Capoten Side Effects

Many side effects may potentially occur with the use of Capoten. Side effects that were most commonly reported included cough, unexplained rash, or heart palpitations. Other side effects, seen in less than 2 percent of patients, include nausea, stomach pain, and headache. If you develop serious Capoten side effects, such as unexplained swelling of the head or neck and difficulty breathing or swallowing, seek immediate medical attention.

An Introduction to Capoten Side Effects

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Capoten® (captopril). However, not everyone who takes the medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the drug quite well. If Capoten side effects do occur, in many cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
About 5 percent of people with high blood pressure and about 7 percent of people with congestive heart failure stop taking Capoten because of side effects.
 
(The Capoten side effects discussed below are not a complete list of reported side effects. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
 

Common Capoten Side Effects

Capoten has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with thousands of people worldwide being evaluated.
 In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to those that occurred in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common Capoten side effects include:
 
  • Unexplained rash -- up to 7 percent
  • Decreased or loss of taste -- up to 4 percent
  • Cough -- up to 2 percent (see Captopril Cough).
     
Other side effects with Capoten (occurring in more than 2 percent of people with high blood pressure or heart failure) include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Itching
  • Protein in the urine
  • Skin flushing
  • Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Chest pain
  • Heart palpitations
  • Decrease in blood cells used to fight infections.
     
(Capoten Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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