Often used for:
High blood pressure
What is captopril?
Captopril is an antihypertensive ACE inhibitor that lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. It helps prevent kidney damage, stroke, and heart failure caused by high blood pressure. Captopril is available as a 25 mg tablet and a 1 mg/mL liquid suspension, both taken by mouth.
Possible side effects
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed, fainting spells
- Cough
- Low blood pressure
- Decreased kidney function and less urine passed
- Feeling tired
- Low blood counts with higher risk of infection, bleeding, and anemia
- High potassium levels
- Headache
- Swelling of face, lips, or tongue
- Problems breathing or swallowing
- Hoarseness or tightening of the throat
- Swelling of legs or ankles
- Rash
- Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, hives, itching, chills, fever, headache, muscle ache, shortness of breath, coughing, tightness in the throat, or swelling of the face or neck
- Not all patients who take captopril will experience these side effects. Common side effects are in bold, but there may be others. Please report all suspected side effects to your doctor or pharmacist.
Tips for patients and families
- Discuss all questions and instructions with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Stop taking captopril and contact your doctor immediately if swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, hoarseness, throat tightness, or breathing problems occur.
- This medicine may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Avoid driving or operating heavy equipment until you know how it affects you and change positions slowly to prevent fainting.
- Check blood pressure regularly and follow your doctor's instructions for high or low readings.
- If severe diarrhea, vomiting, or heavy sweating occurs, call the doctor right away.
- Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including ibuprofen or naproxen, heparin, lithium, potassium salts, and diuretics, especially potassium-sparing diuretics.
- Do not use salt substitutes, potassium supplements, or foods high in potassium while taking captopril.
- Do not self-treat cough, cold, or pain symptoms without consulting your doctor.
- Shake liquid suspensions well before use, refrigerate, and discard after the expiration date on the label.
