Skopryl 10 mg and 20 mg tablets (lisinopril) – for high blood pressure and the heart

Skopryl is a medicine that contains the active substance lisinopril, which belongs to the group of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). It works by widening the blood vessels, which helps to lower high blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood to all parts of the body.

In Serbia it is authorised as Skopryl 10 mg and Skopryl 20 mg tablets (lisinopril as lisinopril dihydrate), in packs of 20 and 30 tablets. It is intended for long-term treatment and is taken once a day.

What is Skopryl used for and how should it be taken correctly?

Basic information about the medicine

What is Skopryl used for?

According to the patient leaflet, Skopryl is used to treat:

• high blood pressure (hypertension);
• heart failure;
• the period after a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction);
• kidney problems related to type II diabetes in people with high blood pressure.

How is Skopryl used and dosed?

Always take the medicine exactly as your doctor has prescribed. At the start of treatment your doctor may ask for a blood test and then adjust the dose. Swallow the tablet with enough water, at about the same time every day – it does not matter whether you take it before or after a meal.

• High blood pressure: the recommended starting dose is 10 mg once a day; the usual maintenance dose is 20 mg once a day.
• Heart failure: the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg once a day; the usual maintenance dose is 5 to 35 mg once a day.
• After a heart attack: 5 mg within the first 24 hours after the heart attack and 5 mg the next day; the usual maintenance dose is 10 mg once a day.
• Kidney problems caused by diabetes: 10 mg or 20 mg once a day.
• Older people, people with kidney problems or those taking diuretics: the doctor may prescribe a lower dose than usual.
• Children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years with high blood pressure: the doctor determines the dose according to body weight – for 20–50 kg the starting dose is 2.5 mg once a day and the maximum 20 mg a day; for 50 kg and more the starting dose is 5 mg once a day and the maximum 40 mg a day.

A 2.5 mg dose cannot be obtained by breaking Skopryl 10 mg and 20 mg tablets – other medicines of a suitable strength are used for it. Skopryl tablets have a score line and can be divided into equal doses.

First dose: take special care with the first dose and when the dose is increased, because blood pressure may fall more than with later doses. If you feel light-headed or dizzy, lie down; if you are worried, contact your doctor.

Special patient groups

• Children: use is not recommended in children under 6 years or in children with severe kidney problems.
• Older patients: the doctor may prescribe a lower dose.
• Reduced kidney function and dialysis: caution is needed; the doctor may prescribe a lower dose and regularly check kidney function, blood pressure and electrolytes (e.g. potassium).
• Reduced liver function: tell your doctor before starting treatment.
• Black patients: the medicine may be less effective, and the tendency to angioedema may be higher.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

• allergy to lisinopril or any of the excipients;
• a past allergic reaction (angioedema – swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing) to another ACE inhibitor;
• current or recent use of sacubitril/valsartan (a medicine for chronic heart failure);
• angioedema with an ACE inhibitor in a family member, or angioedema of unknown cause in your own medical history;
• pregnancy of more than 3 months;
• diabetes or reduced kidney function together with a blood pressure medicine containing aliskiren.

Precautions and warnings

Talk to your doctor before taking the medicine if:

• you have narrowing of the aorta or the heart valves (mitral valve stenosis), narrowing of a kidney artery or thickening of the heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy);
• you have a collagen vascular disease, low blood pressure, kidney problems or are on dialysis, liver problems or diabetes;
• you take medicines that increase the risk of angioedema: racecadotril, mTOR inhibitors (temsirolimus, sirolimus, everolimus) or vildagliptin;
• you take an angiotensin II receptor blocker (sartan) or aliskiren;
• you have recently had diarrhoea or vomiting, or your doctor has told you to limit your salt intake;
• you are treated with LDL apheresis or desensitisation therapy (e.g. for insect sting allergy) – a severe allergic reaction is possible;
• you are going to have surgery, including a dental procedure – anaesthetics may cause low blood pressure.

If a dry cough that lasts a long time develops after starting treatment, talk to your doctor.

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking, especially:

• other medicines for lowering blood pressure, sartans and aliskiren;
• diuretics, beta-blockers (e.g. atenolol, propranolol) and nitrates;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetylsalicylic acid at doses above 3 g a day;
• medicines for depression and mental disorders, including lithium;
• potassium supplements (including salt substitutes), potassium-sparing diuretics and other medicines that increase potassium in the blood (trimethoprim, co-trimoxazole, ciclosporin, heparin);
• insulin and oral antidiabetic medicines;
• asthma medicines;
• medicines for a blocked nose, sinuses and colds, including those available without prescription;
• allopurinol, procainamide and medicines containing gold salts (sodium aurothiomalate);
• medicines that increase the risk of angioedema: tissue plasminogen activators, mTOR inhibitors, racecadotril, vildagliptin.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• Pregnancy: the medicine is not recommended in early pregnancy and must not be used after the third month, as it may seriously harm the baby. Your doctor will advise you to stop it before a planned pregnancy or as soon as you know you are pregnant, and will prescribe another medicine.
• Breastfeeding: use is not recommended, especially if the baby is newborn or was born prematurely.

Driving and using machines

• Some people may feel dizzy or tired. Before driving or using machines, wait to see how the medicine affects you.

Possible side effects

• Stop the medicine and contact your doctor immediately: severe allergic reaction (rare) – swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, sudden swelling of the hands, feet and ankles, difficulty breathing, severe itching with raised lumps on the skin; severe skin reactions – rash, redness, blistering or peeling (very rare); infection with high fever and sudden worsening of your general condition, or fever with a sore throat or mouth or urinary problems (very rare).
• Common: headache; dizziness or light-headedness, especially when standing up quickly; diarrhoea; persistent dry cough; vomiting; kidney problems (seen in blood tests).
• Uncommon: mood changes; colour change, numbness or tingling of fingers or toes; changes in taste; sleepiness; vertigo; difficulty sleeping; stroke; fast heartbeat; runny nose; nausea; stomach pain or indigestion; rash or itching; impotence; tiredness or weakness; a marked drop in blood pressure in certain heart conditions; changes in liver and kidney test results; heart attack; visual or auditory hallucinations.
• Rare: confusion; hives; dry mouth; hair loss; psoriasis; changes in the sense of smell; breast enlargement in men; changes in blood counts; low blood sodium; sudden kidney failure.
• Very rare: sinusitis; wheezing; low blood sugar; inflammation of the lungs; jaundice; inflammation of the liver or pancreas; serious skin disorders; sweating; difficulty passing urine or no urine; liver failure; lumps under the skin; inflammation of the gut.
• Not known: symptoms of depression; fainting.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital immediately; the most common symptoms are dizziness and palpitations.
• Missed dose: take it as soon as you remember; if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take a double dose.
• Stopping treatment: do not stop taking the tablets even if you feel better, unless your doctor tells you to.

Related information

For monitoring your blood pressure at home, see also the category Blood pressure monitors – products in this category do not replace the medicine prescribed for you.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• active substance: lisinopril dihydrate – 10 mg or 20 mg lisinopril per tablet;
• excipients (10 mg): calcium hydrogen phosphate, anhydrous; magnesium stearate; pregelatinised starch; mannitol; povidone; maize starch; yellow iron oxide (E172); the 20 mg tablets also contain red iron oxide (E172);
• Skopryl 10 mg: light yellow, round, biconvex tablets with a score line on one side; Skopryl 20 mg: light brownish-pink, round, biconvex tablets with a score line on one side;
• pack: Al/PVC blisters of 10 tablets, carton of 20 or 30 tablets;
• marketing authorisation holder: Alkaloid d.o.o. Beograd, Prahovska 3, Belgrade; manufacturers: Alkaloid d.o.o. Beograd and Alkaloid AD Skopje, North Macedonia.

Storage

• this medicine does not require any special storage conditions;
• shelf life: 4 years;
• keep out of the sight and reach of children; return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Skopryl give me a dry cough?

A persistent dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors, including lisinopril. If the cough appears after starting treatment and lasts a long time, talk to your doctor – do not stop the medicine yourself.

May I use low-sodium salt?

Salt substitutes often contain potassium, and the leaflet states that potassium supplements, including salt substitutes, may increase blood potassium when taken with Skopryl. Use them only with your doctor’s approval.

Can Skopryl be taken during pregnancy?

It is not recommended in early pregnancy and must not be taken after the third month of pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy or find out that you are pregnant, contact your doctor straight away so that your treatment can be changed.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for the next dose – in that case skip the missed dose. Never take a double dose.

Sources

• ALIMS – Patient information leaflet Skopryl 10 mg (PIL)
• ALIMS – Summary of product characteristics Skopryl 10 mg (SmPC)
• ALIMS – Patient information leaflet Skopryl 20 mg (PIL)
• ALIMS – Summary of product characteristics Skopryl 20 mg (SmPC)

Sources checked on: 25 October 2026.