Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAmlodipine vs. LisinoprilHigh Blood PressureDosageInteractions & ContraindicationsChoosing OneOther Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Amlodipine vs. Lisinopril
High Blood Pressure
Dosage
Interactions & Contraindications
Choosing One
Other Treatments
Amlodipine(brand name Norvasc) andlisinopril(brand name Zestril) are widely prescribed medications for lowering blood pressure.
Most guidelines say that either of these medicines is an appropriate first choice for high blood pressure (hypertension).However, when evaluating whether amlodipine vs. lisinopril is the best choice, several factors come into play, including other health conditions you may have, the medications you take, and even physical and social classifications such as race.
Your healthcare provider can help you decide on the best option for you. And if the first option does not work, you may also be able to change your medication.
Richard Baker/ Contributor / Getty Images
Amlodipineandlisinoprilare used to treat hypertension, but there are some key differences to remember. These medicines lowerblood pressurethrough different ways in the body.
Amlodipineis acalcium channel blockerthat widens blood vessels so more blood flows through them.It can treat high blood pressure andcoronary artery disease.
Amlodipinemay be a good choice for treating hypertension in the following groups of people:
Lisinoprilis a good first choice for hypertension in people in the following groups:
Here’s a chart to help you become more familiar with these two medications.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressurein adults is defined as blood pressure above 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).It is the most common cause of heart disease and early death worldwide.Hypertension is very common in the United States. It’s estimated that close to half of American adults (45%) have it.High blood pressure can be genetic, meaning it runs in families.
In addition, lifestyle factors like the following can contribute to high blood pressure:
If it’s untreated or not well-controlled, hypertension increases the risk of conditions such as:
Keep in mind that not all cases of high blood pressure require medications.However, medication may be an essential part of your treatment plan. You and your provider can help decide the best course of action for you.
Individual health factors, such as age, underlying medical conditions, and other medications used, play a role in selecting the appropriate dosage.
Lisinoprilis usually given in doses of 10 to 40 mg per day for adults, either once or twice a day.
Children and people with the following conditions will start with a lower dose of lisinopril:
The usual dose ofamlodipinefor adults is 5 to 10 mg per day.Because it lasts long in the body, it only needs to be taken once a day.
Children and people with the following conditions will start with a lower dose of amlodipin, as follows:
Side Effects and Safety Considerations
There are some significant side effects to be aware of if your healthcare provider prescribes amlodipine or lisinopril.
Amlodipinemay cause the following side effects:
Lisinoprilmay cause the following side effects:
There are also safety considerations for specific groups of individuals, including the following:
Interactions and Contraindications
There are some critical drug interactions to keep in mind if you take either amlodipine or lisinopril.
Amlodipinemayinteractwith the following medications:
Lisinoprilcan interact with the following medications:
Consult your healthcare providers for personalized advice on managing drug interactions and adjusting treatment plans. Keep all of your providers and your pharmacist up-to-date on your medication regimen for optimal safety.
Choosing Between Amlodipine and Lisinopril
There are many factors to consider when choosing between amlodipine and lisinopril. Some of these include:
Effectiveness
Amlodipine provides better 24-hour blood pressure control. According to some research, lisinopril mainly helps during the daytime.Race may play a role in effectiveness,with calcium channel blockers (such as amlodipine) recommended as first-line treatment for Black Americans.
Side Effects Profile
A large study of over 30,000 people with hypertension found that people were more likely to stick with amlodipine than lisinopril. The higher drop-out rate for lisinopril may be due to its common side effects, like a dry cough. It could also be due to rare side effects like swelling (angioedema) that may occur more often with lisinopril than amlodipine.
Cost
Since both amlodipine and lisinopril tablets are available as generic medicines, they’re likely to be the same or similar in cost for people with prescription insurance. If you don’t have insurance, discuss costs with your pharmacist to see which medicine fits your budget best. Liquid amlodipine (Katerzia and Norliqva)and liquid lisinopril (Qbrelis) are not available as generics, so they are more expensive.
If you take brand-name medications like these, check the manufacturer’s website for coupons and discounts. Many of these can be used along with insurance to lower your costs.
How to Take Them
In addition, both amlodipine and lisinopril are available in combination products, including other blood pressure medicines. Depending on your other medical conditions, one of these combinations may be right for you.
Remember that it may take several tries to determine the best treatment plan for your high blood pressure. The good news is that there are lots of treatment options available.
When managing this or any chronic condition, honest discussions with healthcare providers are crucial to making informed decisions regarding your health.
Lifestyle changes are essential to lower blood pressure and are considered first-line therapy.“First-line therapy” means they are typically recommended before prescription medications for people with slightly elevated blood pressure.They can also help make your blood pressure medication more effective.
These interventions include the following:
Summary
Amlodipine and lisinopril are common and effective first-choice medications for managing hypertension. They work to lower blood pressure in different ways and have distinct safety profiles, contraindications, and drug interactions.
Be sure to discuss your questions or concerns about these or other blood pressure treatments with your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or registered dietitian nutritionist, who can help you optimize your health.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang JG, Palmer BF, Vogel Anderson K, et al.Amlodipine in the current management of hypertension.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2023;25(9):801-807. doi:10.1111/jch.14709Oparil S, Acelajado MC, Bakris GL, et al.Hypertension.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4:18014. Published 2018 Mar 22. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2018.14U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORVASC® (amlodipine besylate) prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Zestril® (lisinopril) tablets prescribing information.Mills KT, Stefanescu A, He J.The global epidemiology of hypertension.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2020;16(4):223-237. doi:10.1038/s41581-019-0244-2Mani A.Update in genetic and epigenetic causes of hypertension.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024;81(1):201. Published 2024 Apr 30. doi:10.1007/s00018-024-05220-4Carey RM, Moran AE, Whelton PK.Treatment of hypertension: A review.JAMA. 2022;328(18):1849-1861. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19590Fuchs FD, Whelton PK.High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.Hypertension. 2020;75(2):285-292. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14240AlRuthia Y, Alotaibi F, Jamal A, et al.Cost effectiveness of ACEIs/ARBs versus amlodipine monotherapies: A single-center retrospective chart teview.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(7):798. Published 2021 Jun 25. doi:10.3390/healthcare9070798Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003Derington CG, King JB, Delate T, et al.Twice-daily versus once-daily lisinopril and losartan for hypertension: Real-world effectiveness and safety.PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0243371. Published 2020 Dec 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243371MedlinePlus.Lithium toxicity.Lorimer AR, Lyons D, Fowler G, et al.Differences between amlodipine and lisinopril in control of clinic and twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressures.J Hum Hypertens. 1998;12(6):411-416. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1000620James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al.2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) [published correction appears in JAMA. 2014 May 7;311(17):1809].JAMA. 2014;311(5):507-520. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284427Messerli FH, Staessen JA.Amlodipine better than lisinopril?Hypertension. 2006;48(3):359-361. doi:10.1161/01.hyp.0000238045.76905.94U.S. Food and Drug Administration.KATERZIA (amlodipine) oral suspension prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORLIQVA® (amlodipine) oral solution prescribing information.Carey RM, Wright JT Jr, Taler SJ, et al.Guideline-driven management of hypertension: An evidence-based update.Circ Res. 2021;128(7):827-846. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.121.318083National Institutes of Health.Potassium.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang JG, Palmer BF, Vogel Anderson K, et al.Amlodipine in the current management of hypertension.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2023;25(9):801-807. doi:10.1111/jch.14709Oparil S, Acelajado MC, Bakris GL, et al.Hypertension.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4:18014. Published 2018 Mar 22. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2018.14U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORVASC® (amlodipine besylate) prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Zestril® (lisinopril) tablets prescribing information.Mills KT, Stefanescu A, He J.The global epidemiology of hypertension.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2020;16(4):223-237. doi:10.1038/s41581-019-0244-2Mani A.Update in genetic and epigenetic causes of hypertension.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024;81(1):201. Published 2024 Apr 30. doi:10.1007/s00018-024-05220-4Carey RM, Moran AE, Whelton PK.Treatment of hypertension: A review.JAMA. 2022;328(18):1849-1861. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19590Fuchs FD, Whelton PK.High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.Hypertension. 2020;75(2):285-292. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14240AlRuthia Y, Alotaibi F, Jamal A, et al.Cost effectiveness of ACEIs/ARBs versus amlodipine monotherapies: A single-center retrospective chart teview.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(7):798. Published 2021 Jun 25. doi:10.3390/healthcare9070798Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003Derington CG, King JB, Delate T, et al.Twice-daily versus once-daily lisinopril and losartan for hypertension: Real-world effectiveness and safety.PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0243371. Published 2020 Dec 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243371MedlinePlus.Lithium toxicity.Lorimer AR, Lyons D, Fowler G, et al.Differences between amlodipine and lisinopril in control of clinic and twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressures.J Hum Hypertens. 1998;12(6):411-416. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1000620James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al.2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) [published correction appears in JAMA. 2014 May 7;311(17):1809].JAMA. 2014;311(5):507-520. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284427Messerli FH, Staessen JA.Amlodipine better than lisinopril?Hypertension. 2006;48(3):359-361. doi:10.1161/01.hyp.0000238045.76905.94U.S. Food and Drug Administration.KATERZIA (amlodipine) oral suspension prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORLIQVA® (amlodipine) oral solution prescribing information.Carey RM, Wright JT Jr, Taler SJ, et al.Guideline-driven management of hypertension: An evidence-based update.Circ Res. 2021;128(7):827-846. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.121.318083National Institutes of Health.Potassium.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wang JG, Palmer BF, Vogel Anderson K, et al.Amlodipine in the current management of hypertension.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2023;25(9):801-807. doi:10.1111/jch.14709Oparil S, Acelajado MC, Bakris GL, et al.Hypertension.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4:18014. Published 2018 Mar 22. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2018.14U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORVASC® (amlodipine besylate) prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Zestril® (lisinopril) tablets prescribing information.Mills KT, Stefanescu A, He J.The global epidemiology of hypertension.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2020;16(4):223-237. doi:10.1038/s41581-019-0244-2Mani A.Update in genetic and epigenetic causes of hypertension.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024;81(1):201. Published 2024 Apr 30. doi:10.1007/s00018-024-05220-4Carey RM, Moran AE, Whelton PK.Treatment of hypertension: A review.JAMA. 2022;328(18):1849-1861. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19590Fuchs FD, Whelton PK.High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.Hypertension. 2020;75(2):285-292. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14240AlRuthia Y, Alotaibi F, Jamal A, et al.Cost effectiveness of ACEIs/ARBs versus amlodipine monotherapies: A single-center retrospective chart teview.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(7):798. Published 2021 Jun 25. doi:10.3390/healthcare9070798Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003Derington CG, King JB, Delate T, et al.Twice-daily versus once-daily lisinopril and losartan for hypertension: Real-world effectiveness and safety.PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0243371. Published 2020 Dec 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243371MedlinePlus.Lithium toxicity.Lorimer AR, Lyons D, Fowler G, et al.Differences between amlodipine and lisinopril in control of clinic and twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressures.J Hum Hypertens. 1998;12(6):411-416. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1000620James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al.2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) [published correction appears in JAMA. 2014 May 7;311(17):1809].JAMA. 2014;311(5):507-520. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284427Messerli FH, Staessen JA.Amlodipine better than lisinopril?Hypertension. 2006;48(3):359-361. doi:10.1161/01.hyp.0000238045.76905.94U.S. Food and Drug Administration.KATERZIA (amlodipine) oral suspension prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORLIQVA® (amlodipine) oral solution prescribing information.Carey RM, Wright JT Jr, Taler SJ, et al.Guideline-driven management of hypertension: An evidence-based update.Circ Res. 2021;128(7):827-846. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.121.318083National Institutes of Health.Potassium.
Wang JG, Palmer BF, Vogel Anderson K, et al.Amlodipine in the current management of hypertension.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2023;25(9):801-807. doi:10.1111/jch.14709
Oparil S, Acelajado MC, Bakris GL, et al.Hypertension.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4:18014. Published 2018 Mar 22. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2018.14
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORVASC® (amlodipine besylate) prescribing information.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Zestril® (lisinopril) tablets prescribing information.
Mills KT, Stefanescu A, He J.The global epidemiology of hypertension.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2020;16(4):223-237. doi:10.1038/s41581-019-0244-2
Mani A.Update in genetic and epigenetic causes of hypertension.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024;81(1):201. Published 2024 Apr 30. doi:10.1007/s00018-024-05220-4
Carey RM, Moran AE, Whelton PK.Treatment of hypertension: A review.JAMA. 2022;328(18):1849-1861. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19590
Fuchs FD, Whelton PK.High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.Hypertension. 2020;75(2):285-292. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14240
AlRuthia Y, Alotaibi F, Jamal A, et al.Cost effectiveness of ACEIs/ARBs versus amlodipine monotherapies: A single-center retrospective chart teview.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(7):798. Published 2021 Jun 25. doi:10.3390/healthcare9070798
Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003
Derington CG, King JB, Delate T, et al.Twice-daily versus once-daily lisinopril and losartan for hypertension: Real-world effectiveness and safety.PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0243371. Published 2020 Dec 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243371
MedlinePlus.Lithium toxicity.
Lorimer AR, Lyons D, Fowler G, et al.Differences between amlodipine and lisinopril in control of clinic and twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressures.J Hum Hypertens. 1998;12(6):411-416. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1000620
James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al.2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) [published correction appears in JAMA. 2014 May 7;311(17):1809].JAMA. 2014;311(5):507-520. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284427
Messerli FH, Staessen JA.Amlodipine better than lisinopril?Hypertension. 2006;48(3):359-361. doi:10.1161/01.hyp.0000238045.76905.94
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.KATERZIA (amlodipine) oral suspension prescribing information.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.NORLIQVA® (amlodipine) oral solution prescribing information.
Carey RM, Wright JT Jr, Taler SJ, et al.Guideline-driven management of hypertension: An evidence-based update.Circ Res. 2021;128(7):827-846. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.121.318083
National Institutes of Health.Potassium.
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