Lisinopril is a medication that inhibits the angiotensin converting enzyme, commonly known as an ACE inhibitor. Lisinopril is indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure, heart failure and myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack. Lisinopril was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1987 and has been studied extensively in clinical trials and post marketing research. The drug can cause several side effects for each condition it is indicated for.
Side Effects for High Blood Pressure Patients
Patients taking lisinopril for high blood pressure can experience several side effects. According to Drugs.com, the most common reported side effect for high blood pressure patients is a headache, occurring in around 5.7 percent of patients. The second most common side effect is dizziness occurring in around 5.4 percent of patients. Another 3.5 percent of patients experience cough. In addition, 2.5 percent of patients have experienced fatigue, while 2.7 percent have had diarrhea. Other less common side effects include nausea, upper respiratory tract infections, rash, impotence, the common cold, weakness and low blood pressure. Low blood pressure may also result from patients taking more lisinopril than the recommended dose. According to eMedTV, 5.7 percent of patients taking lisinopril for high blood pressure have discontinued their medication due to side effects.
Side Effects for Congestive Heart Failure Patients
There are also several side effects for patients taking lisinopril to treat congestive heart failure. Heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to provide adequate blood flow to the rest of the body. According to the prescribing label for Prinivil, the most common side effect experienced is dizziness, occurring in nearly 12 percent of patients. Both headache and low blood pressure occur in around 4.4 percent of patients. Other side effects include chest and abdominal pain, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections and rash. EMedTv states that up to 11 percent of patients taking lisinopril for heart failure have discontinued their medication due to side effects. According to Drugs.com, ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril can cause dose dependent side effects, with dizziness and low blood pressure occurring at much higher rates in high doses, 18 and 10 percent respectively.
Side Effects for Heart Attack Patients
Patients taking lisinopril to treat the effects of a recent heart attack may also experience several side effects. According to the prescribing label for Prinivil, the most common side effect for heart attack patients is low blood pressure, occurring in nearly 10 percent of patients. Two percent of patients have experienced kidney impairment. Other less common side effects include cough, chest pain, chest swelling and rash. Some patients have developed diabetes and liver problems after taking lisinopril for the treatment of a recent heart attack. Lisinopril for the treatment of a heart attack has also resulted in the highest rate of discontinuation due to side effects, occurring in 17.6 percent of patients.
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