Quinapril

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

General Information and Indications:

Quinapril is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. It is used in combination with other drugs to treat heart failure. Quinapril 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:

Quinapril comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day. To help you remember to take quinapril, 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 quinapril 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 quinapril and slowly increase your dose, not more than once every one or two weeks.

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

special precautions:

o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to quinapril, benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), 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: diuretics ('water pills'); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); potassium supplements; and tetracycline (Sumycin). 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, liver, 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 quinapril.
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:

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

o dizziness
o extreme tiredness (fatigue)
o cough
o upset stomach
o vomiting

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 chest pain
o lightheadedness
o fainting

Possible Symptoms of Overdose:

o lightheadedness
o fainting

Brand Name(s):

o Accupril®

Other Name(s):

o Accuretic® containing Quinapril Hydrochloride and Hydrochlorothiazide