perindopril
Brand names: Aceon
Perindopril (Aceon) is a drug that lowers blood pressure. It can also help reduce the risk of heart problems in people with stable coronary artery disease.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.50/unit
Generic Available
Yes (1 manufacturer)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Perindopril treats high blood pressure (hypertension).
Common side effects
Cough, Dizziness, Back pain
Key warnings
If you become pregnant, stop taking perindopril right away.
How It Works
Perindopril belongs to a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. It works by relaxing your blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood.
How to Take It
If you have high blood pressure, the usual starting dose is 4 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase the dose up to 16 mg per day to control your blood pressure. If you have coronary artery disease, you'll usually start with 4 mg once a day for 2 weeks, then increase to 8 mg once a day if you can handle it. If you are over 70, your doctor may start you on a lower dose.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Do not take perindopril if you are pregnant. It can cause harm to your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. It is not known if perindopril passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store perindopril tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F) in a dry place, away from moisture and out of reach of children.
Serious Warnings
If you become pregnant, stop taking perindopril right away. This medicine can cause serious harm or death to an unborn baby.
Known Drug Interactions
7.8 Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not co-administer aliskiren with perindopril erbumine in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with perindopril erbumine in patients with renal impairment (GFR <60 mL/min).
Mechanism: Using these two drugs together puts too much stress on the system that controls blood pressure and kidney function. This can cause your blood pressure to drop too low and may lead to sudden kidney failure.
What to do: Avoid taking these drugs together, especially if you have diabetes or existing kidney problems. Your doctor will need to check your blood work and blood pressure frequently if they are used.
Use of potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene and others), potassium supplements or other drugs capable of increasing serum potassium (indomethacin, heparin, cyclosporine and others) can increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Mechanism: Both of these medicines can cause your body to hold onto extra potassium instead of getting rid of it.
What to do: Your doctor should check your blood potassium levels often to make sure they stay in a safe range.
Use of potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene and others), potassium supplements or other drugs capable of increasing serum potassium (indomethacin, heparin, cyclosporine and others) can increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Mechanism: These drugs can both increase the amount of potassium in your blood to unsafe levels.
What to do: Monitor your blood work closely as directed by your doctor. Report any muscle weakness or heart rhythm changes immediately.
Use of potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene and others), potassium supplements or other drugs capable of increasing serum potassium (indomethacin, heparin, cyclosporine and others) can increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Mechanism: Both drugs prevent your kidneys from removing potassium, which can lead to a buildup in your system.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor your potassium levels regularly. Avoid using potassium-based salt substitutes.
Use of potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene and others), potassium supplements or other drugs capable of increasing serum potassium (indomethacin, heparin, cyclosporine and others) can increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Mechanism: Using these medicines at the same time can cause your blood potassium levels to rise too high.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your doses and will likely order regular blood tests to check your potassium.
Common Questions
Can I take perindopril if I have diabetes?
What should I do if I experience swelling of my face, lips, or tongue?
Can I take perindopril with other medications?
Will perindopril cure my high blood pressure?
Can I drink alcohol while taking perindopril?
What if I am over 70 years old?
Can I take perindopril with a neprilysin inhibitor?
What are the signs of low blood pressure?
What should I do if I think I have taken too much perindopril?
Does perindopril interact with gold injections?
What are the common side effects of perindopril?
Does perindopril interact with other medications?
What drug class is perindopril?
Is perindopril safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in ACE Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near perindopril — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats.
Compare with perindopril →
aliskiren
Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
Compare with perindopril →
amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
Compare with perindopril →
amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
Compare with perindopril →
amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
Compare with perindopril →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for ACE Inhibitor
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on perindopril
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for perindopril
The FDA label for perindopril (sold under brand names such as Aceon) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the ACE Inhibitor class. Perindopril treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Cough, Dizziness, Back pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 9 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.50.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 13, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages