Side Effects of Lisinopril Medicine

Hypertension is a serious cardiovascular disease that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affects one in four adults. Treatments exist to help lower blood pressure in people who suffer from hypertension. One medicinal treatment is the use of the drug Lisinopril. Many people are prescribed this medication by their primary care physicians as a first response to combat high blood pressure. However, Lisinopril does come with potential side effects you should be aware of.

Significance

• Hypertension occurs when the force of the blood flowing through the arterial walls is creating pressure within the blood vessels. Lisinopril, a drug belonging to the medicinal class known as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, helps to relax the blood vessels in our bodies. This function of Lisinopril is the primary reason why it is effective in treating high blood pressure. When Lisinopril's ACE-inhibiting action takes effect, it relaxes the blood vessels causing them to widen, thus, decreasing the force of blood pressure against the arterial walls.

Hypertension Facts

• A device called a sphygmomanometer is the traditional instrument used to measure blood pressure. Blood pressure is numerically expressed by two number readings. The top number represents the systolic pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic pressure. According to emergency room physician Brian LaRocca of Union Hospital Cecil County, blood pressure is considered to be high when the systolic pressure is 150 and the diastolic is 90 or 150/90. When the systolic pressure reaches 200 or above, a person is in danger of suffering a stroke or going into heart failure. This is why the ACE inhibitor Lisinopril is essential to help lower blood pressure and prevent the onset of a stroke.

Warnings

• Women taking Lisinopril who are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant should contact their physician immediately. Lisinopril can be harmful and potentially fatal to an unborn child if taken during pregnancy. Though it has not been determined if Lisinopril passes into breast milk, it is not recommended for mothers to breast feed their children while taking this medication.

Precautions

• Before you are prescribed Lisinopril, advise your doctor of all medication you are currently taking; this includes all over-the-counter (OTC) medicines as well. Since Lisinopril can raise the potassium levels in your blood, your doctor should know about any diuretics or potassium supplements you are currently taking. Common OTC medicines in the family of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, may increase your blood pressure due to the amount of sodium found in these medications. Cold and allergy medications may also affect the usefulness of Lisinopril as most of these OTC medicines contain ingredients, such as epinephrine (adrenaline), that accelerate the blood pressure.

Potential Side Effects

• Common side effects associated with taking Lisinopril include dizziness, light headedness, diarrhea, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea and dry cough. These effects are typical and should diminish as your body adjusts to Lisinopril. If these side effects persist for longer than 7 days or worsen, contact your doctor immediately. Serious but rare side effects as a result of taking Lisinopril are chest pain, changes in the amount of urine produced, decreased sexual ability, signs of infection, or loss of vision. Lisinopril may potentially cause serious to fatal damage to the liver, and if noticed, your doctor should be contacted immediately as medical attention will be required. Signs of such liver damage include dark urine, persistent fatigue, jaundice, nausea and stomach/abdominal pain.

Considerations

• Though Lisinopril has some serious potential side effects, doctors prescribe it because the risks that high blood pressure presents outweigh the rarity of these side effects. High blood pressure not only affects the heart and increases the chance of heart failure, but it also causes stroke and can lead to kidney failure as well. Lisinopril's ACE-inhibiting properties are a first line of defense against hypertension.