hopeful1 asked:
My husband was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and was put on Linsinopril. He has been taking it for two days and is since very tired. Does anyone know if this goes away? and what else are common things to look out for?
My husband was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and was put on Linsinopril. He has been taking it for two days and is since very tired. Does anyone know if this goes away? and what else are common things to look out for?
Lisinopril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic reactions. Before taking lisinopril, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction that involved swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms while taking lisinopril.
Heavy sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, or other causes of fluid loss may lead to very low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting during therapy with lisinopril. Maintain proper fluid intake to prevent dehydration and related side effects.
Do not take lisinopril if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, lisinopril can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. Notify your doctor immediately if you think you might be pregnant.
Rather than post information created by a website, I’ll answer your questions. (I’m not at all sure why the person above me mentioned lisinopril and pregnancy when you are referring to your husband) The most common adverse effects of lisinopril (Zestril) are dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, nasal congestion and diarrhea. The less common adverse effects are headache, fatigue, paresthesia, hypotension, nausea, upset stomach (dyspepsia), impaired renal function, impotence, dyspnea, a dry, persistent, tickling nonproductive cough and skin rash. The life-threatening adverse effect is hyperkalemia.
Your husband’s fatigue is one of the less common, but not unusual, effects and is experienced during the first few days. It should pass. He should, however, make his prescriber aware of this and follow all recommendations given. Should he have any further concerns or questions, his doctor is the one to talk to.
ADRs
With respect to fatigue, there are three potential adverse drug reactions (ADR) that come to mind with Lisinopril:
1. Lisinopril’s direct effect on the central nervous system produces fatigue in 6% of people.
2. Bone marrow suppression, which could lead to decreased red blood cell production, which could present as fatigue.
3. Hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells), which of course would also lead to decreased red blood cells, which could also present as fatigue.
DRUG-DRUG INTERACTION:
Is your husband taking any other drugs? For example, if he’s taking drugs to treat diabetes melitus II, it could increase his risk for hypoglycemia, which could present as fatigue.
CLARIFICATION OF SYMPTOMS:
You may want to clarify with your husband that he feels tired, and not lightheaded, this lightheadedness could be due to hypotension (low BP), or orthostatic hypotension (low BP when he stands up).
Btw, the most common ADR for Lisinopril is hypotension (10%)
Good luck and good health
Source data: http://www.drugs.com/ppa/lisinopril.html
Correction… the most common ADR for Lisinopril is dizziness @ 12% (dizziness is a direct effect of Lisinopril on the central nervous system).
Again clarify his feelings of tiredness… is it fatigue, lightheadedness or dizziness. Do this by asking him when he feels tired… is it chronically, when he stands, at the end of a day, before meals, etc..
Sorry Hopeful… just re-read your query:
If it’s only been 2-days since he started on Lisinopril, the acute nature of his status may be attributed to the drug, so we’d want to take a closer look:
Although not common, Immune-hemolytic anemia is still in the running since your husband may be having a drug hypersensitivity reaction to Lisinopril. It’s an acute and potentially serious ADR, which could manifest over a few days.
We can likely rule out bone marrow suppression, since BM suppression and its anemic sequelae would occur over a longer period of time.
The dizziness is also acute, along with the hypotension and assorted drug-drug interaction, so we would want to keep those as possible causes.
GENERIC NAME: lisinopril
BRAND NAME: Zestril, Prinivil
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Lisinopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Angiotensin is a chemical that is made by the body continuously. It narrows blood vessels and thereby maintains (elevates) blood pressure. When the enzyme is blocked by lisinopril, angiotensin cannot be converted into its active form. As a result, blood pressure falls.
Interestingly, lisinopril and other ACE inhibitors were developed from the venom of a poisonous Brazilian snake.
PRESCRIPTION: yes
GENERIC AVAILABLE: yes
PREPARATIONS: 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, and 40mg oral tablets.
STORAGE: Lisinopril should be stored in a dry place at 15-30°C (59-86 °F).
PRESCRIBED FOR: Lisinopril is used to treat elevated blood pressure and heart failure.
DOSING: Lisinopril should be taken at doses specifically directed by the physician. Lisinopril can be taken with or without food. Lisinopril should be taken at the same time each day to maintain consistent blood levels. Lisinopril should not be taken within two hours of taking an antacid since the antacid binds lisinopril and prevents its absorption. Lisinopril is often tapered when discontinuing.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: First doses of lisinopril or any ACE inhibitor should be taken under observation if the patient also is taking diuretics (water pills). In such patients, blood pressure can drop quickly (though this is unusual).
In general, lisinopril should not be taken with potassium supplements or diuretics that conserve potassium, e.g., Dyazide, since blood potassium levels may rise to dangerous levels.
PREGNANCY: Lisinopril should not be taken during pregnancy.
SIDE EFFECTS: First doses of lisinopril can cause dizziness due to a drop in blood pressure. Lisinopril should be stopped if there are symptoms or signs of an allergic reaction including feelings of swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and hives occasionally occur.
An uncommon but dangerous side effect is a drop in the white blood cells which fight infection. Cough is a known side effect of this drug.
Lisinopril can impair the function of the kidneys, and every person taking this medication should have their kidney function checked. Lisinopril rarely can cause nausea, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, drowsiness, nasal congestion and sexual dysfunction.
This website is VERY informative and I believe it will be of much help to you and your husband.
It lists what it is, who should and should not take it, how it should be taken, if you miss a dose, or if you overdose, side effects, etc etc etc!!!
you can get quite lethargic when starting any blood pressure meds. it goes away after your system adjusts to the medication, and the pressure stabilizes. monitor your husbands blood pressure often as it is probably quite low. mine has gone down to as low as 60/40 after starting a new drug. when i contacted my doctors, i was told to just rest, get up slowly from laying or sitting so as not to get dizzy and fall. let his doctor know if it drops this low. your husband will probably be told the same thing however, the doctor does need to know this. the doctor may want to adjust the dosage or change the medication if it continues.
best of luck to you both, and tell your husband, welcome to the club…..
P.S.
do not stop taking the lisinopril unless the doctor tell him to, or gives him something else.
it is most important to control hypertension. it could mean his life or death. heart failure, stroke or aneurysm are all the result of high b.p. not to mention damage to other major organs.
Try a Yahoo search for lisinopril (OR linsinopril) + “side effects” and see what you get.