Fosinopril Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 24, 2025.

Applies to fosinopril: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects .

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have swelling of the face, arms, legs, eyes, lips, or tongue, or problems with swallowing or breathing. These are symptoms of a condition called angioedema .

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain. This could be a symptom of a condition called intestinal angioedema .

You may experience lightheadedness during the first few days with this medicine. If this becomes severe and you faint, stop using this medicine and talk to your doctor right away .

Tell your doctor immediately if you have any signs of infection such as chills, sore throat, or fever. These may be symptoms of an immune system condition called neutropenia .

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor .

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away .

Check with your doctor right away if you have symptoms of jaundice (yellow skin or eyes) because these may be signs of a serious liver condition .

This medicine may increase the amount of potassium in your blood. Do not use salt substitutes containing potassium without first checking with your doctor .

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests .

Common side effects of fosinopril

Some side effects of fosinopril 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:

Serious side effects of fosinopril

Along with its needed effects, fosinopril 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 fosinopril:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to fosinopril: oral tablet.

General adverse events

Adverse events were generally mild and transient, and their frequency was not prominently related to dose within the recommended daily dosage range.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash, angioedema, dermatitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urticaria, photosensitivity, pruritus, excessive sweating/hyperhidrosis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Ecchymosis
• Frequency not reported: Bullous pemphigus, exfoliative dermatitis^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Orthostatic hypotension, angina pectoris, hypotension, atrial/cardiac rhythm disturbances, tachycardia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myocardial infarction, hypertensive crisis, palpitations, flushing, claudication, cardiorespiratory arrest, shock, non-anginal chest pain, hypertension, conduction disorder, bradycardia, cardiac arrest, conduction disturbances, transitory ischemia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hemorrhage, peripheral vascular disease
• Frequency not reported: Vasculitis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 11.9%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tremor, paresthesia, drowsiness, cerebrovascular accident, syncope, memory disturbance, taste disturbance/dysgeusia, cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attack (TIA), numbness, somnolence, stroke
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Dysphasia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Cough, dyspnea, upper respiratory infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bronchospasm, pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, laryngitis/hoarseness, epistaxis, abnormal vocalization, sinus abnormality, abnormal breathing, pleuritic chest pain, tracheobronchitis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Pneumonia, pulmonary congestion
• Frequency not reported: Eosinophilic pneumonitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pancreatitis, dysphagia, abdominal distention, flatulence, constipation, heartburn, appetite changes, dry mouth
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Oral lesions, swollen tongue
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Intestinal angioedema, sub-ileus^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated lactate dehydrogenase
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gout, hyperkalemia, increased blood urea, decreased appetite, weight increase
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hyponatremia
• Frequency not reported: Symptomatic hyponatremia^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal insufficiency, kidney pain, renal failure, increased serum creatinine
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Acute renal failure
• Frequency not reported: Elevated BUN^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased serum bilirubin, elevated transaminases
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatitis, hepatomegaly
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatic failure
• Frequency not reported: Hepatocellular jaundice, cholestatic jaundice^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Sexual dysfunction
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary frequency, abnormal urination, proteinuria
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Prostatic disorders^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Lymphadenopathy, transient decreased hemoglobin, decreased hematocrit
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Eosinophilia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, transient anemia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Agranulocytosis
• Frequency not reported: pancytopenia, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Mood change, decreased libido, confusion, sleep disturbance, depression, behavior change
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Disorientation^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Muscle cramp, musculoskeletal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia, myalgia, muscle ache, weakness of an extremity
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Arthritis^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vision disturbance, eye irritation^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, edema, non-cardiac chest pain, weakness, viral infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vertigo, tinnitus, ear ache, fever, influenza-like syndrome, weight gain, sensation of cold, fall, pain, sudden death, lower extremity edema, swelling of extremity, peripheral edema, thoracic pain
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Weakness in one extremity
• Frequency not reported: Serositis^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactoid reactions, positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA)^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• Do ACE inhibitors make COVID-19 worse?

Further information

Fosinopril 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