Lisinopril (Prinivil) Nursing Considerations

Okay, let’s take a look at lisinopril. Also known as pril. This is an oral medication, as you can see here in the picture. Okay. So remember when we are talking about the therapeutic class of a drug, we about how it works in the body while the pharmacologic class is the chemical effect of the drug. So for Lial, the therapeutic class is an anti hypertensive and the pharmacologic class is an ACE inhibitor. And remember that little trick with ACE inhibitors, they tend to end in the letters. I L just like lisinopril does. So lisinopril works because it blocks the conversion of angiotensin one to angiotensin two, it increases renin levels and it decreases aldosterone leading two VA dilation. We use lisinopril for the treatment of hypertension, as well as for the management of congestive heart failure. 

So ACE inhibitors in general are known for the side effect of an annoying dry cough. So sometimes this cough resolves after a few weeks and sometimes it does not. And sometimes it can be the reason why the patient will stop taking lisinopril. We also see some additional side effects of as inhibitors, including dizziness and headache. So let’s take a look at a few nursing considerations for lisinopril use caution in patients who are also taking potassium supplements, potassium, sparing diuretics, or just diuretic therapy in general, while the patient is on Lial monitor blood pressure often, and also their weight and fluid status lab work that should be completed while on this medication are the renal profile at as well as liver function tests. Be sure to teach the patient to take lisinopril one hour before meals. So guys lisinopril is known for having first dose hypotension. So exactly how it sounds hypertension after the first dose. So it’s often recommended that for this first dose of lisinopril, the patient takes it at bedtime. And guys, another series issue that is possible with lisinopril is the development of angio edema, which I have seen in a patient and black patients are at an increased risk of this. So if your patient describes any swelling of their tongue, their throat, or their just head or neck region, they most definitely should be monitored because in some severe cases, airway obstruction can occur. 

That’s it for LiRo or peril. Now go out and be your best self today. And as always happy nursing.