Lisinopril/Hydrochlorothiazide Dosages in Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is one of the most common health conditions in U.S. adults. Typically, it doesn’t cause symptoms for most people living with it. But left untreated, hypertension can cause serious health problems over time, including heart disease and stroke. Thankfully, there are many blood pressure medications available.

For some people, one medication is all they need to meet their blood pressure goals. But for others, a combination of medications is necessary. In these cases, a combination blood pressure pill can help lower the number of pills you take in one day. Lisinopril/ hydrochlorothiazide (Zestoretic) is a commonly prescribed combination blood pressure pill.

As the name suggests, lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide contains the medications lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide, or HCTZ for short. Lisinopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. HCTZ belongs to a group of medications called thiazide diuretics (“water pills”). These medications work in different ways to treat high blood pressure.

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In this article, we discuss typical lisinopril/HCTZ dosages. These are the FDA-approved dosages recommended by the manufacturer. However, be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations if they prescribe a different dose for you.

What’s the typical lisinopril/HCTZ dosage for adults?

Lisinopril/HCTZ tablets are prescribed to treat high blood pressure in adults. This medication isn’t FDA-approved for children. You should take your dose by mouth once daily in the morning.

The available doses for lisinopril/HCTZ are as follows.

Your starting lisinopril/HCTZ dosage will likely be 10 mg/12.5 mg or 20 mg/12.5 mg once per day in the morning. This can be raised if needed. The recommended maximum dosage is 80 mg/50 mg once a day in the morning if needed. This would mean taking four of the 20 mg/12.5 mg pills at one time.

When looking at your prescription label, the numbers and slashes can be confusing. The first number represents the amount of lisinopril in the pill. The second number is the amount of HCTZ. But if you’re ever unsure how much you take, double check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Lisinopril/HCTZ is typically prescribed to replace individual lisinopril and HCTZ prescriptions that you’re already taking. But in some cases, people may start with a combination pill. For example, if either lisinopril or HCTZ isn’t working well enough by itself, your provider may prescribe the combination pill. In either case, taking a combination pill can help cut down on the amount of pills you take in one day.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

Certain medications require dosage adjustments for health conditions. In the case of lisinopril/HCTZ, there are no dosage adjustments suggested by the manufacturer. But it’s possible you may need to stop the medication depending on your kidney function.

People with kidney problems

There isn’t a recommended lisinopril/HCTZ dosage from the manufacturer for people with kidney problems. But your healthcare provider may stop treatment if you develop advanced kidney disease. That’s because both medications can be hard on the kidneys — especially if your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should.

Be sure to go for any recommended blood tests on time. These can help your provider spot kidney function changes early. Follow any suggested lisinopril/HCTZ dosage changes your provider makes.

What happens if you miss a dose of lisinopril/HCTZ?

If you miss a dose of lisinopril/HCTZ, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose as usual at the scheduled time.

You may also want to skip a missed dose if it’s later in the day. It’s best to take HCTZ in the morning to avoid having to go to the bathroom overnight. The effects of this diuretic may last for up to 12 hours. So you may not want to take a missed dose if there’s less than 12 hours left before bedtime.

Don’t take more than one dose of lisinopril/HCTZ at once. Doing so can raise your risk for side effects.

What should you do if you take too much lisinopril/HCTZ?

Taking an extra dose of lisinopril/HCTZ by mistake is unlikely to cause serious harm. But you may experience more side effects than usual, such as increased urination, dizziness, or tiredness. Low blood pressure or fainting are also possible.

Taking too much lisinopril/HCTZ over long periods of time can cause electrolyte problems. For example, lisinopril can raise your potassium levels. In severe cases, this can lead to heart rhythm problems.

There isn’t much information available on what can happen if a person takes an excessive amount of lisinopril/HCTZ. If you or someone you know takes too much of this medication, contact a healthcare provider. You can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.

How to save on lisinopril/HCTZ

There are ways to save on lisinopril/HCTZ, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price of the generic version. The monthly price of generic lisinopril/HCTZ at certain pharmacies is as low as $11.15 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA, is a licensed pharmacist specializing in chronic disease and health and wellness. Upon completing his residency, he worked in the managed care field, conducting medication therapy management and adherence counseling sessions with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance patients, before transitioning to a career in medical writing.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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