Lisinopril is a prescription-only medication in the ACE inhibitor class used to manage high blood pressure (hypertension), improve survival after heart attack, and treat heart failure. It works by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a hormone that narrows blood vessels and drives sodium and water retention. By reducing angiotensin II and aldosterone, Lisinopril relaxes arteries, lowers blood pressure, eases strain on the heart, and can slow progression of kidney disease, especially in people with diabetes and protein in the urine.
Because hypertension often has no symptoms, people may not “feel” Lisinopril working. Yet consistent use reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure hospitalization, and kidney failure. Effects begin within an hour, peak around 6 hours, and take 2–4 weeks to reach full blood pressure–lowering potential. For many, Lisinopril forms the backbone of long-term cardiovascular risk reduction alongside lifestyle measures like a low-salt diet, exercise, weight management, and limiting alcohol.
Hypertension (high blood pressure): Lisinopril is a first-line option for many adults with elevated blood pressure. It’s effective as monotherapy and commonly combined with thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide) or calcium-channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine) when additional control is needed. Lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular events and chronic kidney disease progression. In pediatric patients 6 years and older, Lisinopril is also used for hypertension under clinician supervision, with weight-based dosing.
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): By reducing afterload and favorably altering the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, Lisinopril improves symptoms, decreases hospitalizations, and extends survival when used alongside beta-blockers, diuretics, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (e.g., spironolactone). It can help remodel the heart over time, improving function and exercise tolerance.
Post–myocardial infarction (post-MI): Early initiation of Lisinopril after a heart attack (when clinically appropriate) reduces mortality and helps prevent adverse remodeling of the heart muscle. It’s especially helpful when there is left ventricular dysfunction or clinical signs of heart failure.
Diabetic kidney protection: In people with diabetes and albuminuria (protein in the urine), ACE inhibitors like Lisinopril help protect kidney function by lowering intraglomerular pressure and reducing albumin excretion. Over time, this slows the decline in eGFR. This renoprotective effect can also benefit some non-diabetic patients with proteinuric kidney disease.
Take Lisinopril exactly as prescribed, at the same time each day, with or without food. Swallow tablets whole with water. Do not start, stop, or change your dose without talking to your clinician. General adult dosing guidance varies by indication and individual response; typical ranges are provided here for educational context only.
Hypertension (adults): A common starting dose is 10 mg once daily (5 mg if elderly, volume-depleted, or on diuretics). The dose may be titrated every 1–2 weeks to a maintenance range of 20–40 mg once daily based on blood pressure response and tolerability. Some may require lower or higher doses within the approved range. For pediatric patients 6–16 years, dosing is weight-based, often starting at 0.07 mg/kg (up to 5 mg) once daily and titrated cautiously; not recommended in children with severe kidney impairment.
Heart failure: Initial doses are typically 2.5–5 mg once daily, carefully uptitrated (e.g., doubling every 1–2 weeks) toward a target dose such as 20–40 mg once daily, as tolerated. Close monitoring of blood pressure, kidney function, and potassium is essential during titration, especially when combined with other heart failure therapies.
Post–myocardial infarction: Clinicians often initiate a low dose (e.g., 2.5–5 mg) within 24 hours if the patient is stable, then titrate to a typical target of 10 mg to 20 mg once daily as tolerated. In patients with low blood pressure or kidney dysfunction, dosing adjustments and slower titration are common.
Renal impairment and special populations: Dose reductions may be necessary if eGFR is reduced. For example, those with moderate to severe renal impairment or on diuretics may start at 2.5–5 mg daily with careful monitoring. Lisinopril is usually not removed by hemodialysis, and rare hypersensitivity reactions can occur during certain types of dialysis membranes; your nephrology team will advise. Older adults may need lower starting doses. Use in pregnancy is contraindicated (see Precautions and Contraindications).
Practical tips: Consistency matters—take Lisinopril at the same time daily. Stand up slowly to reduce dizziness when starting or adjusting doses. Stay well-hydrated unless told otherwise, and don’t “chase” blood pressure with extra doses. If you measure blood pressure at home, keep a log and share it with your clinician during follow-ups to guide dose adjustments.
Pregnancy warning (boxed warning): ACE inhibitors, including Lisinopril, can cause injury and death to the developing fetus when used during the second and third trimesters and are not recommended in the first trimester. If you become pregnant, stop Lisinopril and contact your clinician immediately to switch to a safer alternative. People planning pregnancy should discuss options in advance.
Angioedema and cough: Lisinopril can cause a persistent dry cough in some patients. More rarely, it can trigger angioedema—sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat—which can be life-threatening. Black patients and those with a prior history of angioedema are at higher risk. Seek emergency care if you experience swelling or breathing difficulty and do not take further doses until evaluated.
Kidney function and electrolytes: Temporary increases in creatinine can occur, especially after starting therapy or increasing the dose, but often stabilize as blood pressure improves. Periodic monitoring of kidney function and potassium is recommended, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or those on potassium-sparing agents. Lisinopril may cause hyperkalemia (high potassium), which can be dangerous. Report muscle weakness, palpitations, or abnormal heart rhythms immediately.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) risk: Volume depletion (from diuretics, vomiting, diarrhea, or low-salt diets) increases the risk of first-dose hypotension. Your clinician may advise holding or reducing diuretics briefly before starting Lisinopril or beginning at a lower dose. Stand up slowly, especially in the first days of therapy or after increases.
Vascular and valve disease: Use caution in patients with renal artery stenosis (especially bilateral), severe aortic stenosis, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In renal artery stenosis, kidney function may decline; your clinician will determine if benefits outweigh risks and monitor closely.
Surgery and anesthesia: Lisinopril can enhance the blood pressure–lowering effects of anesthesia. Inform your surgical team; they may advise holding a dose before procedures depending on your clinical situation.
Do not take Lisinopril if you have a history of angioedema related to previous ACE inhibitor use, hereditary or idiopathic angioedema, or a known hypersensitivity to Lisinopril. Lisinopril is contraindicated during pregnancy due to fetal toxicity risk. Avoid use with aliskiren in patients with diabetes and in patients with severe renal impairment unless a specialist deems it necessary and monitors closely.
Caution is required when switching to or from sacubitril/valsartan (an ARNI used in heart failure). A 36-hour washout period is required between an ACE inhibitor and sacubitril/valsartan to lower the risk of angioedema. Your clinician will provide a safe transition plan.
Common side effects: Dizziness, lightheadedness (especially when standing), headache, fatigue, and a dry, persistent cough can occur. These effects often improve over time. If cough is bothersome, your clinician may consider switching to an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), which has a lower cough risk but similar benefits.
Serious side effects: Angioedema (facial, lip, tongue, or throat swelling), severe hypotension, syncope (fainting), kidney injury (rising creatinine), hyperkalemia (high potassium), and rare liver problems. Seek urgent care for swelling, difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe dizziness, or signs of high potassium (muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat). Prompt lab testing and treatment adjustments may be necessary.
Special considerations: People of African ancestry may experience a higher rate of angioedema with ACE inhibitors. Those with advanced kidney disease, diabetes, or on potassium-rich diets/supplements are more prone to hyperkalemia. Always review new or worsening symptoms with your healthcare team—small adjustments can make therapy safer and more comfortable.
Reporting side effects: Keep a symptom log with dates, dosages, and concurrent medications. Share it during follow-ups. If severe reactions occur, call emergency services. You can also report side effects to the FDA MedWatch program to contribute to medication safety data.
Potassium and diuretics: Combining Lisinopril with potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, eplerenone, amiloride) or potassium supplements increases the risk of hyperkalemia. Your clinician may still combine these drugs in heart failure but will monitor potassium and kidney function closely. Salt substitutes often contain potassium—use only if approved by your clinician.
NSAIDs and pain relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen) may blunt blood pressure control and, when combined with ACE inhibitors and diuretics, increase the risk of kidney injury (“triple whammy”). Occasional short-term use may be acceptable for some, but acetaminophen is generally preferred for pain unless otherwise directed by your clinician.
Other blood pressure and heart failure medicines: Use caution with diuretics, nitrates, and alpha-blockers due to additive blood pressure lowering. Do not combine with aliskiren in diabetes. When switching between Lisinopril and sacubitril/valsartan, maintain a 36-hour washout. Beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers can be used with Lisinopril but may require dose adjustments.
Diabetes medications and lithium: ACE inhibitors can modestly enhance insulin sensitivity, rarely increasing hypoglycemia risk—monitor blood sugars when starting or adjusting therapy. Lisinopril can increase lithium levels and toxicity risk; avoid or use with extreme caution and frequent monitoring if there is no alternative.
Alcohol and dehydration: Alcohol can increase dizziness and hypotension. Excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea can raise the risk of lightheadedness and kidney stress. Maintain hydration and discuss sick-day rules with your clinician, who may advise holding certain medications temporarily during severe illness.
If you miss a dose of Lisinopril, take it as soon as you remember the same day. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at once to “catch up,” as this increases the risk of low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting. Setting phone alarms or using a pill organizer can help you stay consistent.
Symptoms of Lisinopril overdose can include marked hypotension (very low blood pressure), dizziness, fainting, and, rarely, kidney problems or electrolyte disturbances. If an overdose is suspected, call your local emergency number or the U.S. Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. Do not attempt to self-treat. Keep the medication bottle available for responders to review the dose and timing.
Store Lisinopril tablets at room temperature (generally 20–25°C or 68–77°F), away from excess heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep tablets in the original, tightly closed container and out of reach of children and pets. Do not store in the bathroom. Dispose of expired or unused medication through a take-back program or follow FDA guidance for safe disposal—do not flush unless specifically instructed.
In the United States, Lisinopril is a prescription-only medication. Buying Lisinopril without a prescription is not permitted and may expose you to counterfeit or unsafe products. Federal and state laws require that a licensed clinician evaluate you to determine whether Lisinopril is appropriate and safe, considering your medical history, current medications, blood pressure goals, and lab results. This protects you from avoidable risks like kidney injury, dangerously high potassium, and drug interactions.
HealthSouth MountainView supports a legal, structured path to care by arranging timely evaluations with licensed clinicians. If Lisinopril is appropriate, your clinician can send an electronic prescription directly to a verified, U.S.-licensed pharmacy for fulfillment. We do not dispense or ship prescription medications without a valid prescription, and we do not encourage bypassing established safety safeguards. Instead, we streamline access to legitimate care through same-day telehealth or in-person appointments, labs, and close follow-up.
What this means for you: You can get started quickly and compliantly. Schedule a consultation, share your health history and current medications, and, if appropriate, your clinician will initiate Lisinopril at a safe starting dose and set up monitoring for kidney function and electrolytes. We coordinate with trusted pharmacies, help manage refills, and provide education on side effects, interactions (e.g., with NSAIDs or potassium supplements), and lifestyle strategies to enhance blood pressure control.
Travel and importation notes: Importing prescription medicines for personal use can violate U.S. law and carries safety risks. Always use U.S.-licensed pharmacies. If cost is a concern, ask about generics, coupon programs, and patient assistance; our team can help explore cost-savings without compromising safety. With HealthSouth MountainView, you receive evidence-based care and legitimate access to Lisinopril when medically indicated—no shortcuts, just safe, responsible treatment tailored to you.
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and to improve survival after a heart attack. It also helps protect the kidneys in people with diabetes and albumin in the urine.
It blocks the angiotensin-converting enzyme, reducing angiotensin II and aldosterone. This relaxes blood vessels, lowers fluid retention, decreases vascular resistance, and reduces the heart’s workload.
It begins lowering blood pressure within 1–2 hours, with a peak effect around 6–8 hours. The full blood pressure–lowering effect may take 2–4 weeks as your body adapts.
For high blood pressure, common starting doses are 5–10 mg once daily (lower if on a diuretic), with a usual range of 10–40 mg daily. For heart failure, 2.5–5 mg daily is often started and titrated toward 20–40 mg as tolerated. After a heart attack, low initial doses are used and increased as appropriate. Dose adjustments are often needed in kidney disease and older adults.
Take it once daily at the same time each day, with or without food. Choose a time you can stick to consistently; morning works for many, but nighttime is reasonable if dizziness during the day is an issue.
Take it when you remember unless it’s close to your next scheduled dose. If it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one—don’t double up.
Dizziness, lightheadedness (especially when starting), dry cough, headache, and fatigue are common. Lab changes can include increased potassium and a small rise in creatinine. Rare but serious effects include angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat).
ACE inhibitors can increase bradykinin, which can trigger a persistent, dry, tickly cough. If bothersome, talk to your clinician; switching to another class (such as an ARB) often resolves it.
Angioedema is sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat and can impair breathing. It’s a medical emergency—seek immediate care and do not take lisinopril again. The risk is higher in Black patients and those with a prior history.
It can protect kidneys long-term, especially in diabetic kidney disease, but may cause a small early rise in creatinine. An increase up to about 30% can be acceptable; larger or progressive rises need prompt evaluation. Stay hydrated and avoid combining with NSAIDs unless advised.
It can cause hyperkalemia (high potassium). Avoid potassium supplements and salt substitutes containing potassium unless your clinician approves, and have your potassium checked as advised.
Lisinopril has a boxed warning in pregnancy because it can harm or kill a developing fetus, especially in the second and third trimesters. If you become pregnant, stop it and contact your clinician immediately. During breastfeeding, data for lisinopril are limited; other ACE inhibitors like enalapril are often preferred. Discuss risks and alternatives.
Potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone), potassium supplements, and salt substitutes increase hyperkalemia risk. NSAIDs can blunt blood pressure control and strain kidneys. Diuretics can enhance the first-dose drop in blood pressure. Lithium levels can rise. Do not combine with aliskiren if you have diabetes, and avoid taking sacubitril/valsartan within 36 hours of lisinopril (angioedema risk).
Yes. Blood pressure, kidney function (creatinine/eGFR), and potassium should be checked at baseline and 1–2 weeks after starting or changing dose, then periodically. Monitor for dizziness, swelling, or persistent cough.
Moderate alcohol can amplify dizziness or low blood pressure; limit intake and rise slowly from sitting or lying positions. Regular exercise supports heart and blood pressure health—stay hydrated and monitor how you feel, especially when starting treatment.
Blood pressure may rebound if you stop abruptly. Do not discontinue without a plan from your clinician; a direct switch or alternative therapy is usually arranged rather than a taper.
Tell your surgeon and anesthesiologist. Some clinicians recommend holding the dose on the morning of major surgery to reduce intraoperative low blood pressure. Follow the plan provided by your care team.
Both are ACE inhibitors with similar effectiveness and side effects. Lisinopril is active as given and typically once daily; enalapril is a prodrug often dosed once or twice daily. Choice often depends on dosing convenience, tolerability, and cost.
Both lower blood pressure and treat heart failure; ramipril has strong evidence for reducing heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in high-risk patients. Lisinopril is widely used with robust data for blood pressure and heart failure outcomes. In practice, either is reasonable; selection hinges on tolerability, dosing, and individual risk profiles.
They are clinically similar ACE inhibitors. Benazepril is a prodrug and commonly paired with amlodipine in a fixed-dose combination; lisinopril is often paired with hydrochlorothiazide. Efficacy and side effect profiles are comparable.
Lisinopril’s once-daily dosing is more convenient. Captopril has a shorter half-life, requires two to three doses daily, and may cause rash or taste disturbances more often. Captopril is sometimes used in specific situations (e.g., rapid titration), but lisinopril is preferred for chronic therapy.
Both are effective once-daily ACE inhibitors. Perindopril has outcome data in stable coronary artery disease; lisinopril has extensive use in hypertension and heart failure. Side effects, including cough and hyperkalemia, are class effects.
No major differences in efficacy or safety in routine care. Quinapril is a prodrug, often dosed once daily. Selection usually reflects availability, price, and patient response.
Both can slow kidney disease progression by reducing intraglomerular pressure. Fosinopril has mixed hepatic and renal elimination, so it may need fewer adjustments in moderate renal impairment. Regardless of agent, careful monitoring of creatinine and potassium is essential.
Both can improve outcomes after myocardial infarction with left ventricular dysfunction. Trandolapril, like others in the class, is dosed once daily. Choice depends on clinician preference, experience, and patient tolerability.
Yes. Moexipril should be taken on an empty stomach because food reduces absorption; lisinopril can be taken with or without food. Otherwise, they are similar in effect and side effects.
Lisinopril is representative of the class in benefits and risks. Differences among ACE inhibitors are mostly in dosing schedules, metabolism, and specific trial evidence rather than large gaps in blood pressure–lowering efficacy.
If blood pressure remains above goal on lisinopril alone or if you need a diuretic, a lisinopril/HCTZ combination can improve control and convenience. The thiazide can offset ACE inhibitor–related potassium increases; electrolytes still need monitoring.
Across the class, ACE inhibitors may produce a smaller average blood pressure reduction as monotherapy in Black patients; combining with a thiazide diuretic or a calcium channel blocker improves results. The risk of angioedema is higher with ACE inhibitors in Black patients regardless of the specific agent, so vigilance is important.
