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Lisinopril and Alcohol: Interactions & Risks You Need To Know

Medically reviewed by Dr. Po-Chang HsuOctober 28, 2024
Written by
On October 28, 2024

Table of Contents

Key Points

  • Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor medication used to treat high blood pressure.
  • Mixing lisinopril and alcohol increases your risk of experiencing adverse side effects, including unmanaged blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, changes in heart rate, and dehydration.
  • While the side effects may not seem life-threatening, if you experience them while doing certain activities, such as driving, the results could be fatal.
  • Some people can drink in moderation while taking lisinopril. This should not be done until you know how your body reacts to lisinopril after conversing with your healthcare provider.

Alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness of lisinopril. It can lead to severe drops in blood pressure or difficulties managing high blood pressure. Potential side effects of combining lisinopril with alcohol include headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, changes in heart rate, and dehydration. While alcohol should be avoided while taking lisinopril, some people choose to drink still. If you do not experience adverse side effects, you may drink in moderation while taking lisinopril.

What is Lisinopril?

Lisinopril is a medication used to treat high blood pressure.[1] It is sold under the brand names Prinivil, Qbrelis, and Zestril. It is also used to treat congestive heart failure and is a complementary drug used to increase survival rates in heart attacks. 

Lisinopril is classified as an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.[2] It works by lowering chemicals in the body that restrict blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily and the heart to pump more efficiently. 

Lisinopril has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat [3]

  • Hypertension: high blood pressure
  • Heart failure: the heart struggles to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs 
  • ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)(if given in 24 hours): complete blockage of a coronary artery that causes a heart attack

 

It is used off-label to treat

  • Diabetic nephropathy: chronic loss of kidney function due to diabetes
  • Proteinuria: too much protein in urine due to kidney dysfunction
  • Post-transplant erythrocytosis: high red blood cell mass and hemoglobin levels after a kidney transplant

 

Lisinopril Side Effects

Common Lisinopril side effects include [4] 

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Low blood pressure
  • Cough
  • Chest pain

Serious Lisinopril side effects include [5]

  • Fainting, light-headedness
  • High blood potassium: symptoms include nausea, weakness, tingling feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, loss of movement
  • Low white blood cells: symptoms include fever, mouth or skin sores, cough, sore throat
  • Kidney problems: symptoms include urinating less, general body swelling, fatigue, shortness of breath
  • Liver problems: symptoms include stomach pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, itching, dark-colored urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice

Lisinopril and Alcohol

While it is not recommended you use alcohol while taking lisinopril, there are certain times when you will be more susceptible to experiencing adverse side effects. The times you are most likely to experience the negative effects of combining alcohol and lisinopril are when you are first starting it, when your dose is increased, and if you restart taking lisinopril after a period of not taking it.  

Blood Pressure 

Mixing alcohol and lisinopril can intensify the drug’s blood pressure-lowering effects.[6] A drop in blood pressure can cause headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and changes in heart rate.  

While these side effects of mixing lisinopril and alcohol may not be life-threatening, the consequences of experiencing one of these side effects while you are completing a daily task could have fatal consequences. For example, if you are driving a car or operating machinery and faint, the consequences could be fatal for you or people in other vehicles around you. Until you know how the medication affects you, you should use caution, especially if you choose also to consume alcohol. 

Dehydration

Blood pressure medications, including lisinopril, can cause dehydration if you do not drink enough water while taking it. ACEs can cause you to feel less thirsty, so you drink less, which leads to dehydration. The kidneys process things differently when you are on lisinopril, which can also increase your risk of dehydration. Some people do experience GI upset when taking medications, which also increases the risk of dehydration if they experience diarrhea. 

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases your urination, leading to an increase in your risk for dehydration. Combining alcohol and lisinopril can substantially increase your risk for dehydration. This is another reason these two should not be mixed. 

Alcohol and High Blood Pressure

A side effect of heavy drinking is high blood pressure. If you are already struggling with high blood pressure, it would be beneficial to reduce your alcohol intake and see if that helps lower your blood pressure. 

Suppose your healthcare provider has prescribed a blood pressure medication to you, such as lisinopril. In that case, it is counter-productive to take medication to lower your blood pressure while you are still drinking, which can continue to raise your blood pressure. It can also have the opposite effect when mixed with lisinopril and drop your blood pressure to dangerously low levels.

Can you safely drink alcohol while taking Lisinopril?

There are no established “safe” levels of drinking alcohol while taking lisinopril. Should you choose to drink alcohol while taking lisinopril, you should inform your healthcare provider so they can discuss your personal risk level with you. 

You should not drink any alcohol until you know how your body reacts to taking lisinopril so you don’t accidentally exacerbate the side effects you may initially experience.

If you choose to drink alcohol while taking lisinopril, you should do so in moderation. Moderation is considered two drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less per day for women.[7] Anything beyond this falls under the category of binge drinking (five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women in two hours) or heavy drinking (men: five or more drinks a day or 15 or more drinks a week, women: four or more drinks a day or eight or more drinks a week).

What To Do If You Can’t Stop Drinking While Taking Lisinopril

For some people, it is easy to avoid alcohol while they are taking certain medications. For others, it is more difficult, especially if it is a medication they will need to be on for a long period. If you or a loved one are having a hard time avoiding alcohol or only drinking in the recommended moderation amounts while on lisinopril, you may wish to talk to your healthcare provider about alcohol use treatment. 

Alcohol rehabs can help support you in reducing and eliminating alcohol so you can safely continue to take your lisinopril. Reducing or eliminating your alcohol intake will also help manage your blood pressure. Insurance plans cover substance use and addiction treatment programs. A treatment program will assess your needs and recommend detox, inpatient, or outpatient services. The goal is to support your recovery and establish a plan for your health and wellness.

Medical Content Writer

Amanda Stevens is a highly respected figure in the field of medical content writing, with a specific focus on eating disorders and addiction treatment. Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Purdue University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, which serves as a strong educational foundation for her contributions.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lisinopril And Alcohol

No, it is not recommended that you take lisinopril while you are pregnant. Should you become pregnant while taking lisinopril, contact your healthcare provider immediately to determine if there are other, safer, alternative medications you can take and how to wean off of lisinopril safely. 

Taking lisinopril in the first trimester is not recommended, and it is contraindicated for use during the second and third trimester. It has a risk of fetal and neonatal morbidity and death.[8] Breastfeeding while taking lisinopril is discouraged as there is limited research on how much passes through breast milk.

No, you should not stop taking your lisinopril so you can drink alcohol. Stopping a blood pressure medication abruptly can cause your blood pressure to rise quickly and dangerously. It can also cause your heart rate to rise or have an irregular heartbeat. You should never stop taking any medication without first talking to the healthcare provider who prescribed it for you.

High blood pressure is a common health condition that many people struggle with. It can cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and brain and result in heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, heart failure, loss of vision, and other health problems. Medication can help manage high blood pressure, and lifestyle changes can also help. 

Some lifestyle choices that can help lower blood pressure include reducing sodium in your diet, eating healthy fats and limiting unhealthy fats, monitoring blood sugar, maintaining healthy body weight, exercising regularly, sleeping at least seven hours a night, reducing stress, and avoiding or limiting smoking and alcohol use. Healthy lifestyle choices can lower blood pressure and improve overall health and well-being.

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[1,2,4,5,8] Drugs.com. (n.d.). Lisinopril uses, dosage, side effects & warnings. Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/lisinopril.html on 2024, Oct 22.

[3] Olvera Lopez, E., Parmar, M., Pendela, V.S., et al.(2024, Oct 5) Lisinopril. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482230/ on 2024, Oct 22.

[6] Drugs.com. (n.d.). Drug Interactions between Alcohol (contained in alcoholic beverages) and lisinopril. Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/alcohol-contained-in-alcoholic-beverages-with-lisinopril-1034-14582-1476-0.html on 2024, Oct 22.

[7] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Drinking levels and patterns defined. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/moderate-binge-drinking on 2024, Oct 22.

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