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fosinopril vs lithium

Side-by-side comparison of fosinopril and lithium. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Lithium Increased serum lithium levels and symptoms of lithium toxicity have been reported in patients receiving ACE inhibitors during therapy with lithium. These drugs should be coadministered with caution, and frequent monitoring of serum lithium levels is recommended. If a diuretic is also used, the risk of lithium toxicity may be increased.

Recommendation: Your doctor should frequently monitor your lithium blood levels if you take these medications together.

Drug Class
fosinopril ACE Inhibitor
lithium Mood Stabilizer
Type
fosinopril Prescription
lithium Prescription
Summary
fosinopril

Fosinopril is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help manage heart failure.

lithium

Lithium is a mood stabilizer medicine. It helps to balance mood swings.

What It Treats
fosinopril

Fosinopril is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with a water pill (diuretic). Fosinopril also helps manage heart failure when used with other medicines.

lithium

Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. Lithium helps to control the extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression) of this condition.

How It Works
fosinopril

Fosinopril belongs to a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. It works by blocking a substance in your body that tightens blood vessels. This helps your blood vessels relax and lowers your blood pressure.

lithium

Lithium affects the flow of sodium in nerve and muscle cells in the body. This helps to stabilize your mood. It may also affect other chemical messenger systems in the brain.

Common Side Effects
fosinopril
  • Cough
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
lithium
  • Tremor (shaking)
  • Nausea
  • Increased weight
  • Fatigue (feeling tired)
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
fosinopril
  • Tiredness 239
  • Diarrhea 232
  • Difficulty breathing 210
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 205
  • Feeling lightheaded 180
lithium
  • Poisoning from different substances 2,179
  • The drug is reacting with another medicine 1,526
  • Shaking 1,463
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,344
  • Gaining weight 1,153
Serious Warnings
fosinopril

Fosinopril can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. Stop taking fosinopril as soon as you know you are pregnant.

lithium

Lithium levels in your blood need to be monitored closely by your doctor. Too much lithium can be toxic and cause serious side effects. Make sure to attend all scheduled blood tests.

Pregnancy
fosinopril

Do not take fosinopril if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm or death to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines if you are breastfeeding.

lithium

Lithium can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lithium can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking lithium.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This fosinopril vs lithium Comparison

fosinopril is classified in the ACE Inhibitor drug class, while lithium sits within the Mood Stabilizer class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, fosinopril has 1,066 submissions while lithium has 7,665. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to fosinopril can make it harder for your body to get rid of lithium, causing it to build up to toxic levels in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between fosinopril and lithium - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.