Lisinopril
Sold as Prinivil, Zestril
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack.
What it treats
High blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure (HF), and improving survival after a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction).
Typical dosing
Dose depends on indication — do not use one number for all patients: • Hypertension: typical starting dose 10 mg once daily; usual maintenance 20–40 mg once daily. • Heart failure: start LOW — 2.5–5 mg once daily — then titrate upward as tolerated (target doses used in clinical trials were 20–40 mg/day). Starting HF patients at 10 mg risks symptomatic low blood pressure. • Post-heart-attack: started at low dose (2.5–5 mg) within 24 hours as tolerated, per prescriber.
Side effects
Common: dry cough, dizziness, headache. Serious (rare): swelling of face/lips/throat (angioedema), high potassium, kidney problems, symptomatic hypotension (especially after the first dose in heart-failure or volume-depleted patients).
Interactions to know
Avoid potassium supplements and salt substitutes containing potassium unless your doctor says otherwise. NSAIDs can reduce its effect and worsen kidney function.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Do not use during pregnancy — can cause fetal harm, especially in the 2nd/3rd trimester.
Clinical content reviewed by the BetterBuyRx clinical team, on 2026-07-07.
Educational only. Not medical advice. Always confirm with your prescriber or pharmacist.