Zestril Uses

Zestril (Lisinopril)

Common Zestril uses include managing high blood pressure, treating congestive heart failure, and improving survival after a heart attack. Part of a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors, Zestril works by blocking the action of an enzyme that causes blood vessels to constrict. As a result, blood pressure decreases. Off-label Zestril uses include the treatment of kidney problems in people with scleroderma.

An Overview of Zestril Uses

Zestril^® (lisinopril) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat a number of conditions. These Zestril uses include the following:

Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension)
Relieving symptoms of congestive heart failure
Improving survival following a heart attack.

Zestril Uses for High Blood Pressure

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers -- for example: 120/80. The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure is defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90 with multiple blood pressure readings.

Based on clinical studies, Zestril has been shown to significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The higher the dose of Zestril, the greater the drop in blood pressure tended to be. By lowering blood pressure, Zestril can decrease the risks that often occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure). Zestril is not a cure for high blood pressure, however.

Zestril Uses for Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. It does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way that it should.

For people with congestive heart failure, Zestril decreases blood pressure, which makes the heart more efficient and allows more blood to be pumped from the heart. Because of this effect, Zestril can cause a decrease in the symptoms of congestive heart failure (including shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling), as well as improved exercise tolerance. However, Zestril cannot cure congestive heart failure.

Zestril Uses After a Heart Attack

A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction) is a life-threatening event in which the supply of blood and oxygen to part of the heart is blocked for a long enough period of time that a portion of the heart muscle dies.

Following a heart attack, taking Zestril on a daily basis decreases the chance of death by up to 11 percent. It is not known exactly how Zestril improves survival following a heart attack.

(Zestril Uses Continued: Page 2)