Key takeaways
Lisinopril helps treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and supports recovery after a heart attack.
Missing one dose usually isn’t dangerous. Take it as soon as you remember unless it’s close to your next dose, then skip it and resume your normal schedule.
Missing two or more doses can raise your blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure and seek medical care if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, or a reading of 180/120 mmHg or higher.
Many people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease take medications like lisinopril to manage their condition. It helps lower their risk of heart disease and kidney damage, so taking it once a day is important. But what happens if you miss a dose? Though you should always try to take lisinopril as prescribed, missing one dose is usually not an emergency. The medication stays in your body for one to two days, says David Rhee, MD, with Manhattan Cardiology in NYC, so most people won’t experience serious problems after accidentally missing one dose.
However, missing more than one dose can lead to health problems. Per Dr. Rhee, lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that lowers blood pressure by blocking the production of a kidney hormone called angiotensin. When you miss two or more doses of an ACE inhibitor like lisinopril, your body begins producing more angiotensin again, and your blood pressure begins to rise. This is especially dangerous for people taking lisinopril for other FDA-approved indications, like treating heart failure or improving your survival rate after a heart attack. Here’s how to catch up if you missed a dose of lisinopril, warning signs to watch for, and when to contact your healthcare provider.
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What should you do if you miss a dose?
Life happens, and sometimes we all forget to take a daily dose of our medication. If you miss one dose of lisinopril, don’t panic. Follow this guidance instead.
If it’s been less than 12 hours since your last dose
You should generally always take your next dose of lisinopril as soon as you remember it, even if it’s been several hours since the time you normally take it, according to Joanna Lewis, Pharm.D., founder of The Pharmacist’s Guide. You don’t need to adjust your dosing schedule, either. You can go right back to taking it at the normal time.
Example: You normally take lisinopril at 8:00 a.m., but you forget about it until 3 p.m. What to do: Take your dose at 3 p.m. as soon as you remember, then resume again the next morning at 8:00 a.m.
If it’s been more than 12 hours since your last dose
Dr. Lewis says there’s no hard cut-off time for taking a late dose versus waiting for your next upcoming dose, but most providers recommend their patients follow a 12-hour rule. In other words, if it’s been more than 12 hours since your last dose, skip the missed dose entirely and resume your normal dosing schedule the next day.
Example: You normally take lisinopril at 8:00 a.m., but you forget about it until 10 p.m. What to do: Skip that day’s dose and return to your regular schedule the next morning at 8:00 a.m.
What not to do
While there’s some flexibility with the dosing schedule if you miss a dose, there’s one thing you should never do: take a double dose to “make up” for the missed one. This can increase the likelihood of side effects like low blood pressure (hypotension), dizziness, feeling lightheaded, and fainting, says Dr. Lewis. Some side effects, such as angioedema (swelling of the face, tongue, arms, or legs), are not thought to be dose related.
What to do if you miss a dose of lisinopril |
||
|---|---|---|
| Time since your usual dose | What to do | Why |
| Less than 12 hours | Take your missed dose as soon as you remember, then continue taking it as prescribed the next day | It’s close enough to your normal dosing time to take lisinopril without increasing your risk of side effects when you take it on time again the next day |
| More than 12 hours | Skip your missed dose and take your next scheduled dose as usual the next day | It’s too close to your next daily dose of lisinopril; taking two doses this close together could cause side effects like low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting |
What happens if you miss two or more doses?
Blood pressure medication like lisinopril only works if you take it consistently, says Dr. Rhee, so if you miss two or more doses, you start losing the blood pressure-lowering effects. You can get back on track, but may need to contact your healthcare provider first.
If you take lisinopril for high blood pressure and have missed two or more doses, you should check your blood pressure at home, if possible. If your blood pressure is within your goal range and you aren’t having any noticeable symptoms of hypertension (more on that below), Dr. Rhee says you don’t need to contact your provider unless they’ve told you otherwise. You can resume taking your medication while monitoring your blood pressure and symptoms at home.
However, if your blood pressure reading is high, you’re having symptoms of high blood pressure, or you have no way to check your blood pressure at home, you should reach out to your provider’s office immediately for guidance.
You should also get in touch with your provider ASAP if you take lisinopril for heart failure, have a history of hypertension- or cardiac-related emergencies, or have recently had surgery or a heart attack. You are at higher risk for complications from missed doses, and should contact your healthcare provider as soon as you realize you’ve missed multiple doses.
Can missing a dose be dangerous? Signs to watch for
For most people, missing one dose of lisinopril is not dangerous. However, people with severe hypertension or who have recently had a heart attack are at higher risk for complications from missed doses, says Dr. Lewis. In those cases, you should check your blood pressure at home or contact your provider even if you’ve only missed one dose.
While missing a dose probably won’t cause any side effects, there are a few warning signs to watch for just in case, including:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Vision or speech changes
- Back pain
- Weakness or numbness in arms or legs
- Sudden, severe headache
These are signs of a medical emergency; if you experience them after missing a dose of lisinopril, you should seek emergency medical care.
Dr. Rhee also stresses that you should contact your provider ASAP if you have a blood pressure reading of 180/120 mmHg or higher, even if you don’t have symptoms. A reading in this range is a sign of severe hypertension, which can quickly turn into a hypertensive emergency if your blood pressure doesn’t come down or you begin to have any of the warning signs listed above.
What if you miss a dose of lisinopril HCTZ?
Lisinopril-HCTZ is a combination medication containing lisinopril and the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). It’s usually prescribed when lisinopril alone doesn’t lower your blood pressure to your goal, says Dr. Lewis, because the diuretic component helps the kidneys excrete additional sodium and water, reducing overall blood volume.
The rules for missed doses of lisinopril-HCTZ are the same as lisinopril:
- Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it, as long as it’s within the 12-hour window of your normal dosage time
- Skip it and resume your normal schedule with your next dose if it’s been more than 12 hours since you missed your dose
- Avoid extra doses of lisinopril-HCTZ if you miss a dose; never take two pills at the same time
If you aren’t sure what to do after missing a dose of lisinopril-HCTZ, contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider and let them know how many doses you missed or how long it’s been since your last dose. They can counsel you on the best way to catch up.
How to avoid missing doses
It’s not uncommon to simply forget to take a dose of medication when you’re busy or distracted, but if you’re regularly forgetting your daily lisinopril, it’s worth considering some strategies that can help you remember.
- Take your medication at the same time every day so it naturally becomes a habit
- Set a daily alarm on your smartphone or tablet to remind you to take it
- Store your medication out where you can see it when you do other daily tasks (like making your morning coffee or brushing your teeth)
- Use a pill organizer so you have visual evidence of whether you’ve already taken your medication or still need to take it
- Leave reminders for yourself on sticky notes, calendars, or planners
If you know medication adherence is a challenge for you, don’t be afraid to share that with your provider. They can help.
Finding a reminder system that fits your routine can make it easier to take lisinopril consistently and help keep your blood pressure under control. “I advise patients to be honest with their providers about their ability to take [lisinopril] as prescribed,” says Dr. Rhee. “We understand the reality and difficulty of taking daily medications, [but] we need the full picture so we can understand the context behind the blood pressure number we see in our clinic rather than piling on more pills.”
Expert takeaway
- “I often prescribe lisinopril instead of other ACE inhibitors because of its relatively long half-life,” explains Chad Shaffer, MD, member of the SingleCare Medical Board. “This characteristic means that it takes longer for a dose to be fully eliminated from the body and makes it more forgiving if the next dose is missed.”
The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Aug. 17, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our coupon page for updated drug prices at pharmacies near you.
- Lisinopril (oral route), Mayo Clinic (2026)
- Home blood pressure monitoring, American Heart Association (2025)
- Zestril (lisinopril), AstraZeneca (2017)
- Understanding blood pressure readings, American Heart Association (2025)
- Hypertensive crisis, Cleveland Clinic (2026)
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