Perindopril Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 23, 2024.

Applies to perindopril: oral tablet.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet)

Stop perindopril as soon as possible when pregnancy is detected.

Medications acting directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury or death to the developing fetus.

Serious side effects of perindopril

Along with its needed effects, perindopril 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 perindopril:

More common side effects

• body aches or pain
• chills
• cough
• difficulty breathing
• ear congestion
• fever
• headache
• loss of voice
• nasal congestion
• runny nose
• sneezing
• sore throat
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common side effects

• bladder pain
• bloody or cloudy urine
• change in hearing
• chest pain
• cold
• congestion
• diarrhea
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• dryness of the throat
• earache or pain in the ear
• ear drainage
• frequent urge to urinate
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• hoarseness
• joint pain
• loss of appetite
• lower back or side pain
• nausea
• shivering
• stomach pain
• swelling
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• trouble sleeping
• trouble with swallowing
• voice changes
• vomiting

Rare side effects

• blurred vision
• confusion
• decreased urination
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• dry mouth
• irregular heartbeat
• muscle cramps or pain
• numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
• rapid breathing
• seizures
• sunken eyes
• sweating
• thirst
• trembling
• weakness and heaviness of the legs

Other side effects of perindopril

Some side effects of perindopril 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

• back pain
• lack or loss of strength
• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
• tightness of the chest

Less common side effects

• belching
• bloated feeling
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• diarrhea
• difficulty moving
• discouragement
• excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
• feeling of fullness
• feeling sad or empty
• hearing loss
• injury
• irritability
• leg pain
• loss of interest or pleasure
• muscle ache, stiffness, tension, or tightness
• neck pain
• nervousness
• pain, swelling, or redness in the joints
• passing of gas
• rash
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
• stomach discomfort or upset
• swollen joints
• trouble concentrating

For healthcare professionals

Applies to perindopril: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most common adverse events were cough, dizziness, and back pain.^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Cough (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, epistaxis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bronchospasm
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Eosinophilic pneumonia, rhinitis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache, paresthesia, vertigo, tinnitus, dysgeusia, drowsiness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Somnolence, syncope
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Stroke^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dry mouth
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pancreatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Acute pancreatitis^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension, palpitations, vasculitis, flushing, impaired peripheral circulation
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tachycardia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Sudden cardiac arrest
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angina pectoris, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, rash
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urticaria, angioedema, photosensitivity reactions, pemphigoid, hyperhidrosis, eczema, sweating
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Erythema multiforme
• Postmarketing reports: Bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, psoriasis, exfoliative dermatitis^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, discomfort on exertion
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chest pain, malaise, edema peripheral, pyrexia, fall, atypical chest pain
• Postmarketing reports: Serositis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Muscle cramps, back pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia, myalgia^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): ALT increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): AST increased
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Blood bilirubin increased, hepatic enzyme increased
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Hepatic failure, jaundice^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Visual disturbances^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal insufficiency, blood urea increased, blood creatinine increased
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Acute renal failure
• Postmarketing reports: Nephritis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia
• Postmarketing reports: Symptomatic hyponatremia^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Eosinophilia, leukopenia/neutropenia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Agranulocytosis or pancytopenia, hemoglobin decreased and hematocrit decreased, hemolytic anemia in patients with a congenital deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, thrombocytopenia, unexplained change in prothrombin ratio
• Postmarketing reports: Anemia, leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Mood disturbances, sleep disorder
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Confusion, depression, hallucinations^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Erectile dysfunction^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Postmarketing reports: Positive antinuclear antibody^[Ref]

Further information

Perindopril 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.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer