Lisinopril

Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor, commonly prescribed to lower high blood pressure. It is also used to treat blood pressure related kidney problems and is often given patients recovering from a stroke. The acronym ACE stands for Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme. Medications belonging to this group stimulate a chemical process in the body, which prevents the retention of water and salt, thus lowering blood pressure. It also widens your blood vessels and improves circulation. ACE is a protein, which naturally occurs in the human body. It is involved in the transformation of Angiotensin I into Angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes blood vessels to narrow. By inhibiting this transformation, Lisinopril prevents Angiotensin II from narrowing your blood vessels and raising your blood pressure. ACE inhibitors do not slow down your heart rate like other hypertension tablets.

Lisinopril can be used on its own or in combination with other hypertension tablets. Your GP will be able to devise the best therapy for you. Zava only provides repeat prescriptions for patients whose blood pressure is well controlled and who have previously been assessed by a GP. The combination of different types of blood pressure lowering medications is not unusual. Lisinopril is often prescribed along with calcium channel blockers and diuretics.

However, you shouldn’t just rely on medication to treat your condition. It is vital that you make changes to your lifestyle to support the effects of Lisinopril. You should eat healthily and make sure you exercise regularly. If you are a smoker, you are strongly advised to quit smoking in order to prevent serious complications resulting from arteriosclerosis.

When ordering your medication online, you need to be careful. While there are many legitimate online doctors like Zava, you will find other, less trustworthy sources, offering Lisinopril. You should always check, whether online services have been approved by the Care Quality Commission and the General Medical Council to avoid purchasing dangerous or unlicensed tablets.

Hypertension is a potentially very dangerous illness, so you need to visit your GP regularly for check ups. Buying Lisinopril online does not replace regular check-ups with your local doctor.

You should only take Lisinopril if it has been prescribed to you by your GP. Lisinopril tablets are not suitable for patients who are allergic to Lisinopril or any other ACE inhibitor and should not be taken during pregnancy. You must also tell your doctor, if you suffer from diabetes, dehydration due to illness, have a reduced blood flow to the heart or a condition called cerebrovascular disease, which affects the blood vessels in the brain. The same applies if you have ever suffered from heart disease, kidney disease, problems with your immune system or airways. Patients undergoing treatment to lessen allergic reactions may need to abstain from taking Lisinopril.

It is important that you drink sufficiently while taking Lisinopril tablets, as taking an ACE inhibitor increases your risk of dehydration. Drinking plenty of fluids also lessens the risk of side effects like nausea and diarrhoea. Please make sure you attend regular appointments with your doctor and monitor your blood pressure carefully. Ideally, you should have a blood pressure reader at home, so you can keep a close eye on your condition in case it worsens and your medication needs to be adjusted.

When you take Lisinopril for the first time, it will have a bigger impact on your blood pressure than during regular treatment. You may feel a little dizzy and you might have to lie down for your blood pressure to stabilise. Please consult your GP if this side effect does not cease to occur after the first days of treatment.

These side effects occur in about over 1 in 1000 patients (between 0.1% and 1%):

• Itching
• Skin rash
• Muscle and joint pain
• Palpitations (faster or irregular heartbeat); difficulty breathing
• Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Taste changes
• Blocked or runny nose

If these symptoms prove too painful or annoying, you should consult your doctor to discuss them.

If you suffer from these side effects, you must stop taking your treatment and seek medical care:

• Swelling of the tongue, throat or face causing breathing difficulties
• Severe allergic reaction
• Severe sore throat
• Severe stomach ache and nausea
• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Hoarse voice
• Fever
• Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)

There have been claims that Lisinopril can cause weight gain, however there isn't any conclusive evidence to confirm this. It doesn’t mean that the side-effect doesn’t exist, but simply that it happens so rarely (in less than 1 in 10,000 patients) that it hasn’t been picked up in research studies.

• feeling confused
• hair loss
• dryness of the mouth
• kidney failure

• jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
• swelling of lips, face, throat, tongue or limbs

For a full list of all possible side effects please read the patient leaflet carefully.