A health problem that many people in our country have is high blood pressure, or as we all know it, "pressure". So your doctor may have prescribed you a medicine called 'Lisinopril' for your blood pressure, heart failure, or after a heart attack. This is a very common medicine. However, there are a few things you should know when using this. Today, let's talk about this medicine in a simple way that you can understand.
What is this Lisinopril?
Simply put, Lisinopril is a medicine used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure and heart failure. It belongs to a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors.
Imagine that the water pipes in your house are clogged. Then the water pump has to work very hard to push the water through, doesn't it? The blood vessels in our body are the same. When the pressure increases, these blood vessels become clogged. Then our heart has to work very hard to pump the blood throughout the body.
Lisinopril works by widening (relaxing) the narrowed blood vessels. This allows blood to flow more easily without any obstruction. This reduces the workload on the heart. This helps control blood pressure and protects the health of the heart.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before prescribing Lisinopril to you, your doctor will ask you about some things. But you should definitely tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions. This is very important.
| Your situation | Why should you tell the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Diabetes | Lisinopril can interact with some diabetes medications and can also affect the kidneys. |
| Kidney disease | This medicine is eliminated from the body by the kidneys. If there is a problem with the kidneys, the dosage of the medicine may need to be changed. |
| Angioedema - This means that you have previously had swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, and difficulty breathing. | Lisinopril may cause this condition to come back or get worse. This can be life-threatening. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | (Very important) This medicine can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. So tell your doctor right away. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother | You should talk to your doctor about whether the medicine passes to the baby through breast milk or not. |
| Allergies to other medications, foods, or insect stings | If you are allergic to other ACE inhibitors, you may also be allergic to Lisinopril. |
How to use the medicine correctly?
This is very simple.
- Take it on time: As your doctor has told you, try to take your medicine at the same time every day . This will help keep the medicine's effectiveness in the body at the same level.
- Measure correctly: If this medicine is given as a solution, use only the special syringe, cup, or dropper provided to measure the medicine. Do not use teaspoons or tablespoons found in the kitchen. They are not accurate.
- With or without food: This medicine can be taken before or after meals. However, if you experience stomach upset, it is best to take it with food.
- Don't stop: Don't stop taking your medication until your doctor tells you to. It's dangerous to stop taking your medication on your own, thinking your blood pressure has gone down.
What if I miss a dose of medication? What if I drink too much?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
If you think you have taken too much medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
This medicine is for you only. Do not give this medicine to someone else just because they have the same symptoms as you.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
When taking Lisinopril, it is very important to tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies), as some medications may interact with Lisinopril.
| Avoid taking Lisinopril with these | |
|---|---|
| Sacubitril; valsartan (such as Entresto) | Increases the risk of severe angioedema. |
| Talk to your doctor about these. | |
| Painkillers (NSAIDs) (e.g. Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Diclofenac) | It can reduce the effectiveness of Lisinopril and affect the kidneys. |
| Water pills (Diuretics) | The pressure may be too low. |
| Potassium tablets or salt substitutes | Potassium levels in the body can become dangerously high. |
| Some medications for diabetes | Blood sugar levels can drop unexpectedly. |
Take special care with these things when taking Lisinopril
- Go for regular check-ups: Go to your doctor's appointments and get yourself checked on the scheduled days. Measure your blood pressure. Ask your doctor what your ideal blood pressure should be.
- Don't take cough and cold medicine on your own: Ask your doctor before taking cough, cold, or body ache medicine from the pharmacy. Some medications can increase your blood pressure.
- Be careful about pregnancy:
- Dizziness and drowsiness: Some people may feel dizzy or drowsy after taking this medicine. Therefore, avoid doing things that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medicine affects you. Especially if you are elderly, do not get up suddenly from a sitting or lying position. Get up slowly. Drinking alcohol can increase this drowsiness and dizziness.
- Avoid Salt Substitutes: Unless your doctor specifically tells you to, avoid using salt substitutes instead of table salt, as they may contain high levels of potassium.
- Keep away from children: Always keep medicines out of the reach of children and pets.
- Pay attention to temperature: Store at room temperature (between 20-25 degrees Celsius). Protect from extreme heat and extreme cold (do not freeze).
- Expired medications: Do not use expired medications. Dispose of them properly. Check the label for instructions on how to dispose of them. If it is not safe to flush down the toilet, crush the medication, mix it with something like used coffee grounds, soil, or cat litter, put it in a bag, seal it, and throw it in the trash.
- Lisinopril is an important medication that helps control blood pressure and heart health. Take it at the right time, in the right dose, as prescribed by your doctor.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have (especially diabetes, kidney disease) and all other medications you are taking.
- If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, tell your doctor right away. This is extremely important.
- If you experience any serious side effects such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention.
- Don't stop taking your medication on your own, thinking it's okay. Always follow your doctor's instructions.
If you are a woman, if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away . This is very important because this medicine can seriously harm an unborn baby.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medicine, Lisinopril can cause side effects. Although not everybody gets them, some are serious and some are mild.
| Serious side effects that require immediate medical attention | |
|---|---|
| Allergic Reactions / Angioedema | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, hands or feet, difficulty swallowing or breathing. |
| Increased potassium levels in the blood | Muscle weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeat. |
| Kidney damage | Decreased urine output, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet. |
| Liver damage | Pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark yellow/brown urine. |
| Excessive drop in blood pressure | Severe dizziness, fainting, blurred vision. |
| Usually not serious (but tell your doctor if it persists) | |
| Dry cough | This is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors. If it bothers you, talk to your doctor. |
| Headache | This will decrease as the body gets used to the medication. |
| Mild dizziness | This can occur especially in the first few days after starting the medication. |
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