Take One Less Pill

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Compare the Side Effects

All drugs carry some risk of side effects, although pharmacy specialist Narinder Duggal, M.D., says taking one pill instead of two may reduce that risk.

Lotrel Side Effects: Edema or swelling, cough,
dizziness, flushing of the skin, heart palpitations, headache, fatigue, or blood pressure dipping too low are possible.

There is a slight chance of a few serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you feel lightheaded and experience fainting, have chest pain, or have jaundice of the skin or eyes.

The combination pill often replaces two drugs: a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor. Patients may experience side effects from those pills separately.

Diuretic Side Effects: Urinating more or less than usual, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, weakness, blood pressure dipping too low, low potassium levels, and electrolyte imbalance. Anemia is possible but rare.

ACE Inhibitor Side Effects: Cough, dizziness, blood pressure dipping too low, fatigue, elevated levels of potassium, and nausea or vomiting.

Kidney failure is also a very slight risk associated with both diuretics and ACE inhibitors.

Talk with your doctor to find out if a combination medication is a good choice for you.