Enalapril
Also sold as: Renitec, Vasotec
Usual adult dose
High blood pressure: start 5 mg once a day; usual dose 10 to 20 mg a day, maximum 40 mg a day (once or split into two doses). Heart failure: start 2.5 mg a day and increase slowly as set by your doctor.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- dry cough
- dizziness
- headache
- tiredness
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- swelling of face
- lips
- tongue or throat
- fainting
- very high potassium (weakness
- irregular heartbeat)
- kidney problems
Do not take it, or take care, if
- Pregnancy (can harm the baby)
- Past swelling of face or throat with an ACE inhibitor
- Narrowing of the arteries to both kidneys
- Kidney disease or high potassium (use with caution)
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Serious4 medicinesDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.
- Lithium carbonate
ACE inhibitors raise lithium levels and the risk of toxicity.
- Losartan
Combining an ARB with an ACE inhibitor raises the risk of kidney damage and high potassium.
- Potassium chloride
Potassium supplements with ACE inhibitors can cause dangerously high potassium.
- Spironolactone
Together they can raise potassium to dangerous levels; blood tests are needed.
Moderate5 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Diclofenac
Can reduce the blood pressure effect and harm the kidneys.
- Ibuprofen
NSAIDs reduce the blood pressure effect and raise the risk of kidney damage.
- Meloxicam
Can reduce the blood pressure effect and harm the kidneys.
- Potassium citrate
ACE inhibitors raise potassium; potassium levels should be checked.
- Racecadotril
Using racecadotril with ACE inhibitors increases the risk of angioedema (face and throat swelling).