Captopril Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 28, 2024.

Applies to captopril: oral tablet.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet)

When pregnancy is detected, discontinue captopril as soon as possible.

Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.

Serious side effects of captopril

Along with its needed effects, captopril may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking captopril:

Less common side effects

• chest pain
• cloudy urine
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

Rare side effects

• arm, back, or jaw pain
• bloody urine
• chest discomfort
• chest tightness or heaviness
• decreased blood pressure
• decreased or increased frequency or amount of urine
• dilated neck veins
• increased thirst
• irregular breathing
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• loss of appetite
• low blood pressure
• lower back or side pain
• nausea
• paleness or cold feeling in the fingertips and toes
• sweating
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• tingling or pain in the fingers or toes when exposed to cold temperatures
• troubled breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting
• weight gain

Incidence not known

• bleeding gums
• bloody, black, or tarry stools
• blurred vision
• chills
• confusion
• cough
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• high fever
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen glands
• unusual bleeding or bruising

Other side effects of captopril

Some side effects of captopril may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common side effects

• change in taste
• feeling of warmth
• itching skin
• loss of taste
• rash
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

For healthcare professionals

Applies to captopril: compounding powder, oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most common side effect is rash.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Rash (up to 13.1%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, alopecia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Angioedema
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, photosensitivity, erythroderma, pemphigoid reactions, exfoliative dermatitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, gastric irritation
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Stomatitis/aphthous ulceration, mouth ulcers, intestinal angioedema
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Glossitis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, taste impairment, loss of taste
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Paresthesia, headache, drowsiness
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Cerebrovascular incidents
• Frequency not reported: Syncope, ataxia, somnolence^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Cough, dyspnea
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Bronchospasm
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Rhinitis, allergic alveolitis/eosinophilic pneumonia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tachycardia or tachyarrhythmia, angina pectoris, palpitations, Raynaud's syndrome, flushing, pallor, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock
• Frequency not reported: Rhythm disturbances, orthostatic hypotension^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Proteinuria
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Polyuria, oliguria, urinary frequency
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Impotence^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Sleep disorder
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Loss of libido
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Confusion, depression
• Frequency not reported: Nervousness^[Ref]

Other

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chest pain, fatigue, malaise
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Gynecomastia, fever
• Frequency not reported: Asthenia, alkaline phosphatase elevated^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal insufficiency, acute renal failure, nephrotic syndrome
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): BUN elevated, serum creatinine elevated
• Frequency not reported: Glomerulopathy^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anorexia, weight loss, loss of appetite
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, serum potassium increased, serum sodium decreased
• Frequency not reported: Hyponatremia^[Ref]

Ocular

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Disturbed vision, dry eye, itchy eye
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Blurred vision^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Neutropenia/agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, hemoglobin decreased, hematocrit decreased, leukocytes decreased, thrombocytes decreased, erythrocyte sedimentation rate elevated^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Liver enzymes elevated, bilirubin elevated, impaired hepatic function, cholestasis, hepatitis
• Frequency not reported: Jaundice^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Autoimmune disease, positive antinuclear antibody titer
• Frequency not reported: Serum sickness-like syndrome, anaphylactoid reactions^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Myalgia, arthralgia
• Frequency not reported: Myasthenia^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• Do ACE inhibitors make COVID-19 worse?

Further information

Captopril side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer