pressure is successfully lowered by lisinopril, it's best to carry on taking it.

If you stop taking lisinopril, your blood pressure could rise back up again. If you need blood pressure-lowering medicines, you'll probably need to take them for the rest of your life.

Remember, by keeping your blood pressure low, you're protecting yourself against having a heart attack or stroke in the future. Drinking alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of lisinopril, which can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. During the first few days of taking lisinopril or after increasing the dose, stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.

If lisinopril makes you feel dizzy, it's best to stop drinking alcohol while you're taking it. There are lots of other ACE inhibitor medicines that work in the same way as lisinopril. They include enalapril , captopril, ramipril and perindopril. If you cannot take lisinopril or other ACE inhibitor medicines because of side effects such as a dry cough, you may be able to switch to another type of blood pressure-lowering medicine.

This will usually be a medicine called an angiotensin receptor blocker, such as candesartan , irbesartan , losartan or valsartan. Lisinopril works as well as other ACE inhibitors when you take it to lower blood pressure and for heart failure. You only need to take lisinopril once a day. Some other ACE inhibitors need to be taken 3 times a day. Tell your doctor that you're taking lisinopril if you're going to have general anaesthetic for an operation or you're going to have a major operation, such as a caesarean section, without a general anaesthetic.

Lisinopril can reduce your blood pressure when it's used with an anaesthetic. But some types of hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch , are not usually recommended for women with high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor if you're taking a combined hormonal contraceptive. There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking lisinopril will reduce fertility in either men or women. But speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant.

They may want to review your treatment. Do not use salt substitutes such as Lo-Salt. This is because they're high in potassium. When mixed with lisinopril, they may make the level of potassium in your blood too high. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you have high blood pressure or heart failure. Lisinopril can cause blurred vision and make some people feel dizzy or tired, especially when you first start taking it or after an increase in dose.

If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machines. You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have high blood pressure or heart failure :. Page last reviewed: 13 December Next review due: 13 December Lisinopril On this page About lisinopril Key facts Who can and cannot take lisinopril How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About lisinopril Lisinopril is a medicine to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. And it also slows down diabetic kidney disease. This medicine is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets.

NHS coronavirus advice If you have coronavirus, or think you might have it, keep taking your blood pressure medicines as usual. Updated: 17 March Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Lisinopril lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. Your very first dose of lisinopril may make you feel dizzy, so it's best to take it at bedtime.

After that you can take lisinopril at any time of day. Some people get a dry, irritating cough with lisinopril. If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor. You may need to stop taking lisinopril for a while until you feel better. Drinking alcohol with lisinopril can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Lisinopril is also called by the brand name Zestril.

When it's mixed with hydrochlorothiazide, it can be called Carace Plus, Lisoretic and Zestoretic. Lisinopril can be taken by adults and children aged 6 years and over. A lack of blood flow can damage your heart, making it weaker and unable to work properly.

Lisinopril works to widen your blood vessels. Clinical studies have found lisinopril to be effective for reducing the risk of dying after a heart attack.

In addition, clinical guidelines recommend the use of an ACE inhibitor, such as lisinopril, to help reduce the risk of dying after a heart attack. Lisinopril is approved to treat high blood pressure in children ages 6 years and older. Clinical studies have found lisinopril to be effective for this use. For example, for treating hypertension high blood pressure , you may take lisinopril alone.

But in some cases, your doctor may also prescribe another blood pressure medication that works differently than lisinopril, such as hydrochlorothiazide. For some people, using more than one drug works better to treat high blood pressure. For treating heart failure and for reducing the risk of dying after a heart attack, lisinopril is used with other drugs.

Medications commonly used with lisinopril for treating heart failure include beta-blockers , and diuretics. Medications commonly used with lisinopril after a heart attack include beta-blockers, statins , and blood thinners. Your heart needs constant supply of blood and oxygen to work correctly.

With heart failure , your heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to supply to your body. Sometimes, this happens because the heart muscles have become stiff and hard. This can mean that blood flow to the heart may be reduced or even blocked. In other cases of heart failure, the heart may not pump enough blood to support other organs in your body.

This can make heart failure worse. Lisinopril works to treat heart failure by widening your blood vessels. With a heart attack, blood flow to certain areas of the heart is cut off. This helps your heart heal after a heart attack and prevents it from working too hard. Lisinopril begins working as soon as you take your first dose, but you may not notice the drug working in your body.

For treating high blood pressure, many people in clinical studies had their blood pressure lowered within 1 hour of taking their first dose. When used after a heart attack, studies have shown that ACE inhibitors such lisinopril reduce the risk of dying as soon as 24 hours after the first dose. If you have other questions about how long it takes lisinopril to work, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The half-life may be longer in people with kidney problems. Normally a drug is cleared from your system in four to five half-lives. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat hypertension high blood pressure include:.

Examples of other drugs that may be used as treatment for heart failure include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used after a heart attack include:. You should take lisinopril oral tablets according to the instructions your doctor or other healthcare professional gives you. There is no best time to take lisinopril. You can take your dose at any time of day. But it may be helpful to take lisinopril around the same time each day for example, with breakfast to make it part of your daily routine.

But there are several manufacturers of lisinopril oral tablets. This may include other forms of lisinopril. Do not use more Lisinopril oral tablet than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose, such as hypotension low blood pressure. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool.

But if your symptoms are severe, call or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Lisinopril has a boxed warning. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Risks if used during pregnancy. Drugs such as lisinopril can cause harm to a fetus or miscarriage if used during pregnancy.

For this reason, you should not take lisinopril while pregnant, and you should stop taking lisinopril if you become pregnant during your treatment. Lisinopril oral tablets also have some contraindications conditions or factors that would prevent you from taking the medication. Contraindications for lisinopril include:. If you have any of these factors, you should not use lisinopril.

Ask your doctor about other treatment options that might work well for you. Before taking Lisinopril oral tablets, talk with your doctor about your health history. Lisinopril may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. As with all medications, the cost of lisinopril oral tablets can vary. To find current prices for lisinopril in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx. Keep in mind that you may be able to get a day supply of lisinopril oral tablet.

If approved by your insurance company, getting a day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. Before approving coverage for lisinopril oral tablets, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug.

The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if the drug will be covered. Medicine Assistance Tool and NeedyMeds are two websites offering resources that may help decrease the price you pay for lisinopril. They also offer tools to help you find low-cost healthcare, as well as educational resources.

To learn more, visit their sites. Lisinopril oral tablets may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. Lisinopril oral tablets are not safe to use while pregnant. This is because drugs such as lisinopril can cause harm to a fetus or miscarriage if used during pregnancy. Lisinopril has a boxed warning about this effect.

Lisinopril is not safe to take during pregnancy. You should not breastfeed while taking lisinopril oral tablets. Because of the potential for serious side effects in a breastfed child, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking lisinopril. When you get lisinopril oral tablet from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle.

This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it.

How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information about how to dispose of your medication.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Your doctor may ask you to check your blood pressure at home.

These are available at most pharmacies. You should keep a log with the date, time of day, and your blood pressure readings. Before starting and during your treatment with this drug, your doctor may check the following to tell if this drug is working or is safe for you:. There are other drugs available to treat your condition.

Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. But what does that mean? High blood pressure is often associated with few or no symptoms.

Many people have it for years without knowing it. Learn more. Liver function tests help screen for problems such as infections, scarring, and disorders. They're also used if you start experiencing symptoms of a…. Your kidneys filter your blood and remove toxins from your body. This can lead…. Heart disease is one of the leading health risks facing men today.

Here's how to recognize common signs and see if you're at high risk of developing…. Learn about heart failure symptoms, causes, and…. Some medicines are considered unsafe to take during pregnancy. They may be damaging to you or your developing baby. Discover some medicines to avoid…. Several factors can affect blood pressure readings, including eating, not eating, and diet.

Learn what can affect them and how to take an accurate…. Blood pressure can be different in each arm. While a slight difference can be fine, a greater difference may be a sign of a condition that needs…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Lisinopril, Oral Tablet. Important warnings About Side effects Interactions Other warnings Dosage Take as directed Important considerations Alternatives Highlights for lisinopril Lisinopril oral tablet is available as both a generic and brand-name drug.

Brand names: Prinivil and Zestril. Lisinopril comes as a tablet and a solution you take by mouth. Lisinopril oral tablet is used to treat hypertension high blood pressure and heart failure. Important warnings. What is lisinopril? Lisinopril side effects. Lisinopril may interact with other medications. Lisinopril warnings. How to take lisinopril. Take as directed. Important considerations for taking this drug. Are there any alternatives? Liver Function Tests.