Can you tell me about Lisinopril?
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From drugs.com
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to lisinopril or to any other ACE inhibitor, such as benazopril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).
Before using lisinopril, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
liver disease;
heart disease or congestive heart failure;
diabetes; or
a connective tissue disease such as Marfan syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use lisinopril, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Lisinopril could cause birth defects in the baby if you take the medication during pregnancy. Use an effective form of birth control. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether lisinopril passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take Lisinopril?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Lisinopril can be taken with or without food.
Vomiting, diarrhea, or heavy sweating can cause you to become dehydrated. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking lisinopril. Drink 6 to 8 full glasses of water daily while you are taking this medication.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking lisinopril. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
Store lisinopril at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of Lisinopril?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose with Lisinopril?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a lisinopril overdose may include feeling extremely dizzy or light-headed, or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking Lisinopril?
Lisinopril can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can further lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of lisinopril. Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking lisinopril, unless your doctor has told you to.
What are the possible side effects of Lisinopril?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; severe stomach pain; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
feeling light-headed, fainting;
urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
tired feeling, muscle weakness, and pounding or uneven heartbeats;
chest pain; or
swelling, rapid weight gain.
Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
cough;
dizziness, drowsiness, headache;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach; or
mild skin itching or rash.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Lisinopril?
Before taking lisinopril, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith);
a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con;
salt substitutes that contain potassium;
insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene); or
a diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), torsemide (Demadex).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use lisinopril or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect lisinopril. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information on Lisinopril?
Your pharmacist has information about lisinopril written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Lisinopril is available with a prescription under the brand names Zestril and Prinivil. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Zestril 5 mg--capsule-shaped, pink tablets
Zestril 10 mg--round, pink tablets
Zestril 20 mg--round, red tablets
Zestril 40 mg--round, yellow tablets
Prinivil 2.5 mg--round, white tablets
Prinivil 5 mg--shield-shaped, white, scored tablets
Prinivil 10 mg--shield-shaped, light-yellow tablets
Prinivil 20 mg--shield-shaped, peach-colored tablets
Prinivil 40 mg--shield-shaped, rose-red tablets
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
http://www.drugs.com/lisinopril.html...
I'm not sure what it is you want to know about lisinopril. It's not capitalized, this is the generic name for Zestril and Prinivil. It's in the classification of antihypertensive meds known as ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors. Although the action is unnkown, it's thought to result primarily from the suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
The most common adverse reactions are dizziness, orhtostatic hypotension, nasal congestion and diarrhea. A few of the less common adverse effects are headache, fatigue, nausea, impotence, rash and a persistent dry nonproductive cough. The life-threatening adverse reactions are hyperkalemia and rarely, anaphalaxis with afcial, throat and laryngeal edema.
It has a number of drug interactions. Interacts with Capsaicin to cause an ACE-inhibitor-induced cough. May cause hyperkalemia when used with potassium-containing salt substitutes.
It can increase creatinine, BUN, potassium, bilirubin levels and liver function test values.
The treatment of hypertension is typically a 3-step one. Step 1 is making changes in diet, weight loss and changes in lifestyle (no smoking, reduced or no drinking, exercise, stress management). If this doesn't work, Step 2 is introducing an antihypertensive while continuing Step 1. Dosage adjuments may be needed for maximum effectiveness. If both Steps 1 & 2 fail to produce the desired results, Step 3 is adding another antihypertensive.
I have no idea what your brother's dosage is and for how long he's been using it or anything else he's done to lower his blood pressure but he may need a dosage adjustment. He should also be following Step 1. Suggest he speak to his doctor.
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