Side Effects of Ramipril: An Introduction
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with
ramipril (
Altace®). Yet not everyone who takes the drug will experience problems. If side effects do occur, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
Ramipril has been studied in a number of groups of people with different conditions. Because the groups were so different, the side effects are broken down accordingly. These groups include people with:
(This article covers many, but not all, possible side effects of ramipril. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of ramipril side effects with you.)
Common Side Effects in People With High Blood Pressure
Ramipril has been studied extensively in clinical trials for people with high
blood pressure. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
The most common ramipril side effects (occurring in more than 1 percent of people with high blood pressure) were:
- Headache -- in up to 5.4 percent of people
- Dizziness and fatigue -- up to in 2.2 percent
- Body weakness (asthenia) -- up to 2 percent
- Cough -- up to 12 percent.
If side effects do occur, most people do not need to stop taking the medication. In research studies, only up to 4 percent of people stopped taking ramipril because of side effects. The most common reasons for discontinuing the drug were dizziness,
impotence (
erectile dysfunction or
ED), and a cough.
