Drug interactions
Captopril + Furosemide
Severity: Moderate
Captopril and Furosemide: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Starting an ACE inhibitor in a patient on a loop diuretic can cause marked first-dose hypotension and acute deterioration of renal function, especially with volume or sodium depletion. The combination is commonly and usefully prescribed, for example in heart failure, but requires care at initiation.
What this interaction means in plain words
Captopril and Furosemide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Captopril belongs to Cardiovascular; Furosemide belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic effect: diuretic-induced volume depletion activates the renin-angiotensin system, and ACE inhibition removes efferent arteriolar tone and vasoconstriction.
What to do
Consider temporarily lowering or holding the furosemide dose before the first captopril dose and start with a low dose. Monitor blood pressure, creatinine and potassium within the first one to two weeks.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Captopril and Furosemide, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Furosemide
- Amifostine + Furosemide Major
- Amikacin + Furosemide Major
- Carbenoxolone + Furosemide Major
- Cephaloridine + Furosemide Major
- Cisplatin + Furosemide Major
- Digoxin + Furosemide Major
Other interactions of Captopril
- Aliskiren + Captopril Contraindicated
- Captopril + Sacubitril / valsartan Contraindicated
- Captopril + Sacubitril-valsartan Contraindicated
- Amifostine + Captopril Major
- Amiloride + Captopril Major
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Captopril Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Captopril with Furosemide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Captopril and Furosemide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Starting an ACE inhibitor in a patient on a loop diuretic can cause marked first-dose hypotension and acute deterioration of renal function, especially with volume or sodium depletion. The combination is commonly and usefully prescribed, for example in heart failure, but requires care at initiation.
How serious is the interaction between Captopril and Furosemide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Consider temporarily lowering or holding the furosemide dose before the first captopril dose and start with a low dose. Monitor blood pressure, creatinine and potassium within the first one to two weeks.
What other medicines interact with Furosemide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Furosemide with, for example, Amifostine, Amikacin, Carbenoxolone. The full list is on the Furosemide page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
