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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Lisinopril belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). When taken as prescribed, lisinopril can start lowering blood pressure within an hour, decreasing the systolic (upper) pressure by as much as 26.7 mm Hg and diastolic (lower) pressure by as much as 10.2 mm Hg, depending on the dosage. Higher doses may deliver greater decreases in blood pressure, but they can also increase the risk of side effects. Once lisinopril treatment is started, it can take two to four weeks before your blood pressure reading is normal. Here’s what you should know about taking lisinopril, including how quickly it lowers blood pressure and by how much. Hailshadow / iStock / Getty Images Plus Lisinopril is well-tolerated because it reduces blood pressure smoothly and gradually. This effect starts within one hour of a dose and reaches its peak effectiveness within six hours. Even so, you need to take the drug regularly to maintain this effect. Lisinopril has a half-life of roughly 12 hours. This is the time it takes for a drug to reduce to half of its initial concentration in the bloodstream. To prevent lisinopril from dropping to where it's less effective, you need to take it at least once daily to maintain this "steady state" effect. In most people, the steady state can be reached within two to three days of starting treatment. Although lisinopril acts quickly, it can take two to four weeks for your blood pressure to drop into the target range. This is why it's important to take lisinopril as prescribed even if it doesn’t make you feel any different. (And chances are you won't given that hypertension usually doesn't cause noteworthy symptoms). How Much Does Lisinopril Lower Blood Pressure? The aim of ACE inhibitors like lisinopril is to lower your blood pressure to the target range. This is defined by the American Heart Association (AHA) as a blood pressure reading in adults of less than 120/80 mm Hg. Doing so may be easier said than done and can vary by a person's age, weight, diet, lifestyle, exercise habits, and co-occurring medical conditions. Even so, lisinopril remains an effective tool for lowering good pressure either on its own or with medications like diuretics ("water pills"). Depending on the severity of your condition and other factors, the dosage can vary. For adults with uncomplicated hypertension, a starting dose of 10 milligrams (mg) per day is generally recommended. (Some healthcare providers start at low as 2.5 mg.) The dose can then be gradually increased to 20 mg or 40 mg as needed until the target range is achieved. The maximum allowable dose is 80 mg per day. While higher doses may translate to steeper declines in blood pressure, you don't want to overdo it. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve and stay within the target range at the lowest possible dose and the lowest risk of side effects. There is no evidence that taking more than 80 mg
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