What is Lisinopril Used For? This Common Blood Pressure Medication Can Help With More Than You Think

As you get older, rising blood pressure is normal. Older adults — people over 65 years old — have stiffer blood vessels. So even with heart-healthy habits, these adults may still have higher blood pressure numbers. 

But millions of adults in the U.S. have hypertension (high blood pressure) — many between their late 30’s to early 40’s are starting to have this medical condition. Hypertension is a blood pressure measurement with the systolic (top) number being higher than 130 mm Hg or the diastolic (bottom) number being over 80 mm Hg.

Only 1 in 4 adults with hypertension have well-controlled blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, there are options to help manage it. One potential option is lisinopril (Zestril).

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In this article, we’ll discuss what lisinopril is, how it works, and its many benefits outside of helping control blood pressure.      

What is lisinopril?

Lisinopril is a prescription medication that is taken by mouth. It also belongs to a medication class called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

Lisinopril is used for lowering blood pressure — without lowering the heart rate. Lisinopril does this by inhibiting ACE. By blocking this enzyme, lisinopril prevents the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. 

Both angiotensin I and angiotensin II are hormones. Angiotensin II raises blood pressure by tightening blood vessels. Angiotensin II also encourages the release of aldosterone, which is another type of hormone. Aldosterone can raise blood pressure by causing the kidneys to hold on to salt and water. Too much salt and water in the body can cause high blood pressure.

So, lisinopril relaxes blood vessels by blocking angiotensin II from being made. Lisinopril also prevents the kidneys from retaining too much salt and water. And the end result is lower blood pressure.  

How quickly does lisinopril lower blood pressure?

Lisinopril doesn’t take long to work.

In most people, lisinopril starts lowering blood pressure within 1 hour. But the medication might require 6 hours for maximum effectiveness. 

Is lisinopril a diuretic? 

While lisinopril stops your kidneys from holding on to too much water, it’s not a diuretic. Diuretics work by removing extra salt and water from the body as urine (pee). Lisinopril doesn’t work this way. 

Alternative uses for lisinopril

In addition to lowering blood pressure, lisinopril may have other benefits, which we’ve broken down below.

1. Improving survival after a heart attack 

Experts recommend ACE inhibitors — like lisinopril — for its beneficial effects on survival when used after a heart attack. In fact, the FDA approved lisinopril for use after a heart attack. And some people may be advised to take an ACE inhibitor long term to help prevent another heart attack from happening in the future.

2. Improving symptoms of heart failure

If you have heart failure, that means your heart isn’t able to pump blood as well. This can cause fluid to build up in your body, leading to symptoms like: 

• Shortness of breath

• Feeling tired

• Swelling in your legs, feet, and abdomen

Heart failure treatments include ACE inhibitors, like lisinopril, which may improve these symptoms and lower the risk of death. Lisinopril is FDA-approved to help lessen symptoms of certain types of heart failure.

3. Lowering the risk of diabetes

A recent analysis found that lowering blood pressure can help prevent Type 2 diabetes. But when researchers looked at medication-specific effects, they found some differences. 

ACE inhibitors, like lisinopril, were found to lower the risk of diabetes compared to placebo (a pill with no medication in it). The same effect was not seen with other common blood pressure-lowering medications, like beta blockers, thiazide diuretics, and calcium channel blockers.

4. Protecting the kidneys

High blood pressure can lead to kidney problems if left untreated. That’s because it can damage the arteries around the kidneys, making it harder for them to filter blood and regulate your blood pressure. ACE inhibitors, like lisinopril, help keep blood pressure under control and lessen the strain on your kidneys. 

ACE inhibitors can also slow down kidney problems by lowering the amount of unfiltered protein that ends up in urine (proteinuria).

Because of this, experts recommend an ACE inhibitor as a go-to treatment option for people with high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease.

5. Slowing eye disease in people with diabetes

For people with diabetes, consistently having high blood sugar over time can lead to other health issues — like diabetic eye problems (diabetic retinopathy). In addition to controlling blood sugar, lowering your blood pressure can also help lower your risk for these conditions. 

One review found that ACE inhibitors lowered the chances of diabetic retinopathy becoming worse. This benefit was seen more with ACE inhibitors than with other blood pressure-lowering medications.

6. Improving fertility in men

In a small 2012 clinical trial on men with low sperm count, more than 50% of study participants taking 2.5 mg of daily lisinopril experienced a higher sperm count. The percentage of functional sperm was also higher, and the amount of abnormal sperm was lower. But more research is needed to confirm these potential effects.

7. Preventing migraines

In a small 2001 clinical trial, study participants reported fewer migraine days with lisinopril compared to those who were given a placebo. Lisinopril is possibly effective for migraine prevention, but more research is needed to confirm its potential benefits. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Ross Phan, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP, BCPS

Ross Phan is a board-certified clinical pharmacist. She has roughly two decades of healthcare experience — with most of her experience being pharmacy related.

Edited by:

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC, is a health editor at GoodRx. She is a nutritionist and integrative nutrition health coach with over 8 years of experience in health communications.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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