Lisinopril can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include headache and low blood pressure.

Lisinopril is a generic oral tablet prescribed to:

This article describes lisinopril’s side effects, also called adverse effects. For more information about lisinopril, including details about its uses, see this in-depth lisinopril article.

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The following are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took lisinopril in studies. These side effects can vary depending on what condition the drug is being used to treat. Note that although these are the most common side effects, not everyone taking lisinopril will experience them.

More common side effects in people taking lisinopril for high blood pressure include:

More common side effects in people taking lisinopril for heart failure include:

More common side effects in people taking lisinopril after a heart attack include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with lisinopril include:

  • weakness or fatigue (low energy)
  • chest pain
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • hair loss
  • dry mouth
  • vision changes, such as blurry vision
  • change in the way things taste or smell
  • unusual sensations, such as tingling and numbness
  • dry cough*
  • gastrointestinal side effects*
  • headache*
  • dizziness*
  • mild allergic reaction*

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking lisinopril unless your doctor recommends it.

Lisinopril may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking lisinopril and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Serious side effects that have been reported with lisinopril include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking lisinopril, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* Lisinopril has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see “Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking lisinopril” in the “Warnings for lisinopril” section.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about lisinopril’s side effects.

Does lisinopril cause sexual side effects in men or women?

It might. In studies, erectile dysfunction (ED) was sometimes reported in males who took lisinopril. But this side effect wasn’t common. Sexual side effects weren’t reported in females who took lisinopril in these studies.

Note that ED can also be a symptom of high blood pressure and heart disease, which lisinopril is used to treat.

If you have sexual problems while taking lisinopril, talk with your doctor. They may investigate the possible cause and suggest ways to manage the problem. Or they may recommend switching to a different treatment for your condition.

Note: In this article, we use the terms “males” and “females” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Is it possible to develop long-term side effects from lisinopril?

It’s possible, but long-term side effects are rare. Most of lisinopril’s side effects are mild and get better quickly, either with continued treatment or soon after stopping the medication. Serious side effects of lisinopril also tend to get better quickly after stopping the drug, although some might need treatment.

If you have kidney damage with lisinopril, it’s usually reversible if you stop taking it. However, if you have liver damage caused by lisinopril, this might lead to long-term problems in rare cases.

Taking lisinopril for long periods of time isn’t known to increase your risk of developing side effects. But if you take lisinopril as a long-term treatment, your doctor will likely order blood tests from time to time to check for certain side effects, such as kidney problems.

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects with lisinopril, talk with your doctor.

Will my risk of side effects depend on the dose of lisinopril that I take (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg)?

Yes, it might. As with many medications, higher doses of lisinopril are more likely to cause certain side effects. For example, you’re more likely to have low blood pressure that causes dizziness or fainting with a dose of 40 milligrams (mg) than with a dose of 5 mg.

Your risk of side effects doesn’t just depend on your dose, though. Having certain conditions can also increase your risk of side effects with lisinopril. To find out more, see the “Lisinopril warnings” section.

If you’re concerned about your risk of side effects with the lisinopril dosage you’re prescribed, talk with your doctor.

Can lisinopril cause weight gain?

It’s not known to. Weight gain wasn’t reported in studies of lisinopril.

Sudden weight gain could occur if you have angioedema from taking lisinopril. Angioedema is a serious allergic reaction that causes severe swelling under your skin. But you’re more likely to notice swelling, trouble breathing, or abdominal pain with this side effect than weight gain.

If you take lisinopril for heart failure, unexplained weight gain could be a sign that your heart failure is getting worse. Worsening heart failure can cause fluid to build up in your body, which can cause weight gain. In this case, you’d likely also have new or worsening shortness of breath.

If you have sudden weight gain while taking lisinopril, talk with your doctor, especially if you also have other symptoms. They can investigate the possible cause.

Will discontinuing lisinopril treatment cause any side effects?

No, that’s not likely. Stopping lisinopril won’t cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects you might have if you suddenly stop taking a drug that your body is dependent on. (With dependence, your body needs a drug to function as usual.)

However, stopping lisinopril will reverse its effects, which could worsen your condition. For example, if you take lisinopril for heart failure, stopping treatment could make your heart failure symptoms come back. If you take lisinopril for high blood pressure, stopping treatment could increase your blood pressure. This may not cause symptoms, but it could increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

If you’re thinking about stopping lisinopril treatment, talk with your doctor first.

Learn more about some of the side effects lisinopril may cause.

Dry cough

You may develop a persistent dry cough while taking lisinopril. In studies, a cough was one of the most common side effects reported with lisinopril.

A dry cough doesn’t produce phlegm or mucus. It’s sometimes described as tickly or scratchy.

What might help

If you have a cough with lisinopril, taking frequent sips of water may help ease this side effect. Cough medications don’t usually help this kind of cough.

Sometimes, a cough may gradually get better on its own as you continue to take lisinopril. But if it doesn’t, or it bothers you, talk with your doctor. They may suggest switching to a different medication.

Note that it might take a few weeks for a cough to go away after stopping lisinopril.

Gastrointestinal side effects

Some people may have gastrointestinal side effects while taking lisinopril. But in studies, these weren’t among the more common side effects reported with lisinopril.

Gastrointestinal side effects involve your stomach or intestines. They’re also known as digestive side effects. Examples include:

  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  • gas
  • nausea or vomiting

Note that diarrhea and vomiting can make you lose more fluids than usual, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration increases your risk of low blood pressure, dizziness, and kidney problems with lisinopril.

What might help

If you have gastrointestinal side effects with lisinopril, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. In some cases, they may suggest taking an over-the-counter medication to treat the side effect. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, try to drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids to avoid getting dehydrated.

Gastrointestinal side effects may lessen as you continue to take lisinopril. But if these side effects don’t go away, talk with your doctor. They may recommend switching to a medication other than lisinopril.

High potassium levels

Lisinopril can sometimes cause hyperkalemia, which is a high level of potassium in your blood. Hyperkalemia is usually mild and doesn’t generally cause symptoms. But if your potassium level gets too high, it can lead to serious heart problems.

Symptoms of hyperkalemia include:

You’re more likely to have hyperkalemia with lisinopril if you:

  • have kidney problems
  • have diabetes
  • take certain other medications, especially potassium-sparing diuretic medications, such as Aldactone (spironolactone)
  • take potassium supplements
  • use salt substitutes that contain potassium

What might help

Before starting lisinopril, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history, diet, and other medications you take.

Your doctor will likely order blood tests to monitor your potassium levels while you take lisinopril. But if you develop symptoms of hyperkalemia at any point, tell your doctor right away.

If your potassium level gets too high, your doctor may prescribe medication to correct it. They may also recommend stopping lisinopril temporarily.

Headache

You may have headaches while taking lisinopril. In studies, headache was one of the most common side effects reported with lisinopril.

What might help

If you have headaches with lisinopril, it may help to drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. If the headaches are bothersome, ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable pain reliever. It’s generally safe to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) with lisinopril.

Headaches may gradually ease as you continue to take lisinopril. But if you keep having bothersome headaches, talk with your doctor. They may suggest switching to a medication other than lisinopril.

Dizziness

It’s common to feel dizzy or lightheaded while taking lisinopril, especially if you stand up too quickly. Dizziness is caused by low blood pressure. It can sometimes lead to fainting. It’s more likely to happen in the first few days of treatment and after increases in dosage.

In studies, dizziness was one of the most common side effects reported with lisinopril.

You’re more likely to have low blood pressure and dizziness with lisinopril if you:

What might help

If you feel dizzy or lightheaded while taking lisinopril, sit or lie down until the feeling passes. If you have dizziness when standing up, it may help to get up very slowly.

If lisinopril makes you feel dizzy, you should avoid potentially dangerous activities. Examples include driving, riding bikes or horses, and climbing ladders.

To help prevent dizziness with lisinopril, make sure you drink enough fluids. This is particularly important if you have diarrhea or vomiting, or if you sweat heavily.

Dizziness usually reduces with continued treatment. But if you have bothersome dizziness that doesn’t go away, talk with your doctor. They may lower your lisinopril dosage. Or they may suggest switching to a medication other than lisinopril.

Allergic reaction

For some people, lisinopril can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue x drug treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to lisinopril, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

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Lisinopril comes with several warnings, which are described here.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm

Lisinopril has a boxed warning for the risk of fetal harm. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

You should not take lisinopril if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you take lisinopril during pregnancy, it can harm the developing fetus.

To learn more, see the “Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking lisinopril” section.

Other warnings

Before taking lisinopril, discuss your health history with your doctor. Lisinopril may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Alcohol and lisinopril

Drinking alcohol with lisinopril may increase the risk of certain side effects, such as:

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • blurry vision

Also, if you have high blood pressure, regularly drinking alcohol could make your blood pressure harder to manage with lisinopril.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to consume while taking lisinopril.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking lisinopril

Below you’ll find information on taking lisinopril during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Lisinopril and pregnancy

Lisinopril has a boxed warning for the risk of fetal harm. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Lisinopril is not safe to take during pregnancy. If taken during pregnancy, it can harm the fetus.

You should not take lisinopril if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking lisinopril, you should stop taking the medication and contact your doctor right away. Talk with your doctor about other options for treating your condition that are safer to use during pregnancy.

Lisinopril and breastfeeding

Your doctor will likely recommend that you don’t breastfeed while taking lisinopril. It’s not known if lisinopril passes into breast milk. But if it does, it could cause serious side effects in a breastfed child.

If you’re breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about other treatment options for your condition.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.