Enalapril oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved enalapril oral tablet to treat:

• high blood pressure in adults and certain children
• heart failure in adults
• left ventricular dysfunction (a problem with the left side of the heart) that isn’t causing symptoms in adults

This article describes possible side effects of enalapril oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for enalapril. You can explore this overview article to learn more about enalapril, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.

Enalapril oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Vasotec. Enalapril also comes in a liquid solution that you swallow, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about that form of the drug, talk with your doctor.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm

Enalapril has a boxed warning for the risk of serious harm or death to a developing fetus during pregnancy. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

For details, see the “Warnings for enalapril” section below.

More common side effects of enalapril

Enalapril oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication. Side effects vary based on the condition being treated.

More common side effects reported in people taking enalapril oral tablet for high blood pressure include:

• headache
• dizziness
• fatigue (low energy)
• skin rash
• nausea

More common side effects reported in people taking enalapril oral tablet for heart failure include:

• dizziness
• low blood pressure, including orthostatic hypotension
• cough*
• fainting
• diarrhea

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of enalapril in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of enalapril

Enalapril may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of enalapril oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• cough*
• skin rash
• weakness
• fatigue (low energy)
• dizziness
• fainting
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• headache
• vertigo
• muscle cramps
• runny nose
• sore throat
• mild allergic reaction*

Enalapril oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of enalapril in detail” section below.

Serious side effects of enalapril

Enalapril may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from enalapril oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with enalapril.

Serious side effects of enalapril oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• blood problems, including a low white blood cell count
• high blood potassium level*
• kidney problems*
• liver problems, including hepatitis and liver failure
• low blood pressure, including orthostatic hypotension
• angioedema (giant hives) of the head, neck, or intestines
• risk of harm to the fetus during pregnancy†
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of enalapril in detail” section below.
† Enalapril oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Warnings for enalapril” section below.

Common questions about side effects of enalapril

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of enalapril oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If I stop taking enalapril abruptly, will I experience certain side effects?

No, that’s not expected. Symptoms upon stopping treatment weren’t reported in enalapril’s studies.

That said, stopping enalapril may cause a worsening of symptoms of the condition enalapril was prescribed to treat. For example, if you were taking enalapril to treat heart failure, your heart failure symptoms may worsen if you stop taking enalapril.

For this reason, talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re interested in stopping treatment with enalapril. They can review your treatment plan and suggest other options for you.

Does enalapril cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, enalapril oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time. They could also persist after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with enalapril oral tablet include:

• kidney problems, including sudden kidney failure
• liver problems, including hepatitis and liver failure

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask them for more information about how long these side effects of enalapril may last.

Will I experience certain side effects if I take enalapril with other blood pressure medications?

Yes, it’s possible to experience certain side effects if you take enalapril with other blood pressure medications.

Enalapril lowers blood pressure. Taking the drug with other medications that lower blood pressure could cause your blood pressure to fall too low. This could lead to symptoms such as fainting or dizziness. If you feel faint or dizzy while taking enalapril with another blood pressure drug, talk with your doctor. They may need to adjust the dosage of your medication.

In addition, taking enalapril with certain blood pressure medications could raise your risk of specific side effects. For example, taking enalapril with a potassium-sparing diuretic, such as spironolactone, could increase your risk of having a high blood potassium level.*

If your doctor prescribes enalapril with another blood pressure drug, they’ll tell you about side effects to watch for and what to do if you have them.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of enalapril in detail” section below.

Coupon for enalapril

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for enalapril when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Side effects of enalapril in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of enalapril oral tablet.

Cough

In studies, cough was among the more common side effects reported by people taking enalapril oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild.

Enalapril belongs to a group of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Cough is a known side effect of ACE inhibitors, including enalapril. It’s thought to happen based on how the drug works. But most people are able to take enalapril without developing cough as a side effect.

The cough caused by ACE inhibitors such as enalapril is a dry cough that doesn’t go away.

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of a dry cough, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with enalapril. This side effect goes away once treatment with the ACE inhibitor drug is stopped. Your doctor can suggest other medications for treating your condition if coughing becomes a concern with enalapril.

High blood potassium level

High blood potassium level was rare in studies involving people taking enalapril oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

Potassium is an electrolyte that’s essential for your body to function correctly. But having too much potassium in your blood can be problematic. This condition may not cause symptoms at first, but if it becomes severe, you may experience some such as feeling tired or weak, feeling a numbness or tingling sensation in your arms or legs, and heart palpitations.

Certain factors can increase the risk of high blood potassium with enalapril oral tablet. These include:

• using potassium salt substitutes
• taking a potassium supplement
• having type 1 or 2 diabetes
• taking a potassium-sparing diuretic, such as spironolactone

Ways to manage

If you have concerns about high blood potassium, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend occasional testing to check your potassium level. Should you develop high potassium from taking enalapril, this side effect should go away once you stop treatment. In some cases, it may go away even if you continue taking enalapril.

Kidney problems

In studies, kidney problems were rare in people taking enalapril oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

Kidney problems reported with enalapril include worsening kidney function and sudden kidney failure. Symptoms of kidney failure can include:

• sluggish, slow movements
• changes to your awareness, such as feeling confused or disoriented
• decreased sensation, particularly in your hands or feet

Certain factors can increase the risk of kidney problems with enalapril oral tablet. These include having an existing kidney condition and taking other medications that can cause kidney problems.

Ways to manage

If you have concerns about kidney problems, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend checking your kidney function before and during treatment with enalapril. These tests may detect small changes in kidney function, and your doctor can pause or stop enalapril treatment if the results show worsening kidney function.

If you develop symptoms of sudden kidney failure, call 911 or seek emergent treatment, such as a hospital or urgent care center.

Allergic reaction

For some people, enalapril oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. These reactions were rare in studies of enalapril.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to enalapril oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for enalapril

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking enalapril oral tablet.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm

Enalapril has a boxed warning for the risk of fetal harm. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Enalapril and pregnancy” section below.

Other warnings

It may not be safe for you to take enalapril oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether enalapril oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking enalapril oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• blood cell problems, including a low white blood cell count
• history of angioedema (giant hives)
• kidney conditions
• high blood potassium level
• liver problems
• past allergic reaction to enalapril

Enalapril and pregnancy

Enalapril oral tablet should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with enalapril.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm

Enalapril has a boxed warning about the risk of fetal harm. The drug should not be used during pregnancy due to this risk. Taking enalapril during pregnancy can cause severe harm to the developing fetus, including miscarriage and pregnancy loss. If you become pregnant while taking enalapril, immediately stop taking the medication and contact your doctor.

Enalapril and breastfeeding

Enalapril oral tablet should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with enalapril.

Enalapril and alcohol

Enalapril oral tablet isn’t known to interact with alcohol. But if you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with enalapril oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of enalapril oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know whether you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Are side effects of enalapril similar to those of other ACE inhibitors?
• How do side effects of enalapril compare with side effects of valsartan?
• Are there blood pressure medications that increase my risk of side effects if I take them with enalapril?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.