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Can Enalapril cause psychosis with auditory hallucinations?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am taking Enalapril 10 mg and developed psychosis with auditory hallucinations.

Could it be due to my medication?

It is listed as a rare side effect and the symptoms are worse when I take the medication and lessen when I stop taking it.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Sreejith. M. G

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sreejith M. G is a General Practitioner specializing in Internal Medicine and Diabetology, with expertise in managing diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, metabolic syndrome, preventive health care, and chronic disease management.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As you said ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors usually will not produce any hallucination or psychosis but some rare reports of hallucinations are available which was mainly visual hallucination not auditory, but psychosis is unlikely. Anyway, you change Enalapril to some other antihypertensive tablets like calcium channel blockers or beta blockers and see the change. Consult a specialist doctor, discuss with them, and take medications with their consent.

If it is not improving with above medicine change, you have to evaluate further by getting a thyroid function test (hypo or hyperthyroidism), hemoglobin (Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia or iron deficiency) and calcium level with serum phosphorous (hyperparathyroidism- high calcium and parathyroid hormone). If above tests are normal, get an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain and rule out any organic causes. If everything comes as normal, consult a neurologist or psychiatrist.

I hope this is clear, and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Do follow up whenever needed.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I am already with a psychiatrist and being treated with olanzapine, but my next appointment is two days later. It has been a holiday, and I am curious, hence asking you.

I have just noticed that when I take Enalapril my symptoms are much worse. I forgot to take Enalapril this weekend, and it was much better. It does say it can cause anxiety, which I suffer from anyway.

I also had been breastfeeding until recently. I am not saying there is not an underlying condition, but I feel it is making it a lot worse.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Sreejith. M. G

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sreejith M. G is a General Practitioner specializing in Internal Medicine and Diabetology, with expertise in managing diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, metabolic syndrome, preventive health care, and chronic disease management.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, if you feel more problems after taking Enalapril, change it to some other antihypertensive, which I have already mentioned, and see the change. Enalapril can cause hallucinations. So change it.

I hope this is clear, and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Do follow up whenever needed.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At April 24, 2018
Reviewed At April 27, 2026

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sreejith M. G is a General Practitioner specializing in Internal Medicine and Diabetology, with expertise in managing diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, metabolic syndrome, preventive health care, and chronic disease management.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sreejith M. G is a General Practitioner specializing in Internal Medicine and Diabetology, with expertise in managing diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, metabolic syndrome, preventive health care, and chronic disease management.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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