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ZESTRIL 5MG 10MG 20MG TABLETS 28 [GB] – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Updated:
Key facts
Status:
Prescription only (POM)
Medicine strength:
5 mg
Other strengths and forms:
Contains active substance:
ATC code:

Patient leaflet - Zestril 5 mg

1. What Zestril is and what it is used for

Zestril contains a medicine called lisinopril. This belongs to a group of medicines called ACE inhibitors.

Zestril can be used for the following conditions:

  • To treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
  • To treat heart failure.
  • If you have recently had a heart attack

    (myocardial infarction).

  • To treat kidney problems caused by Type II

    diabetes in people with high blood pressure. Zestril works by making your blood vessels widen. This helps to lower your blood pressure. It also makes it easier for your heart to pump blood to all parts of your body.

2. What you need to know before you take Zestril

Do not take Zestril:

  • if you are allergic to lisinopril or any of the

    other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

  • if you have ever had an allergic reaction to

    another ACE inhibitor medicine. The allergic reaction may have caused swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, tongue or throat. It may also have made it difficult to swallow or breathe (angioedema).

  • If you have taken or are currently taking

    sacubitril/valsartan, a medicine used to treat a type of long-term (chronic) heart failure in adults, as the risk of angioedema (rapid swelling under the skin in an area such as the throat) is increased.

  • if a member of your family has had severe

    allergic reactions (angioedema) to an ACE inhibitor or you have had severe allergic reactions (angioedema) without a known cause.

  • if you are more than 3 months pregnant.

    (It is also better to avoid Zestril in early pregnancy - see Pregnancy section).

  • if you have diabetes or impaired kidney function

    and you are treated with a blood pressure lowering medicine containing aliskiren. If you are not sure if any of these apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zestril.

If you develop a dry cough which is persistent for a long time after starting treatment with Zestril, talk to your doctor.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zestril:

  • if you have a narrowing (stenosis) of the

    aorta (an artery in your heart) or a narrowing of the heart valves (mitral valves).

  • if you have a narrowing (stenosis) of the

    kidney artery.

  • if you have an increase in the thickness of

    the heart muscle (known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).

  • if you have problems with your blood vessels

    (collagen vascular disease).

  • if you have low blood pressure. You may

    notice this as feeling dizzy or light-headed, especially when standing up.

  • if you have kidney problems or you are

    having kidney dialysis.

  • if you have liver problems.
  • if you have diabetes.
  • if you are taking any of the following medicines,

    the risk of angioedema (rapid swelling under the skin in area such as the throat) is increased:

    • temsirolimus, sirolimus, everolimus and

      other medicines belonging to the class of mTOR inhibitors (used to avoid rejection of transplanted organs and for cancer).

    • Racecadotril, a medicine used to treat

      diarrhoea;

    • Vildagliptin, a medicine used to treat

      diabetes.

  • if you are taking any of the following

    medicines used to treat high blood pressure:

    • an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARBs)

      (also known as sartans – for example valsartan, telmisartan, irbesartan), in particular if you have diabetes-related kidney problems

    • aliskiren.

Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and the amount of electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals. See also information under the heading “Do not take Zestril”.

  • if you have recently had diarrhoea or

    vomiting (being sick).

  • if your doctor has told you to control the

    amount of salt in your diet.

  • if you have high levels of cholesterol and

    you are having a treatment called ‘LDL apheresis’.

  • you must tell your doctor if you think you

    are (or might become) pregnant. Zestril is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage (see pregnancy section).

  • if you are of black origin as Zestril may be

    less effective. You may also more readily get the side effect ‘angioedema’ (a severe allergic reaction).

If you are not sure if any of these apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zestril.

Treatment for allergies such as insect stings

Tell your doctor if you are having or are going to have treatment to lower the effects of an allergy such as insect stings (desensitisation treatment). If you take Zestril while you are having this treatment, it may cause a severe allergic reaction.

Operations

If you are going to have an operation (including dental surgery) tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Zestril. This is because you can get low blood pressure (hypotension) if you are given certain local or general anaesthetics while you are taking Zestril.

Children and adolescents

Zestril has been studied in children. For more information, talk to your doctor. Zestril is not recommended in children under 6 years of age or in any child with severe kidney problems. Other medicines and Zestril

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This is because Zestril can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Zestril. Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

  • Other medicines to help lower your blood

    pressure.

  • An angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)

    or aliskiren, (see also information under the headings “Do not take Zestril” and “Warnings and precautions”).

  • Water tablets (diuretic medicines).
  • Beta-blocker medicines, such as atenolol

    and propranolol.

  • Nitrate medicines (for heart problems).
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

    (NSAIDs) used to treat pain and arthritis.

  • Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid), if you are

    taking more than 3 grams each day.

  • Medicines for depression and for mental

    problems, including lithium.

  • Potassium supplements (including salt

    substitutes), potassium-sparing diuretics and other medicines that can increase the amount of potassium in your blood (e.g. trimethoprim and co-trimoxazole for infections caused by bacteria; ciclosporin, an immunosuppressant medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejection; and heparin, a medicine used to thin blood to prevent clots).

  • Insulin or medicines that you take by mouth

    for diabetes.

  • Medicines used to treat asthma.
  • Medicines to treat nose or sinus congestion

    or other cold remedies (including those you can buy in the pharmacy).

  • Medicines to suppress the body’s immune

    response (immunosuppressants).

  • Allopurinol (for gout).
  • Procainamide (for heart beat problems).
  • Medicines that contain gold, such as sodium

    aurothiomalate, which may be given to you as an injection.

The following medicines may increase the risk of angioedema (signs of angioedema include swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty in swallowing or breathing):

  • Medicines to break up blood clots (tissue

    plasminogen activator), usually given in hospital.

  • Medicines which are most often used to

    avoid rejection of transplanted organs (temsirolimus, sirolimus, everolimus and other medicines belonging to the class of mTOR inhibitors). See section 2 “Warnings and precautions”.

  • Racecadotril used to treat diarrhoea.
  • Vildagliptin, a medicine used to treat diabetes. Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Pregnancy:

You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Zestril before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of Zestril. Zestril is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used after the third month of pregnancy. Breast-feeding:

Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Zestril is not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breast-feed, especially if your baby is newborn, or was born prematurely.

Driving and using machines

  • Some people feel dizzy or tired when taking

    this medicine. If this happens to you, do not drive or use any tools or machines.

  • You must wait to see how your medicine

    affects you before trying these activities.

3. How to take Zestril

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Once you have started taking Zestril your doctor may take blood tests. Your doctor may then adjust your dose so you take the right amount of medicine for you.

Taking your medicine

  • Swallow the tablet with a drink of water.
  • Try to take your tablets at the same time

    each day. It does not matter if you take Zestril before or after food.

  • Keep taking Zestril for as long as your doctor

    tells you to, it is a long term treatment. It is important to keep taking Zestril every day. Taking your first dose

  • Take special care when you have your first

    dose of Zestril or if your dose is increased. It may cause a greater fall in blood pressure than later doses.

  • This may make you feel dizzy or light-

    headed. If this happens, it may help to lie down. If you are concerned, please talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Adults

Your dose depends on your medical condition and whether you are taking any other medicines. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.

For high blood pressure

  • The recommended starting dose is 10 mg

    once a day.

  • The usual long-term dose is 20 mg once a day. Package leaflet: Information for the patient

lisinopril

For heart failure

  • The recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg

    once a day.

  • The long-term dose is 5 to 35 mg once a day. After a heart attack
  • The recommended starting dose is 5 mg

    within 24 hours of your attack and 5 mg one day later.

  • The usual long-term dose is 10 mg once a day. For kidney problems caused by diabetes
  • The recommended dose is either 10 mg or

    20 mg once a day.

If you are elderly, have kidney problems or are taking diuretic medicines your doctor may give you a lower dose than the usual dose. Use in children and adolescents

  • Zestril is not recommended for children

    under 6 years or in any children with severe kidney problems.

  • The doctor will work out the correct dose for

    your child. The dose depends on the child’s body weight.

  • For children who weigh between 20 kg and

    50 kg, the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg once a day.

  • For children who weigh more than 50 kg, the

    recommended starting dose is 5 mg once a day. If you take more Zestril than you should

If you take more Zestril than prescribed by your doctor, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital immediately. The following effects are most likely to happen: Dizziness, palpitations. If you forget to take Zestril

  • If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon

    as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.

  • Do not take a double dose to make up for a

    forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Zestril

Do not stop taking your tablets, even if you are feeling well, unless your doctor tells you to. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you experience any of the following reactions, stop taking Zestril and see your doctor immediately:

  • Severe allergic reactions (rare, affects 1 to

    10 users in 10,000). The signs may include sudden onset of:

    • Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat.

      This may make it difficult to swallow.

    • Severe or sudden swelling of your hands,

      feet and ankles.

    • Difficulty breathing.
    • Severe itching of the skin (with raised lumps).
  • Severe skin disorders, like a sudden, unexpected

    rash or burning, red or peeling skin (very rare, affects less than 1 user in 10,000).

  • An infection with symptoms such as fever

    and serious deterioration of your general condition, or fever with local infection symptoms such as sore throat/pharynx/mouth or urinary problems (very rare, affects less than 1 user in 10,000).

Other possible side effects:

  • Headache.
  • Feeling dizzy or light-headed, especially if

    you stand up quickly.

  • Diarrhoea.
  • A dry cough that does not go away.
  • Being sick (vomiting).
  • Kidney problems (shown in a blood test).
  • Mood changes.
  • Change of colour in your fingers or toes

    (pale blue followed by redness) or numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes.

  • Changes in the way things taste.
  • Feeling sleepy.
  • Spinning feeling (vertigo).
  • Having difficulty sleeping.
  • Stroke.
  • Fast heart beat.
  • Runny nose.
  • Feeling sick (nausea).
  • Stomach pain or indigestion.
  • Skin rash or itching.
  • Being unable to get an erection (impotence).
  • Feeling tired or feeling weak (loss of strength).
  • A very big drop in blood pressure may happen

    in people with the following conditions: coronary heart disease; narrowing of the aorta (a heart artery), kidney artery or heart valves; an increase in the thickness of the heart muscle. If this happens to you, you may feel dizzy or light-headed, especially if you stand up quickly.

  • Changes in blood tests that show how well

    your liver and kidneys are working.

  • Heart attack.
  • Seen and/or heard hallucinations.
  • Feeling confused.
  • A lumpy rash (hives).
  • Dry mouth.
  • Hair loss.
  • Psoriasis (a skin problem).
  • Changes in the way things smell.
  • Development of breasts in men.
  • Changes to some of the cells or other parts

    of your blood. Your doctor may take blood samples from time to time to check whether Zestril has had any effect on your blood. The signs may include feeling tired, pale skin, a sore throat, high temperature (fever), joint and muscle pains, swelling of the joints or glands, or sensitivity to sunlight.

  • Low levels of sodium in your blood (the

    symptoms may be tiredness, headache, nausea, vomiting).

  • Sudden renal failure.
  • Sinusitis (a feeling of pain and fullness

    behind your cheeks and eyes).

  • Wheezing.
  • Low levels of sugar in your blood

    (hypoglycaemia). The signs may include feeling hungry or weak, sweating and a fast heart beat.

  • Inflammation of the lungs. The signs include

    cough, feeling short of breath and high temperature (fever).

  • Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes

    (jaundice).

  • Inflammation of the liver. This can cause loss

    of appetite, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and dark coloured urine.

  • Inflammation of the pancreas. This causes

    moderate to severe pain in the stomach.

    • Severe skin disorders. The symptoms include redness, blistering and peeling.
    • Sweating.
    • Passing less water (urine) than normal or passing no water.
    • Liver failure.
    • Lumps.
    • Inflamed gut.

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data)

  • Symptoms of depression.
  • Fainting.

Side effects in children appear to be comparable to those seen in adults.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

5. How to store Zestril

  • Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
  • Do not use this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) which is stated on the blister strip and the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
  • 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tablets: Do not store above 30°C.
  • Do not throw away any medicines via waste-water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Zestril contains

  • The active substance is lisinopril (as dihydrate).
  • The other ingredients are mannitol, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, maize starch, pregelatinised starch and magnesium stearate. In addition, the pink and brownish-red tablets contain red iron oxide (E172).

Zestril is supplied in 3 strengths containing 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg of lisinopril (as dihydrate). What Zestril looks like and contents of the pack

Zestril 5 mg Tablets: round, pink, uncoated, biconvex tablet with “♥ 5” on one side and bisected on the other side. Diameter 6 mm. The tablet can be divided into equal doses. Zestril 10 mg Tablets: round, pink, uncoated, biconvex tablet with “♥ 10” on one side and plain on the other side. Diameter 8 mm. Zestril 20 mg Tablets: round, brownish-red, uncoated, biconvex tablet with “♥ 20” on one side and plain on the other side. Diameter 8 mm. Zestril tablets are available in aluminium foil blister packs of 14, 20, 28, 28x1, 30, 42, 50, 56, 56x1, 60, 84, 98, 100, 400 and 500 tablets. Blister packs containing multiples of 7 tablets may also be available with weekday marks. Zestril tablets are also available in bottle packs of 20, 30, 50, 100 and 400 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder

The Marketing Authorisation for Zestril in United Kingdom is held by Atnahs Pharma UK Limited, Sovereign House, Miles Gray Road, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3FR, United Kingdom.

Manufacturer

Zestril is manufactured by AstraZeneca UK Limited, Silk Road Business Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 2NA, UK.

This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names: ACEMIN (AT), ZESTRIL (BE, ES, IE, FR, IT, EL, LU, NO, NL, SE, UK), Zestril-5/Zestril Mite/ Zestril (PT).

To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:

0800 198 5000 (UK only) Please be ready to give the following information: Product name

Reference Number

Zestril 5 mg

Tablets

PL 43252/ 0031

Zestril 10 mg

Tablets

PL 43252/ 0032

Zestril 20 mg

Tablets

PL 43252/ 0033

This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. This leaflet was last revised in July 2021.

UK 766-3826 APIL 05

P053391

P053391

About this document

Source: MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (products.mhra.gov.uk)

Last revision stated in the text: July 2021

What the sections and the side effect frequencies mean: How to read a patient leaflet

Found a mistake? Tell us on the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Facts about Zestril 5 mg

What these facts mean

Prescription needed?? Yes, prescription-only medicine (POM)
Active substance? Lisinopril
Strength? 5 mg
Pharmaceutical form? Oral tablet
The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
How is it taken? Oral
Excipients? Mannitol, Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate dihydrate, Red Iron Oxide (E172), Maize Starch, Pregelatinised Starch, Magnesium Stearate
Pack sizes 28 tablet
Is it available?? Listed as available (NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices – not a record of current supplies)
Shelf life? 4 years
Storage Do not store above 30°C
Drug group (ATC)? Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
  1. C Cardiovascular system drugs
    1. C09 Agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system
      1. C09A ACE inhibitors, plain
        1. C09AA ACE inhibitors, plain
          1. C09AA03 lisinopril
Marketing authorisation? PL 43252/0031 (first authorised 8 June 2000)
Marketing authorisation holder? Atnahs Pharma UK Limited.
Codes? GTIN 5056227205464 · BNF 02050501

Sources: the MHRA product information (products.mhra.gov.uk) and the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), release 11.1.0 of 9 November 2026, NHS Business Services Authority. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.