*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Side Effects Of Enalapril

NHS medicines information on side effects of enalapril and what you can do to cope.

Like all medicines, enalapril can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.

Side effects often get better as your body gets used to the medicine.

Common side effects

These common side effects of enalapril happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They are usually mild and only last for a short time. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Serious side effects

Some people have serious side effects after taking enalapril.

Call a doctor or call 111 now if:

the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow (this may be less noticeable on brown or black skin) - this could be a sign of liver problems
you look paler than usual, feel tired, faint or dizzy, have signs of bleeding (like bleeding from the gums or bruising more easily), sore throat and a high temperature and get infections more easily - these could be signs of a blood or bone marrow disorder
you have severe stomach pain that could reach through to your back - this could be a sign of an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
you have swollen ankles, blood in your pee or you're not peeing at all - these could be signs of kidney problems

Call 999 now if:

you get weakness in your arms or legs or problems speaking - it's important to get these checked in case they are signs of a stroke
you get a faster or irregular heart rate, chest pain and tightness in your chest - these could be signs of heart problems
you are short of breath, are wheezing and your chest feels tight - these could be signs of lung problems

Serious allergic reaction

It is possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to enalapril.

Long-term side effects

Taking enalapril for a long time can sometimes cause your kidneys to not work as well as they should. Your doctor will check how well your kidneys are working with regular blood tests.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of enalapril. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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