Side Effects of Lisinopril

Lisinopril is an effective drug used to treat conditions related to heart and blood vessels. It is a commonly used drug for treatment of high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. When administered on a patient who has suffered heart attack, marked improvement has been observed. It belongs to a group of drugs called ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme present in our body is responsible for narrowing down the blood vessels. Lisinopril blocks the function of this enzyme and is available in the form of a pill.

Common Side Effects of Lisinopril

Alcohol lowers blood pressure in the body, so consumption of alcohol should be avoided, during treatment to prevent any side effects of lisinopril. There are some major side effects of lisinopril and some are just mild. The major side effects include fever, body ache, light-headedness, weakness in muscles, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, swelling of body parts etc. The minor type of side effects are - nausea, drowsiness, itching and cough. Under such circumstances, one should take emergency medical help before the problem is aggravated any further.

Lisinopril and other Drugs

Lisinopril tends to show some adverse effects if taken along with certain other types of drugs. For this reason, the consulting doctor should have the information if any such drug is being used by the patient. In case, there is a need to start some new medicines the doctor should be informed. Following is the list of some common drugs which when used with lisinopril may cause effects:

• Gold injections that are given to arthritic patients.
• While taking lisinopril, salt substitutes or potassium supplements should be stopped.
• Lithium drugs, insulin or oral diabetic medication, diuretic pill.
• Vitamins, minerals or some herbal medicines prescribed by other doctors.

Lisinopril and other Medical Conditions

Lisinopril is not good for patients with some specific medical conditions. They are as follows:

• Patients suffering from diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease or diseases related to connective tissue like Marfan Syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis should inform their doctor about their medical history before taking lisinopril.
• If lisinopril is taken by pregnant women it may cause birth defects to the newborn baby. If the patient conceives during the course of the treatment the drug should be stopped immediately.
• During the course of medication, if the patient suffers from diarrhea leading to dehydration, it may reduce the blood pressure further or may lead to kidney failure. Intake of plenty of water is a must to prevent any deterioration of health condition.
• Many people show symptoms of allergy towards ACE inhibitor drugs. For them, a special test is conducted or dose adjustments are made to avoid any kind of negative consequences.

Overdose of Lisinopril

Dosage of lisinopril depends on several factors like age, health condition and medical history of the patient. Generally, the recommended dose of lisinopril varies between 5-10 mg. It is taken once a day. In case of any overdose, the common symptoms that have been noticed are very low blood pressure, increase in potassium and sodium content in blood or kidney failure. This condition is treated by intra-venous ingestion of fluids and medication to raise blood pressure.

Lisinopril should be taken only after consulting a doctor. Any consultant physician will prescribe lisinopril only after thorough investigation of the health condition and medical history of the patients. It is also very important that patients should provide all correct information to prevent any side effects.