Lisinopril at a glance
Medicine class
ACE inhibitor.
Main uses
High blood pressure, symptomatic heart failure, treatment after acute myocardial infarction and renal disease associated with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Food
Food does not affect lisinopril absorption.
Important checks
Blood pressure, kidney function, potassium and sodium require monitoring.
What is Lisinopril used for?
Selected UK products are licensed for:
Hypertension.
Symptomatic heart failure.
Treatment following acute myocardial infarction in haemodynamically stable patients.
Renal disease in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and incipient nephropathy.
How does Lisinopril work?
Lisinopril blocks ACE, reducing angiotensin II and aldosterone activity. This widens blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and reduces cardiac workload. Reduced aldosterone can also increase blood potassium.
Lisinopril preparations and strengths
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1 mg/mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg
How to take Lisinopril
Take lisinopril exactly as prescribed. It may be taken with or without food.
Swallow tablets with water. Only the scored lowest-strength selected Zestril tablet is documented as divisible into equal parts.
Measure oral solution with its supplied dosing syringe, not a household spoon.
Mixing oral solution with food or drink has not been studied; ask a pharmacist first.
Do not stop solely because you feel well unless advised by the prescriber.
Lisinopril side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dry cough
- Dizziness or headache
- A fall in blood pressure on standing
- Diarrhoea or vomiting
- Changes in kidney function
Get urgent medical advice
- Angioedema: swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, sometimes with breathing or swallowing difficulty
- Acute kidney injury, which may cause very little urine or blood in the urine
- Severe blistering, red or peeling skin reactions
- Severe hypotension causing collapse or fainting
- Jaundice or other evidence of serious liver injury
Lisinopril in pregnancy
Lisinopril is generally avoided during pregnancy and is contraindicated in the second and third trimesters. Discuss an alternative before planning pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, contact the prescriber promptly so treatment can be changed where appropriate. Exposure after about 20 weeks requires specialist assessment because of risks including impaired fetal kidney function and reduced amniotic fluid.
Lisinopril while breastfeeding
Lisinopril can be used cautiously during breastfeeding when clinically appropriate, although enalapril is usually preferred because more evidence is available. This advice chiefly applies to healthy, full-term infants. Monitor for unusual sleepiness, pallor, poor feeding, inadequate weight gain or fewer wet nappies, particularly in newborn, premature or unwell infants.
Lisinopril interactions
Check prescription, non-prescription and complementary medicines before combining them with lisinopril.
Sacubitril/valsartan
Must not overlap with lisinopril because angioedema risk is substantially increased; a washout period is required.
Aliskiren
Combined use is contraindicated in people with diabetes or specified renal impairment because renal, potassium and blood-pressure risks increase.
Common questions about Lisinopril
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is lisinopril dihydrate the same medicine as lisinopril?
Yes. Lisinopril dihydrate is the form used in these products; labelled amounts are expressed as the equivalent quantity of lisinopril.
Why can lisinopril cause a dry cough?
A persistent dry cough is a recognised ACE-inhibitor effect. If troublesome or persistent, discuss it with the prescriber rather than stopping treatment independently.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.