{"id":631465,"date":"2025-03-03T09:30:44","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T14:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631465"},"modified":"2025-09-04T14:51:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T18:51:37","slug":"what-foods-to-avoid-while-taking-enalapril","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-foods-to-avoid-while-taking-enalapril\/","title":{"rendered":"6 foods to avoid when taking enalapril"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enalapril<\/span><\/a> is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to <\/span>treat high blood pressure<\/span><\/a> and heart failure. It can also be used off-label to treat kidney disease. Enalapril is sold under various brand names, such as <\/span>Epaned<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Vasotec<\/span><\/a>. When taking enalapril, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you should change your diet. You may be advised to avoid certain foods, such as alcohol, processed foods, and <\/span>foods high in potassium<\/span><\/a>, sodium, or fat.<\/span><\/p>\n

How enalapril works<\/span><\/h2>\n

Enalapril belongs to a class of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. \u201cEnalapril is an <\/span>ACE inhibitor<\/span><\/a> and works by blocking the action of the enzyme that produces angiotensin II, a substance in the body that causes blood vessels to narrow and tighten,\u201d explains Supriya Rao, MD, an internist based in Boston, Massachusetts. \u201cWhen angiotensin II is reduced, blood vessels can relax and widen, leading to <\/span>lower blood pressure<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Enalapril can work as soon as one hour after taking the first dose<\/a>, but full effects may not be seen for several weeks, Dr. Rao says.<\/span><\/p>\n

6 foods to avoid with enalapril<\/span><\/h2>\n

When taking prescription drugs, your healthcare provider may advise you to make some dietary changes. In the case of ACE inhibitors like enalapril, there are some possible food interactions to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. High potassium foods<\/span><\/h3>\n

ACE inhibitors like enalapril can cause too <\/span>high potassium<\/span><\/a> levels. Enalapril may lower aldosterone levels, which reduces the amount of potassium the kidneys eliminate from the body, explains <\/span>Michelle Routhenstein, RD<\/span><\/a>, a registered dietitian in New York City who specializes in cardiology. \u201cThis increase may lead to serious health issues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Eating too many potassium-rich foods or taking potassium supplements while taking this medication can exacerbate the problem and cause <\/span>hyperkalemia<\/span><\/a>. \u201cHyperkalemia is a condition where the level of potassium in your blood is too high, which can impact heart and muscle function,\u201d <\/span>Dr. Rao<\/span><\/a> explains. According to an <\/span>observational study<\/span><\/a>, high potassium levels in hypertensive patients were associated with a significantly higher risk of death. Hyperkalemia can also cause <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>, including muscle weakness, paralysis, and electrical abnormalities in the heart. It is important to know that most people will not have symptoms of high potassium until the levels are dangerously high. Very high potassium levels can cause an irregular heartbeat and, in the worst-case scenario, cardiac arrest (sudden death).<\/span><\/p>\n

The following are potassium-rich foods, according to the <\/span>Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n