AboutWilliam B. Jeffries, Ph.D. Expertise Questions on the mechanism of action and side effects of antihypertensive drugs, the epidemiology of hypertension and the cardiovascular complications of untreated or undertreated high blood pressure
Experience I have been an investigator in the field of hypertension research for over 20 years.
Organizations Council for High Blood Pressure Research
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
American Heart Association
Publications Hypertension, Journal of Hypertension, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Molecular Pharmacology, American Journal of Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Dentistry
Question I take 5mg of Lisinopril daily to control my high blood pressure, and it works great. While donating blood the other day, the Red Cross nurse told me that an additional benefit to taking Lisinopril is that it makes the arteries "slick" thus making them less likely to form blood clots. Any truth to this?
Answer There have been some studies on the effects of lisinopril and drugs like it on the vascular wall, but they do not point conclusively to the effect you describe. These drugs relax the vessel wall and make the vessels more open. This allows the blood to flow with less resistance. if that is what she meant by "slick" then I agree. However, if she is implying that there is a therapeutic effect of lisinopril on blood clotting, then I disagree.
