It is a drug that belongs to the group of drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), which is ingested orally and which has various uses, the main one being the control of hypertension that ranges from medium to severe. It can be used alone or in combination with other hypertensive drugs.
In addition to fulfilling the function of blocking or preventing the conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II, lisinopril helps to dilate blood vessels, thus reducing blood pressure and favoring the main function of the heart, which is to get blood to the rest of the body.
In combination with other medications, lisinopril can prolong the survival of a person who has been affected by a heart attack.
In this sense, lisinopril can in addition to treating hypertension and heart failure, it also serves for the treatment of myocardial infarction and the prevention of retinal and renal complications that occur mostly in patients with diabetes.
The pharmacodynamic properties of this drug are very similar to those of other ACE inhibitors. However, it differs from them because it does not correspond to a prodrug, but is an active ingredient and because, unlike enalapril and captopril, it has a slower onset of its antihypertensive effect and a longer duration, for what should be used with a single dose per day.
Lisinopril, like most drugs, has contraindications. In the case of those who are allergic or hypersensitive to its active ingredient or to any other ACEI, it can cause swelling of the lips, face, tongue or other parts of the body, being serious when this symptom attacks the vocal cords. It can also cause an asthma attack, rapid breathing, shortness of breath or wheezing, itching, hives, rash and even anaphylactic shock, which can lead to loss of consciousness.
It is also not recommended that a person who has a family member who is allergic to ACE inhibitors, who suffers from inherited angioedema, who has suffered an allergic reaction to any medication for no reason, who is pregnant or breastfeeding their child, take lisinopril.
