Prinivil Uses

Prinivil Medicine

Common Prinivil uses include controlling high blood pressure, relieving symptoms of congestive heart failure, and improving survival following a heart attack. The medicine has also been approved for use in children six years of age and older with high blood pressure. Off-label Prinivil uses include treating kidney problems in people with scleroderma (a skin condition).

An Overview of Prinivil Uses

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

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

Prinivil 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.

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

Prinivil 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 just means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way that it should.

For people with congestive heart failure, Prinivil decreases blood pressure, which makes the heart more efficient and allows more blood to be pumped from the heart. Because of this effect, Prinivil 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, as with hypertension, Prinivil is not a cure for congestive heart failure.

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

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