Altace

The active ingredient in Altace is ramipril. Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor. It inhibits angiotensin II, a protein in your body that tightens blood vessels as a mechanism of action. Ramipril relaxes your blood vessels, which lowers your blood pressure.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and read all documents provided, including the full Prescribing Information, FDA-Approved Product Labeling, Instructions for Use, and Medication Guide before using Altace. However, the following is a synopsis of the general guidelines for the use of Altace:

• Swallow the tablet whole. You can also open the capsule and sprinkle contents on a small amount of applesauce or mix in 120 mL of water or apple juice.
• Your blood pressure will need to be checked frequently, and you may require blood tests.
• If you are vomiting or having diarrhea regularly, or if you are sweating excessively, call your doctor. Altace can easily cause dehydration. This can cause very low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, and kidney failure.
• If you need surgery, inform the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking ramipril.
• If you are being treated for high blood pressure, continue taking this medication even if you feel OK. High blood pressure frequently produces no symptoms. You may need to take blood pressure medications for the rest of your life.

The most common side effects of ramipril seen in clinical trials as compared to placebo include:

• Nausea or vomiting.
• Headaches.
• Dizziness.
• Lightheadedness.
• Lower blood pressure (hypertension).

Some individuals may experience serious side effects while using Altace. These side effects may require immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical help:

• Angioedema is defined as extreme swelling of the face, arms, or legs, as well as the lips, tongue, and neck.
• Serious liver problems include stomach bloating, yellowing of the skin or eyes, disorientation, and black or brown urine.
• High potassium levels (hyperkalemia) can cause nausea, muscle weakness, and irregular heartbeat.
• Serious kidney problems include urinating less frequently than normal, swelling of the feet, ankles, or hands, and unexplained weight gain.
• Symptoms of dangerously low blood pressure include dizziness, lightheadedness, pale skin, and feeling faint.
• Severe allergic reactions include swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face, shortness of breath, chest pain, and skin rash.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Altace. You should always seek medical advice from your healthcare provider for any questions or concerns about your medical condition or treatment. Read all patient information, medication guides, or drug information sheets that come with this medication. You can also report adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before starting Altace, it is crucial to discuss any existing health conditions with your healthcare provider. You should be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions, including if you have:

• Kidney disease (or dialysis).
• An electrolyte imbalance (such as elevated potassium levels in your blood). Coadministration with medications that cause fluid and electrolyte abnormalities may increase the risk of adverse events of seizure, arrhythmias, and renal artery stenosis.
• Congestive heart failure.
• Liver disease.
• Marfan syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis are all connective tissue diseases.
• You're following a low-salt diet or using salt substitutes.
• You are also on micardis (telmisartan).
• Recently took a cardiac medication called sacubitril.
• Had a severe allergic reaction to an ACE inhibitor (benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, or trandolapril).
• Check with your doctor if you have a fever, chills, or sore throat. These may be symptoms of an infection resulting from low white blood cells.

Boxed Warning

Discontinue as soon as pregnancy is diagnosed; disrupts the renin-angiotensin system, causing oligohydramnios, which may end in fetal damage and/or death.

• Allergic to all ACE inhibitors.
• Taking neprilysin inhibitors like Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) concurrently or within 36 hours.
• People with excessive blood sugar should take this medication concurrently with aliskiren (Tekturna).

Altace lowers your blood pressure within 1-2 hours. However, it may take 3 to 6 hours for you to feel the full effects of a dose. If you're taking ramipril for the first time, your doctor may change the dose over a few weeks until they discover one that works best for you.

When Altace is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the frequency or severity of side effects. Make sure that you tell your healthcare professional about anything that you are taking to avoid any negative drug interactions, including:

• A diuretic ("water pill"), or any other blood pressure drugs.
• Lithium.
• Gold injections are used to treat arthritis.
• Insulin or oral diabetic medications.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

Typical dosage forms for:

High blood pressure: The average oral dose ranges from 2.5 mg to 20 mg per day. Smaller doses are typically taken once per day, but larger quantities can be divided into two doses spread throughout the day.

Heart failure after a heart attack: The typical starting dose is 2.5 mg orally twice daily. After one week, your provider may gradually increase your dose over time. The typical maintenance dosage is 5 mg twice daily.

Store at room temperature and keep out of reach of children.

Bausch Health Inc. is the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Altace.

There are several lower-cost generic versions of Altace available.

There are several lower-cost generic versions of Altace available.

Do not use it if you are pregnant. If you get pregnant, stop taking this medication and notify your doctor immediately. If you use Altace during your second or third trimester, your unborn child may suffer harm or die.

It is not advised to breastfeed while taking Altace. Talk to your doctor if you are already breastfeeding or if you have any plans to breastfeed. They will know or recommend what is best for you.