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lisinopril vs spironolactone

Side-by-side comparison of lisinopril and spironolactone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Use of lisinopril with potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, eplerenone, triamterene, or amiloride), potassium supplements, or potassium-containing salt substitutes may lead to significant increases in serum potassium.

Recommendation: Your healthcare provider should regularly check your potassium levels to ensure they stay within a safe range.

Drug Class
lisinopril ACE Inhibitor
spironolactone Potassium-Sparing Diuretic / Aldosterone Antagonist
Type
lisinopril Prescription
spironolactone Prescription
Summary
lisinopril

No summary available.

spironolactone

Spironolactone is a medicine that helps remove extra fluid from your body and lower blood pressure. It also helps your heart work better if you have heart failure.

What It Treats
lisinopril

Information not available.

spironolactone

Spironolactone is used to treat heart failure by reducing fluid build-up and helping you live longer. It also treats high blood pressure, which can lower your chance of having a stroke or heart attack. This medicine can also manage fluid build-up caused by liver problems or a kidney problem called nephrotic syndrome. It can also treat a condition where your body makes too much of a hormone called aldosterone.

How It Works
lisinopril

Information not available.

spironolactone

Spironolactone belongs to a class of drugs called aldosterone antagonists. It works by blocking the effects of aldosterone, a hormone that causes your body to hold onto salt and water. By blocking aldosterone, spironolactone helps your body get rid of extra fluid and salt, which lowers blood pressure and reduces strain on the heart.

Common Side Effects
lisinopril
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Feeling tired
  • Diarrhea
spironolactone
  • Breast enlargement in men
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
lisinopril
  • Feeling tired 19,347
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 17,995
  • Loose stools 16,772
  • Difficulty breathing 13,649
  • Discomfort 13,304
spironolactone
  • Difficulty breathing 10,389
  • Tiredness 8,179
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 7,818
  • Loose stools 7,416
  • Sudden kidney damage 6,785
Serious Warnings
lisinopril

No specific warnings noted.

spironolactone

Spironolactone can cause your potassium levels to get too high, which can be dangerous. Your doctor will check your potassium levels regularly, especially if you have kidney problems or are taking other medicines that can raise potassium. This medicine can also cause low blood pressure or make kidney problems worse. Tell your doctor if you have side effects.

Pregnancy
lisinopril

No pregnancy information available.

spironolactone

Spironolactone may affect the sex organs of a baby boy if taken during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if spironolactone passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This lisinopril vs spironolactone Comparison

lisinopril is classified in the ACE Inhibitor drug class, while spironolactone sits within the Potassium-Sparing Diuretic / Aldosterone Antagonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, lisinopril has 81,067 submissions while spironolactone has 40,587. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs prevent the kidneys from removing potassium, which can cause this mineral to build up in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between lisinopril and spironolactone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.