Side Effects of Lisinopil & Impotence

Lisinopril is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure. Despite its effectiveness, Lisinopril poses a risk for side effects, including impotence.

Background

• Hypertension medications use a variety of mechanisms to lower blood pressure levels. Some of these mechanisms decrease blood flow to your penis, making it difficult for you to achieve or maintain an erection.

Features

• Lisinopril is an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor, a type of commonly prescribed hypertension medication, sold under a number of brand names like Prinivil, Zestril, Prinzide and Zestoretic. ACE inhibitors work by expanding your blood vessels, giving more room for your blood to flow, which reduces blood pressure.

Statistics

• During clinical studies published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, between 1 and 1.4 percent of men who took Lisinopril developed impotence.

Time Frame

• A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that men who developed impotence due to Lisinopril found that the sexual side effects of the drug diminished or ended after one month of usage. The study also showed that Lisinopril caused less incidences of impotence than beta blocking drugs.

Expert Insight

• Dr. Thomas Pickering of the Cardiovascular Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine recommends that a man who take Linisopril wait for 30 days before requesting a change in hypertension drugs from his doctor.