Like all medicines, ACE inhibitors can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine. Common side effects include headache and nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick). Some people may get a change in their taste, but this is rare. Other side effects to be aware of are dizziness, dry cough and allergic reaction.
Dizziness
Dizziness is quite common when you first start taking an ACE inhibitor, especially after the first few doses. Take special care as you are at increased risk of falls, especially when you stand up from sitting or lying down. Your doctor will start you on a low dose and slowly increase how much you take. When starting an ACE inhibitor, get up slowly out of bed or stand up slowly; take a few minutes to sit on your bed or on a chair first. The dizziness goes away after a while. If the dizziness is severe or ongoing, tell your doctor.
Dry cough
This is quite common with people taking an ACE inhibitor – it happens in about 1 in 10 people. Sometimes this even happens after you have been taking the medicine for months. If you have a dry cough and it's uncomfortable, talk to your doctor. They may change you to a different medicine.
Allergic reaction
Rarely, people taking ACE inhibitors can develop an allergic reaction, which causes swelling of your face, eyes, mouth, lips, tongue, throat, or to your legs, feet or hands. Swelling is a sign of a condition called angioedema and it can be dangerous if it affects any part of your mouth or throat. This can happen any time from 2 weeks to 2 years after starting to take ACE inhibitors. If you have this kind of swelling in your face, mouth or throat, you should get medical attention right away.
Did you know that you can report a side effect to a medicine to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring)? Report a side effect to a product.(external link)