What Is It Like to Take Lisinopril (Zestril) for Hypertension?
Key takeaways:
Lisinopril (Zestril) is a medication that helps people manage high blood pressure. It’s also approved to treat heart failure and reduce the risk of death from a heart attack.
Most people start by taking 5 mg to 10 mg of lisinopril once a day.
It can cause side effects such as a dry cough, dizziness, and headache.
Access savings on related medications
Hypertension is one of the most common health ailments Americans face. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, according to the CDC. That puts them at elevated risk for heart disease and stroke.
Lisinopril (Zestril) is one of doctors’ top choices to help people meet their blood pressure goals. The medication is called an ACE inhibitor (ACE stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme). Lisinopril works by blocking the production of angiotensin II. The hormone causes arteries to narrow, increasing blood pressure.
Adults typically start by taking 5 mg to 10 mg once a day, while the maintenance dose is typically 20 mg to 40 mg daily. Research suggests lisinopril can start lowering blood pressure within an hour of taking it.
Lisinopril is well-tolerated by many people. However, it can cause side effects such as a dry cough, dizziness, and headache. More rarely, it can lead to liver damage and angioedema (swelling of the face, neck, or mouth).
Here, three people describe what it’s like to take lisinopril for high blood pressure.
‘The stroke that didn’t occur’
Jeff Logan was diagnosed with hypertension nearly 3 decades ago, when he was 32. At the time, he was active and in good shape, and he had no idea he had high blood pressure. But his readings were so high during his annual physical, his doctor made him lie down for a few minutes to see if his numbers would improve.
“They kept checking it over and over again, and they couldn’t believe their eyes,” says Jeff, who’s now 59 and lives in Coppell, Texas.
Jeff’s doctor gave him a stern lecture.
“We go into his office, and he closes the door, and then he tries to scare me straight,” Jeff recalls. “He said, “You’re going to have to make some serious changes, buddy.’”
Jeff would have to overhaul his diet and start taking lisinopril — probably for the rest of his life.
“He said, ‘In my opinion, you are headed into a doozy of a stroke.’”
The doctor predicted it would happen before Jeff turned 40.
Now, decades later, Jeff is confident that lisinopril saved his life by keeping his blood pressure in check and preventing a stroke. After making healthy changes, he’s been able to cut back from taking 20 mg a day to 5 mg. He uses a home monitor to regularly check his blood pressure and has learned that when you’re taking a high dose of the medication, your blood pressure can drop too low. That’s why it’s important to work closely with your doctor.
“It’s kind of a balancing act to get into the right place,” he says.
Jeff takes his lisinopril first thing in the morning and hasn’t experienced any side effects. The experience has been overwhelmingly positive. He says it’s always worth celebrating “the stroke that didn’t occur,” and he’s grateful that lisinopril has helped keep him healthy.
“Lisinopril totally changed my future,” he says. “It really altered the course of my life.”
First heart attack reveals high blood pressure
Bob Thompson started taking lisinopril in 2018, after experiencing his first heart attack. While he was in the hospital, his blood pressure was extremely high. Five months later, he had a second heart attack, followed by quadruple bypass surgery.
Since then, Bob has continued taking 40 mg of lisinopril almost every day to manage his hypertension. He uses a blood pressure-monitoring machine to check his levels in the morning and again around lunchtime. If his afternoon reading is above normal, he takes his lisinopril. If he’s having “a good blood pressure day,” his doctor has advised him to skip it. He ends up taking the medication 4 or 5 times a week. (Lisinopril is typically taken every day, so talk with your doctor before skipping a dosage or making any other changes.)
“It takes less than an hour to creep back down,” says Bob, who’s 50 and lives in Chesapeake, Virginia. He also takes another hypertension medication, metoprolol, every day.
Bob has experienced hardly any side effects from lisinopril. At first, it made him a little tired, but he’s often sensitive to new medications.
“I’ve been very pleased with it,” he says. “I love lisinopril. No complaints from me. It’s done wonders for me. It’s nice that if I’m having a bad blood pressure day, it will knock it back down to where it needs to be, and I can keep on going with my day.”
Zero side effects
Jeff Rusack has taken lisinopril daily for almost 3 years to manage his hypertension. He recalls being surprised when his doctor told him he had high blood pressure.
“They thought their machine was broken because my blood pressure was so high,” says Jeff, who’s 34 and lives in Buffalo, New York.
He’s now on a small dose of lisinopril: 10 mg per day. He takes the medication as part of his morning routine. Jeff monitors his blood pressure at home, and when he first started taking lisinopril, he logged his daily readings in a journal.
“You could see it going down,” he says.
Jeff hasn’t experienced any side effects, and his blood pressure readings are consistently normal. Before starting lisinopril, he recalls feeling his heart fluttering from time to time. Now that he’s on the medication, he doesn’t experience that anymore. The entire experience has been smooth sailing: “For me, it’s been great,” he says.
What does the pharmacist say?
Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD
Director, Pharmacy Content
Lisinopril (Zestril, Qbrelis) is an oral medication approved to treat high blood pressure, lessen heart failure symptoms, and aid recovery after a heart attack. It belongs to a class of medications called ACE inhibitors, which work on a system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance in the body.
Many people taking lisinopril experience no side effects. However, side effects such as headache, dizziness, and low blood pressure are possible. They usually improve over time as your body gets used to the medication.
Some people may develop a persistent dry cough while taking ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril. This cough doesn’t usually go away until you stop taking the medication. But don’t stop taking it on your own. If you do develop a dry cough, you may be switched to a similar class of medications called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). ARBs are less likely to cause this type of cough.
Even though lisinopril’s effects can start kicking in within an hour of taking a dose, it’s meant to be taken every day — unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. This helps maintain your blood pressure within your recommended range to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other problems. Ideally, it’s best to take lisinopril at the same time every day.
Why trust our experts?
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.