Enalapril – uses, health risks, and side effects at NaturalPedia.com

Wednesday, September 05, 2018 by Michelle Simmons

Enalapril is the generic name for the brand-name drugs Epaned and Vasotec. This drug is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Thus, it works by reducing certain chemicals that tighten the blood vessels, so that the blood flows more smoothly and the heart can pump the blood more efficiently. It is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children who are at least one month old. It is also used to treat a disorder of the ventricles, which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood to the body.

This drug should not be used by pregnant women, those who have angioedema, those with diabetes taking medicines that contain aliskiren, and those allergic to enalapril and any other ACE inhibitor.

Known side effects of enalapril

The common side effects of enalapril include:

Coughing
Dizziness, headache, drowsiness
Dry mouth
Insomnia
Loss of appetite, ability to taste
Nausea, diarrhea
Rash, itching

Enapril also causes serious side effects that may require immediate emergency medical attention, such as:

Angioedema, swelling of hands, face, lips, tongue
Chest pain
Fainting, feeling lightheaded
Fever, flu symptoms, body aches
Rapid heartbeats
Rapid weight gain, swelling
Urinating more or less than usual

Body systems that may be harmed by enalapril

The body systems harmed by enalapril include the following:

Cardiovascular system, as it causes hypotension and edema.
The nervous system, as it causes a headache, vertigo, fatigue, peripheral paresthesias, insomnia, dizziness, and syncope.
Respiratory system, as it causes dry, nonproductive cough.
Urinary system, as it causes increased serum creatine, uric acid, and potassium.
Digestive system, as it causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Food items or nutrients that may prevent the enalapril’s side effects

The following food items may help prevent and treat headaches, a common side effect of enalapril:

Apple
Basil
Cinnamon
Cloves
Ginger

Treatments, management plans for the enalapril’s side effects

The following natural remedies can help treat several side effects of enalapril, including nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

Diarrhea can be treated and managed by drinking plenty of water and eating a bland diet.
Nausea can be treated and managed by: drinking plenty of water; eating plain foods; breathing in a lemon; eating ginger; drinking herbal teas; breathing in peppermint oil; trying acupressure; taking enough rest.
Loss of appetite can be treated by eating nutrient- and calorie-rich foods, such as avocados, bananas, dried fruit, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, peas, eggs, hummus, cheese, pudding, nuts and nut butter, whole-grain bread and bagels, grape nuts, quinoa, and raisin bran.