Prinivil 20mg

Prinivil general information

What is Prinivil used for?

Prinivil tablets 20mg are used to treat essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest, by lowering blood pressure to normal resting levels. This reduces risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. Prinivil tablets 20mg are also used to treat congestive heart failure, by helping weakened heart muscles pump more efficiently and reduce feelings of breathlessness on exertion. If used within 24 hours of a heart attack, Prinivil tablets 20mg, when combined with other heart medications, improve survival by helping to prevent development of left ventricular dysfunction which is when the left ventricle of the heart does not pump effectively and usually leads to heart failure. Prinivil tablets 20mg can be used alone as monotherapy or with other antihypertensive medicines, including diuretics, which help get rid of excess water that is retained in body tissues and can cause swelling (oedema).

How does Prinivil work?

Prinivil tablets 20mg contain lisinopril, an antihypertensive medication that belongs to a group of drugs called ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors. Lisinopril in Prinivil tablets 20mg prevents the formation of angiotensin II, a hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, which is the force needed to pump blood around the body. Angiotensin II causes salt and water retention by the kidneys, and causes blood vessels to constrict or narrow (vasoconstriction); this increases blood volume while at the same time reducing blood vessel volume, which increases blood pressure. Lisinopril in Prinivil tablets 20mg inhibits the conversion of angiotensin II from angiotensin I, which allows blood vessels to relax and widen (vasodilation), reducing the force needed by the heart to pump blood around the body, reducing its workload and lowering blood pressure

What does Prinivil contain?

Prinivil 20mg tablets contain the active ingredient lisinopril, an ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitor that is used to treat hypertension and heart failure. They also contain mannitol, calcium phosphate, mannitol, magnesium stearate, and starch

Treating high blood pressure with Prinivil

Prinivil tablets 20mg contain lisinopril, an ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitor, used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), which is high blood pressure when at rest. Lisinopril in Prinivil tablets 20mg works by preventing the formation of angiotensin II, a chemical that causes vasoconstriction (constriction and narrowing of blood vessels), allowing relaxation and widening of blood vessels and this lowers resting blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps the heart to cope better and reduces symptoms of breathlessness on exertion. You may also be prescribed a diuretic to help get rid of excess water that is retained in your tissues and can cause swelling (oedema), as a result of high blood pressure. By reducing your blood pressure, Prinivil tablets 20mg also reduces risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease.

Prinivil for treating congestive heart failure

Prinivil tablets 20mg contain lisinopril, an ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitor, used to treat congestive heart failure, which is when the heart muscles are weakened and cannot pump with sufficient force to supply blood to all parts of the body. Lisinopril in tablets Prinivil 20mg works by preventing the formation of angiotensin II, a chemical that causes vasoconstriction (constriction and narrowing of blood vessels), thereby allowing relaxation and widening of blood vessels and this reduces the force needed for the heart to pump blood around the body. This helps weakened heart muscle to work more efficiently and reduces symptoms of breathlessness on exertion. You may also be prescribed a diuretic to help get rid of excess water that is retained in your body tissues that can cause swelling (oedema), as a result of congestive heart failure.

What are the side effects of Prinivil?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Prinivil tablets 20mg include: dizziness, headache, tiredness, persistent dry cough, altered taste, nausea, diarrhoea abdominal pain, skin rash. You may have low blood pressure, particularly if are also taking a diuretic, and this may make you feel faint.

When should Prinivil not be used?

You should not use Prinivil tablets 20mg if you:

• are allergic to lisinopril or any ingredients in Prinivil
• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding
• have hereditary and/or idiopathic angioedema (rapid swelling under the skin similar to hives) or angioedema associated with previous treatment with an ACE inhibitor
• have kidney or liver disease
• are taking potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes
• are taking other medications that interact with lisinopril, including: other antihypertensive medication, anti-inflammatories like diclofenac or ibuprofen, lithium for mood disturbances, some diabetes medication

How should Prinivil be taken?

You should take your Prinivil tablets 20mg with a glass of water once a day with or without food but at the same time each day. The dose that you take depends on what you are being treated for and your doctor’s recommendation and may be increased. Prinivil tablets 20mg help improve your condition but do not cure it, therefore you should continue to take Prinivil 20mg for as long as your doctor recommends. Prinivil 20mg may take a few weeks to lower blood pressure and you should keep taking Prinivil even if you feel well, as often there are no symptoms for high blood pressure.

How long should you take Prinivil?

Prinivil tablets 20mg help improve your condition but do not cure it, therefore you should continue to take Prinivil for as long as your doctor recommends. Prinivil tablets 20mg may take a few weeks to lower blood pressure and you should keep taking Prinivil 20mg even if you feel well, as often there are no symptoms for high blood pressure.

Missed dose of Prinivil

If you miss a dose of Prinivil 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Prinivil be stored?

You should store your Prinivil 20mg tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C and keep away from direct sunlight.