High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects 32 percent of the population in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reports that hypertension is responsible for 40.5 million visits to the doctor, making it a significant public health problem. Fosinopril is one drug that is prescribed to treat hypertension, and is a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Though it's often effective in controlling hypertension, it comes with multiple significant warnings.
Abstain from Alcohol
Drugsd.com advises against taking this medication with alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and may further lower blood pressure, causing unhealthy side effects. These side effects, according to Drugs.com, include: dizziness and feeling lightheaded; pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding; slow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, a tingling feeling or chest pain.
Do Not Take While Pregnant
MedlinePlus, a service associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued an "important warning" that pregnant women should not take fosinopril. Drugs.com also advises not to take fosinopril even if planning on becoming pregnant. Fosinopril can cause harmful birth defects to a fetus. Furthermore, Drugs.com advises caution after a baby is born, as fosinopril may pass through breast milk during nursing.
Don't Take With Certain Other Medications
The Mayo Clinic recommends against taking fosinopril in conjunction with the following medications: amiloride, azathioprine, canrenoate, eplerenone, potassium, spironolactone or triamterene. However, a doctor may deem it necessary to prescribe them together, but may alter doses of each appropriately. A pharmacist may also be a good resource to discuss the interactions of fosinopril with other medications.
Don't Take if You Have Certain Health Problems
The Mayo Clinic reports that the presence of other health problems may also alter the way fosinopril acts in the body. It advises especially to tell the doctor prescribing fosinopril if any of the following health problems exist: history of angioedema (may increase the risk of angioedema recurring); dehydration; diarrhea; low sodium in the blood (hypoatremia); kidney disease (this condition may cause blood pressure to fall to low when using fosinopril); liver disease (the drug stays in the body longer, and the effects of fosinopril may be increased as the liver is responsible for processing the drug).
