• Zestril

  General information:

  Manufacturer: Astra Zeneca, UK-Swedish
  Substance: Lisinopril
  Pack: 28 tabs (5 mg/tab)

Amount

Therapeutic actions: Lisinopril is in a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. It works by decreasing certain chemicals that tighten the blood vessels, so blood flows more smoothly and the heart can pump blood more efficiently.

Indications: Lisinopril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack. Lisinopril comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of lisinopril and gradually increase your dose.

Contraindications and cautions: 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.

Adverse effects: The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Lisinopril may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

* cough
* dizziness
* headache
* excessive tiredness
* upset stomach
* diarrhea
* weakness
* sneezing
* runny nose
* decrease in sexual ability
* rash

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

* swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
* hoarseness
* difficulty breathing or swallowing
* fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
* yellowing of the skin or eyes
* lightheadedness
* fainting
* chest pain

Lisinopril may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

Interactions: Tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine.

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.