Monopril (Fosinopril Sodium)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Monopril Used For?
Monopril contains fosinopril sodium and is prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart failure. Both conditions are long-term diseases, so it’s important to take Monopril every day as prescribed.
Primary Uses
Monopril treats high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure. High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can lead to serious health problems like stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure if left untreated. Heart failure means your heart muscle cannot pump blood strongly enough to supply all the blood your body needs.
How It Works
Fosinopril sodium belongs to a class of medicines called ACE inhibitors. It works by widening your blood vessels, reducing the pressure in the vessels, and making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. This helps your heart work better by increasing the oxygen supply to your heart.
Good to know: Monopril is not addictive.
How to Take Monopril
Monopril should be taken at about the same time each day to help you remember. It can be taken with or without food, but if you need an antacid, take it at least 2 hours before or after your Monopril dose.
Dosage Instructions
Monopril is usually taken at a dose of 10mg to 40mg once a day. Your doctor will tell you exactly how much to take each day. Take it at about the same time each day. Continue taking it for as long as your doctor tells you, as it helps control your condition but does not cure it.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take a dose and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the normal time. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to your normal schedule. If you’re not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. Do not take more than your doctor prescribed.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or faint
- Headache
- Tiredness, fatigue, or weakness
- Dry cough
- Muscle cramps or pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Stomach pain
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Swollen face, lips, mouth, throat, hands, or feet
- Fainting
- Yellowing skin
- Not urinating as much as usual
- Sore throat and fever
- Stomach pain
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Itchy skin and/or rash
- Changes to heart rhythm
- Inability to get or maintain an erection
- Severe dizziness
- Gout
- Diabetes symptoms
- Infections in urinary tract or upper respiratory tract
- Hepatitis
- Confusion
- Nervousness
- Numbness or tingling of hands, feet, or lips
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness or heaviness of legs
Important Warnings
There are several important situations where Monopril should not be used, and medical conditions that need to be discussed with your doctor before starting treatment.
Who Should Not Take Monopril
Do not use Monopril if you are allergic to fosinopril sodium or any ingredients in the medicine. Do not use if you have previously had an allergic reaction to any ACE inhibitor medicine that caused swelling of your face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, or feet, or made it hard to breathe. Do not use if you have a history of angioedema (unexplained swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, or feet).
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, kidney or liver problems, low blood pressure, are having surgery (including dental surgery), take immunosuppressant medicines or trimethoprim-containing medicines, or have a family history of unexplained facial swelling. Also mention any allergies to medicines, foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Monopril if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Monopril may cause serious injury to your developing baby if taken during pregnancy.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines can affect how Monopril works. It’s especially important to tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
Important: Taking Monopril with a thiazide diuretic and an anti-inflammatory medicine may damage your kidneys.
- Water tablets or diuretics
- Lithium or lithium-containing preparations
- Potassium tablets
- Potassium-containing salt substitutes
- Antacids
- Medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, coughs, hay fever, or sinus problems
- Aspirin
- Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors)
- Medicines that lower your immune system
- Trimethoprim-containing medicines
Alcohol & Driving
Monopril may cause dizziness or lightheadedness, which can be made worse by alcohol and may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. If you drink alcohol while taking Monopril, dizziness or lightheadedness may be worse.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Monopril affects you. Monopril may cause dizziness or lightheadedness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Monopril before driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or lightheaded.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them. Store Monopril tablets in a cool, dry place, in the dark, where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills, as heat and dampness can destroy the medicine. Keep out of reach of children – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above the ground is recommended.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Monopril, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source doesn’t specify exact timing, but mentions that you may feel lightheaded or dizzy when you begin taking Monopril or after your dose is increased, indicating it starts working relatively quickly to lower blood pressure.
Yes, it doesn’t matter if you take Monopril before or after food. However, if you need to take an antacid, take it at least 2 hours before or after your Monopril dose.
No, Monopril is not addictive.
Do not stop taking Monopril or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Since it helps control your condition but doesn’t cure it, you must continue taking it every day as prescribed.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. If you drink alcohol while taking Monopril, dizziness or lightheadedness may be worse.
If you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the normal time. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.