Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Enalapril lowers blood pressure by reducing the production of a substance called Angiotensin II which causes the blood vessels to narrow. When the blood vessels open up, your blood pressure will be lowered.

This medication can also be used for patients who have protein in their urine and other heart conditions.

How should I take/use this medication?

• Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
• You may take this medication with or without food

What should I do if I forget to take/use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take?

Inform your healthcare professional if: 

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.  Once you find out you are pregnant, stop the medication as soon as possible. Taking this medication can cause injury and death to your developing fetus.
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
• Your doctor may need to monitor your potassium levels and kidney function when you are on this medication.

What are some common side-effects of this medication?

The side effects include a dry, annoying cough that does not go away, dizziness and lightheadedness on getting up from a sitting or sleeping position. Very rarely, some patients might experience a loss of taste.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following: 

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately

Very rarely, this medicine can injure or damage the liver. A liver injury may recover on its own. However in some cases, it can cause serious liver damage. Stop this medicine and see a doctor immediately if you notice dark coloured urine or light coloured stools, or if you experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain or yellowing of your eyes or skin. This side effect has a very low chance of occurring. Most patients take this medicine with no problems. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns regarding your medicines.

Very rarely, this medicine may cause the number of white blood cells in your body to be low. This increases your chance of getting an infection. Stop this medicine and see a doctor immediately if you have any signs of an infection such as fever, chills, bad sore throat, pain when you pass urine or have mouth sores or wounds that do not heal. This side effect has a very low chance of occurring. Most patients take this medicine with no problems. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns regarding your medicines.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How should I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin. 
 

Disclaimers

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
 

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
 

Last updated on Apr 2022