Prinivil (Lisinopril)

Recommendations

Prinivil is used in the treatment of high blood pressure and in adjunctive therapy of heart failure. It is also used to improve the survival of the patient in acute myocardial infarction.

In treating high blood pressure, the initial dose is 10 mg a day. Based on the response of the patient to the initial dose the dosage can adjusted. The general dosage is 20 to 40 mg per day. This dosage can be given as a single dose. If Prinivil is not sufficient to control high blood pressure, then a diuretic should be considered along with Prinivil. If the patient is already being treated with a diuretic then the use of Prinivil might lead to low blood pressure. Hence Prinivil should be used carefully with such patients. The patient's blood pressure should be monitored closely when using along with diuretics. For patients with renal impairment the creatinine clearance is monitored and the dosage is adjusted accordingly. If the creatinine clearance is more than 30 mL/min then a 10 mg Prinivil is recommended.

For adjunctive therapy in heart failure the initial dose is 5 mg once a day. After the initial dose the patient blood pressure is monitored closely. The general effective dose for such patients is 5 to 20 mg per day as a single dose.

If you have any schedule with your doctor for checking the liver and kidney functions, do not miss it. Checking their functions is necessary to see whether the usage of Prinivil is effective. Dosage adjustments might be needed if their functions are affected.

Precautions

Patients with kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, or connective tissue disease should inform their condition to their doctor before taking up Prinivil.