Our first Med of the Week is none other than Lisinopril, one of the top medications prescribed in the U.S. Here are some things you may be surprised to learn about Lisinopril:
Generic Name: Lisinopril
Brand Name(s): Prinivil, Qbrelis, Zestril
Pronunciation: lyse IN oh pril
About this drug:
Lisinopril is an angiotensin II converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
Dentistry-related tidbits:
Lisinopril may cause xerostomia.
Combining Lisinopril with common local anesthetics like Articaine, Bupivacaine, Lidocaine, Mepivacaine, and Ropivacaine can increase the risk for hypotension.
Epinephrine in local anesthetics can also decrease the antihypertensive efficacy of Lisinopril when combined.
Lisinopril has drug-drug interactions with common NSAIDs, steroids, aminoglycoside antibiotics, and more, so make sure to check for potential interactions before prescribing.
Fun facts:
Lisinopril is the fourth most common prescription drug in the U.S., with over 88 million prescriptions written in 2020.
Lisinopril works by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes vasoconstriction and stimulates the production of aldosterone. Both angiotensin II and aldosterone contribute to increased blood pressure - so by blocking ACE, Lisinopril effectively decreases vasoconstriction and thus lowers blood pressure.
Lisinopril can start lowering blood pressure within an hour of taking it.
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