Lisinopril: Uses, indications and cautions when using

Lisinopril is prepared in the form of tablets 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg, indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure, heart failure,... To use the drug effectively, patients need to follow the instructions for use. use or as directed by a physician.

What is Lisinopril used for? Lisinopril belongs to the class of ACE inhibitors. The drug works by dilating blood vessels, which in turn allows blood to flow more easily.
Lisinopril is indicated for use in the following cases:
Treatment of high blood pressure: Reducing high blood pressure helps prevent the risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney problems; Treat heart failure and improve your chances of surviving a heart attack.

Lisinopril should not be used for the following subjects:
Patients with aortic valve stenosis; People with obstructive cardiomyopathy; People with bilateral renal artery stenosis or in a solitary kidney; People with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug Lisinopril.

Dosage and how to use Lisinopril as follows:

Use the drug once a day orally before or after meals (as prescribed by the doctor); If using the liquid form, shake the bottle well before drinking. Pay attention to measure drug dosage with specialized tools;

Dosage is based on the patient's medical condition and response to treatment. For children, the dose is based on the child's weight;
To reduce the risk of side effects, doctors may start patients with a low dose, then increase it gradually. Patients need to coordinate with all doctor's instructions;
Take medication at the same time of day, even in the absence of symptoms (most patients with high blood pressure have no symptoms);
To treat high blood pressure, patients using the drug about 2-4 weeks will see specific effects; with patients with heart failure from a few weeks to several months;
In case the disease does not improve or even worsens (the blood pressure is still high or increased), the patient should immediately notify the doctor.

Although effective in treating the disease, when using Lisinopril, patients may experience unwanted side effects such as:
Mild symptoms: Dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue or headache, dry cough . These are side effects as the body gradually adapts to the drug. If the above side effects persist or worsen, the patient should immediately notify the doctor; Severe symptoms: Fainting or having symptoms of high blood potassium levels (muscle weakness, slow or irregular heartbeat); Rare symptoms: Kidney and liver problems, in patients with existing kidney problems, Lisinopril can make the disease worse. If there are symptoms of liver damage such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, jaundice, yellow eyes, dark urine, ... the patient should immediately notify the doctor; Very rare: Allergic drug reactions. If you notice a serious allergic reaction such as rash, swelling or itching in the face, tongue, throat or dizziness, difficulty breathing, etc., the patient should notify the doctor immediately.

To avoid the risk of unwanted side effects, patients should use caution when using Lisinopril:
Patients should immediately inform their doctor if they are allergic to Lisinopril or other ACE inhibitors such as benazepril or any other allergies. Inform the physician about the patient's medical history, especially history of allergies including swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema), history of dialysis, or high blood potassium levels; The drug can cause dizziness, so patients should not use alcohol or stimulants. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires alertness until it can be done safely; Excessive sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, ... can dehydrate the body, increase symptoms of dizziness. Therefore, patients need to notify the doctor if they have persistent diarrhea or vomiting. At the same time, drink enough water to prevent dehydration; Before surgery, it is necessary to inform the doctor about the products the patient is using. Before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium, consult your doctor. Older adults are often more sensitive to the side effects of Lisinopril, so they are more prone to dizziness and increased blood potassium levels; The drug should not be used in pregnant women because Lisinopril can cause serious and even fatal effects on the fetus if used during pregnancy. If the patient plans to become pregnant or becomes pregnant, the doctor should be informed immediately; Patients taking Lisinopril should consult their doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug interactions can change how a drug works or increase the risk of serious side effects. Therefore, the patient needs to inform the doctor about all the medicines he is taking. Also, do not use, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.
Some drugs that can interact with Lisinopril are: aliskiren, certain drugs that weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection (including everolimus, sirolimus), lithium, drugs that can increase blood potassium levels (losartan, valsartan, birth control pills containing drospirenone), sacubitril; Some medications can raise blood pressure or make heart failure worse. Therefore, it is necessary to inform your doctor about the medicines you are taking for advice on safe use of medicines (especially cough and cold medicines, diet aids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen). ); If you're taking Lisinopril and injecting it with bee/ wasp allergy, it can cause very serious reactions.

Overdose: If you overdose, you have serious symptoms such as fainting or difficulty breathing, you need to take the patient to the emergency room immediately. Symptoms of an overdose include severe dizziness and fainting; Missed dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose of medicine; Patients should be careful not to share drugs with others. Should change the lifestyle such as exercise, stop smoking, reduce the amount of fat in the diet, ... so that the drug Lisinopril works better. At the same time, it is necessary to check kidney function, blood potassium levels during the use of the drug. In addition, blood pressure and pulse should be checked regularly throughout the course of taking the drug;
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Medicines should not be stored in the bathroom. With Lisinopril solution, do not use more than 4 weeks. Also, keep the medicine out of the reach of children and the range of pets.
With many years of experience in the examination and treatment of diseases, now Vinmec International General Hospital has become one of the major health care centers, capable of examining, screening and treating diseases. treat many serious diseases. Therefore, when there are signs of abnormal health, patients can go to the examination, diagnose the disease and receive advice on how to use the drug effectively, avoiding unwanted side effects.

Reference source: webmd.com