MHRA · Drug safety update ·
ACE inhibitors: warning about delayed angioedema types
If you take an ACE inhibitor, MHRA warns angioedema can happen late and may not respond to standard anaphylaxis treatment.
If you take an ACE inhibitor, angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat) can occur at any time, even after weeks to years without problems. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) highlights a distinction between allergic (histamine-mediated) and non-allergic (bradykinin-mediated) causes.
Bradykinin-mediated angioedema may progress and does not reliably respond to standard anaphylaxis treatments, including adrenaline (epinephrine). Other symptoms can include gastrointestinal pain and cramps.
Get urgent medical attention immediately if you develop face, lip, tongue, or throat swelling, or difficulty breathing or swallowing while taking an ACE inhibitor. If angioedema is suspected, stop taking further doses and inform a healthcare professional right away.
What to do
- Seek urgent medical attention if you develop swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or experience difficulty breathing or swallowing whilst taking ACE inhibitors
- Do not take further doses of your ACE inhibitor if angioedema is suspected and inform a healthcare professional immediately
- Inform healthcare professionals if you have ever experienced angioedema, including while taking an ACE inhibitor