Enalapril

CAUTION:
Do not take enalapril if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking enalapril, call your doctor without delay. Enalapril may harm the fetus.

General Information and Indications:

Enalapril is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. It is also used in combination with other medications to treat heart failure. Enalapril is in a class of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It works by decreasing certain chemicals that tighten the blood vessels, so blood flows more smoothly and the heart can pump blood more efficiently.
 

Information For Users:

Enalapril comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day with or without food. To help you remember to take enalapril, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take enalapril exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your health care provider.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of enalapril and slowly increase your dose.

Enalapril controls high blood pressure and heart failure but does not cure them. Continue taking enalapril even if you feel well. Do not discontinue taking enalapril without informing your doctor.

Enalapril is also sometimes used to treat kidney disease related to diabetes. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.

special precautions:

o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to enalapril, benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), trandolapril (Mavik), or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin (Indocin); diuretics ('water pills'); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); and potassium supplements. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding heart or kidney disease; lupus; scleroderma; diabetes; or angioedema, a condition that causes difficulty swallowing or breathing and painful swelling of the the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.
o Inform your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking enalapril.
o you should know that diarrhea, vomiting, not drinking enough fluids, and sweating a lot can cause a drop in blood pressure, which may cause lightheadedness and fainting.

Possible Adverse Effects:

Enalapril may cause adverse effects. Inform your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:

o cough
o dizziness
o rash
o weakness

Some adverse effects could be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor without delay:

o swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
o hoarseness
o difficulty swallowing or breathing
o yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice
o fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
o lightheadedness
o fainting

Possible Symptoms of Overdose:

o lightheadedness
o fainting

Brand Name(s):

o Vaseretic®
o Vasotec®
o Vasotek® I.V.