![]() Patients often experience angioedema episodes during the first week of taking an ACE-inhibitor and about two thirds of episodes occur in the first three months of starting the treatment regimen. Unlike many allergic reactions to food or drugs, there are no hives or itching associated with the swelling. Usually, the episode of angioedema resolves on its own over a few days but the swelling can recur. Sometimes, the intestine can swell which can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. ![]() In very rare cases, massive tongue or airway swelling can prevent oxygen from entering the lungs leading to suffocation. ![]() It usually involves swelling of parts of the face, mouth, and upper airway. They will likely replace the ACE inhibitor with another prescription, even if they aren’t sure if the medication caused the angioedema, and caution you to avoid the entire class of medication in the future.ĪCE inhibitor-induced angioedema can develop over the course of a few minutes to over several hours. Physicians will usually first make sure your airway is open if the swelling occurs in your mouth or throat. Since so many people take ACE inhibitors, even though the risk of angioedema is very low, this medication is responsible for up to 40% of the cases of angioedema in the Emergency Room each year. Other risk factors include having episodes of angioedema in the past, smoking, being older than 65, and using certain medications. However, ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema is more common in people of African descent and women. Such cases are rare and only make up between 0.1% to 0.7% of the many people who take ACE inhibitors. Side effects are relatively uncommon but may include dizziness from very low blood pressure, fatigue, headaches, and dry cough.Īn extreme side effect is swelling, which is called angioedema. ACE inhibitors are commonly prescribed for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease because these medications are usually safe and effective. They come in many forms and brand names, but the generic version of the drug usually ends in the suffix “-pril”, like lisinopril or captopril. Chances are this treatment regimen includes Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. If you’ve ever had a heart attack or another heart condition, your doctor likely prescribed several medications.
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