How and when to take lisinopril

Always follow your doctor's advice, and the instructions that come with your medicine.

Dosage

The dose of lisinopril you take depends on why you need the medicine. Take it how your doctor tells you to.

To decide your dose, your doctor will check your blood pressure and ask you if you're getting any side effects from your medicine.

You may also have blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working and the amount of potassium in your blood.

Depending on why you're taking lisinopril, the usual starting dose for adults is between 2.5mg and 10mg, once a day.

This will be increased gradually over a few weeks to the usual dose for your condition:

• high blood pressure – 20mg once a day (the maximum dose is 80mg once a day)
• after a recent heart attack – 10mg once a day
• heart failure – 5mg to 35mg once a day
• diabetic kidney disease – 10mg to 20mg once a day

Doses are usually lower for children. The doctor will work out the right dose based on your child's age, weight and why they need this medicine.

Your child will usually start on a low dose of lisinopril. This dose may gradually increase depending on your child's blood pressure and other symptoms.

How to take it

You'll usually take lisinopril once a day.

Your doctor may suggest that you take your first dose before bedtime because it can make you dizzy.

After the very first dose, you can take lisinopril at any time of day. Try to take it at the same time every day.

You can take lisinopril with or without food. Swallow lisinopril tablets whole with a drink of water.

If you're taking lisinopril as a liquid, it will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount of medicine.

Changes to your dose

You'll probably be prescribed a low dose of lisinopril at first so it does not make you feel dizzy.

This will usually be increased gradually until you reach the right dose for you.

Speak to your pharmacist or doctor about your dose if you're worried about side effects of lisinopril.

How long to take it for

After a heart attack, you usually take lisinopril for 6 weeks. Your doctor will then decide if you need to keep taking it for longer.

For high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetic kidney disease, treatment with lisinopril is usually long term, even for the rest of your life.

If you get ill while taking it

Contact your doctor if you get ill, such as a high temperature, sweats and shaking or severe diarrhoea or vomiting. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking lisinopril until you recover and are eating and drinking normally.

If you forget to take it

If you miss a dose of lisinopril, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

If you take too much

Taking more than your prescribed dose of lisinopril can make you feel dizzy, sleepy and give you a pounding heartbeat (heart palpitations).

The amount of lisinopril that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.