Lisinopril - an ACE inhibitor

About lisinopril

Lisinopril belongs to a class of medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE inhibitors. It is prescribed for a number of different reasons. You may have been prescribed it to reduce high blood pressure (hypertension), or to treat heart failure, or to protect your heart and blood vessels from further damage following a heart attack, or to protect your kidneys if you have diabetes. Your doctor will tell you why it has been prescribed for you.

ACE inhibitors like lisinopril prevent your body from creating a hormone known as angiotensin II. They do this by blocking (inhibiting) a chemical called angiotensin-converting enzyme. They widen your blood vessels and help to reduce the amount of water put back into your blood by the kidneys.

These actions help to decrease blood pressure in people who have blood pressure which is higher than normal. Although people with high blood pressure often do not feel unwell, if left untreated, high blood pressure can harm the heart and damage blood vessels, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Lisinopril can be used on its own or alongside other medicines which reduce blood pressure (such as hydrochlorothiazide). Combination brands such as Lisoretic® and Zestoretic® can help to reduce the total number of tablets people with high blood pressure need to take each day.

Heart failure is a condition where your heart does not work as well as it should. Because of this, there may be too much circulating fluid in your blood vessels. Lisinopril helps to reduce this. It also appears to have a protective effect on the heart which slows the progression of the heart failure. Its protective action also helps to reduce the risk of heart, kidney or blood vessel problems in people who are at risk of these.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking lisinopril it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se você está grávida ou amamentando.

• Se você tiver problemas com o funcionamento dos seus rins.

• Se você está com falta de líquidos no corpo (desidratado) - por exemplo, se teve diarreia ou vômito recentemente.

• Se você foi informado de que tem um acúmulo de depósitos de gordura nas paredes das suas artérias, uma condição chamada aterosclerose.

• Se você tem um tipo específico de má circulação chamado doença arterial periférica.

• Se você tem doença vascular colagenosa; isso inclui condições como lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) e esclerodermia.

• If you have been told you have heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) or narrowing of the main blood vessel from your heart (aortic stenosis).

• If you have been told you have a high level of potassium in your blood.

• Se você já teve uma reação em que seu rosto, língua ou garganta incha (angioedema).

• Se você está fazendo tratamento de dessensibilização para se proteger contra picadas de abelhas e vespas.

• Se você está fazendo tratamento de diálise, ou tratamento para remover colesterol do seu sangue por uma máquina (aférese de LDL).

• Se você estiver tomando outros medicamentos. Isso inclui quaisquer medicamentos que você esteja tomando e que estejam disponíveis para compra sem receita médica, bem como medicamentos fitoterápicos e complementares.

• If you have ever had an allergic or unusual reaction to any other ACE inhibitor (such as captopril, ramipril or enalapril), or to any other medicine.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about lisinopril and will provide you with a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take the tablets exactly as your doctor tells you to. Lisinopril is taken once daily. There are several different strengths of tablet available (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg) - the strength of your tablets will depend upon the reason for you taking them.

• É provável que seu médico aconselhe você a tomar sua primeira dose na hora de dormir. Isso porque a primeira dose pode fazer você se sentir tonto.

• After the first dose, you can take lisinopril at a time of day you find easy to remember. For most people this will be in the morning. Try to take your doses at the same time of day each day as this will help you to remember to take your doses regularly. You can take lisinopril tablets either with or without food. It is best to swallow the tablet with a drink of water.

• Se você esquecer de tomar uma dose, tome-a assim que se lembrar. Se você não se lembrar até o dia seguinte, pule a dose esquecida do dia anterior e tome a dose que está programada normalmente. Não tome duas doses ao mesmo tempo para compensar uma dose perdida.

• Tente manter suas consultas regulares com seu médico. Isso é para que seu progresso possa ser monitorado. Seu médico pode querer que você faça alguns exames de sangue de tempos em tempos para verificar se seus rins estão funcionando bem.

• É muito importante que você siga qualquer conselho dietético e de estilo de vida que lhe for dado pelo seu médico. Isso pode incluir conselhos sobre comer uma dieta saudável, não fumar e fazer exercícios regularmente.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with lisinopril. This is because some medicines (such as anti-inflammatory painkillers and indigestion remedies) could interfere with your treatment.

• It is likely that your doctor will advise that you do not use salt substitutes while you are taking lisinopril. These products have a high content of potassium which could be harmful for you.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice about drinking alcohol while you are on lisinopril. Alcoholic drinks can make you feel light-headed or dizzy, and they may not be advisable for you.

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking lisinopril tablets. This is because some anaesthetics could cause your blood pressure to drop too low.

• Treatment with lisinopril is often long-term, although it is taken for short periods (up to six weeks) following a heart attack. Continue to take the tablets until you are advised otherwise.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with lisinopril. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se você sentir quaisquer outros sintomas que acha que podem ser causados pelos comprimidos, fale com seu médico ou farmacêutico para mais orientações.

• Mantenha todos os medicamentos fora do alcance e da vista das crianças.

• Armazene em local fresco e seco, longe de calor e luz diretos.