Fosinopril Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 18, 2024.

Applies to fosinopril: oral tablet.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet)

When pregnancy is detected, discontinue fosinopril sodium tablets as soon as possible.

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

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:

More common side effects

• cough

Less common side effects

• body aches or pain
• diarrhea
• difficult breathing
• ear congestion
• fever
• headache
• loss of voice
• muscle or bone pain
• nasal congestion
• nausea and vomiting
• runny nose
• sneezing
• sore throat
• weakness

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:

Less common side effects

• blurred vision
• chest pain or discomfort
• chills
• cold sweats
• confusion
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• pounding or rapid pulse
• sweating
• unusual tiredness or weakness

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]

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