Altace

Altace Drug Information

• Altace Overview

  Ramipril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Ramipril is also used to improve survival after a heart attack. It may also be used in high risk patients (such as patients with heart disease/diabetes) to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Altace may also be used to treat heart failure in patients who have had a recent heart attack. Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor and works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily.

• Altace Warnings

  Altace can cause serious (possibly fatal) harm to an unborn baby if used during pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to prevent pregnancy while taking Altace. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss the use of reliable forms of birth control while taking Altace. If you are planning pregnancy, become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away.

• How to Use Altace

  Take Altace by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily. If you are taking the capsule form of ramipril, swallow it whole. If you have difficulty swallowing the capsule, the capsule may be opened and the contents sprinkled onto cool applesauce (about 4 ounces) or mixed in half a glass of water or apple juice (4 ounces/120 milliliters). Swallow or drink the whole mixture. The Dosage of Altace is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start Altace at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Use Altace regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. It is important to continue taking Altace even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of Altace. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens (such as your blood pressure readings remain high or increase).

• Altace Precautions

  Before taking ramipril, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other ACE inhibitors (such as benazepril); or if you have any other allergies. Altace may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using Altace, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history,history of an allergic reaction which included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema), blood filtering procedures (such as LDL apheresis, dialysis), high level of potassium in the blood. Altace may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis). To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Too much sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause loss of too much body water (dehydration) and increase your risk of lightheadedness. Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor. Be sure to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Altace may increase your potassium levels. Before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of Altace, including dizziness and increases in potassium level. Altace is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. () It is unknown if Altace passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

• Altace Misdose

  If you miss a dose of Altace, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

• Altace Interactions

  See also Precautions section. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.aliskiren, certain drugs that weaken the immune system/increase the risk of infection (such as everolimus, sirolimus), lithium, drugs that may increase the level of potassium in the blood (such as ARBs including losartan/valsartan, birth control pills containing drospirenone), sacubitril, telmisartan. Some products have ingredients that could raise your blood pressure or worsen your heart failure. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using, and ask how to use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products, diet aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen). A very serious reaction may occur if you are getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy (desensitization) and are also taking ramipril. Make sure all your doctors know which medicines you are using.

• Altace Side Effects

  What are Altace side effects?

  Side effects are physical, mental or emotional symptoms which occur in addition to or outside of the desired effect of a therapeutic treatment such as an over-the-counter or prescribed drug or medication. Side effects from Altace may occur at the beginning or at the end of treatment and may also depend on the length of time an individual remains on the treatment. Side effects, also known as adverse effects, are generally more likely to occur when starting treatment. Individuals may also experience side effects from Altace as a result of an interaction with other medications.

  Side Effects of Altace

  The side effects of Altace may vary in number and intensity for many different reasons. Factors such as age, weight, gender and ethnicity may influence the side effects of Altace. Also, an individual’s state of general physical health and seriousness of the disease or illness as well as an increase or decrease in dosage may lead to side effects. Further, side effects from Altace may also occur as a result of an interaction with certain herbal supplements, foods or drinks.

  Prescription drug side effects can be serious and may cause patients to stop the treatment. However, when side effects from the use of a prescription drug, such as Altace, do occur a patient should consult their physician. A physician may prescribe an additional treatment in order to control the symptoms or an adjustment in the dosage may be made. In addition, changes to diet, exercise or other lifestyle activities may help to lessen the side effects of Altace.

  By understanding side effects and the factors which may influence the occurrence of side effects patients are empowered to take an active role in their care. Patients who have specific questions about the side effects of Altace, or any other medication, should contact their physician. General information about Altace and the side effects associated with Altace are described in the following:

  Common Altace Side Effects

  Severe

  • arthralgias

  Less Severe

  • dizziness
  • fatigue
  • headache disorder
  • cough

  Less Frequent Altace Side Effects

  Severe

  • hyperkalemia
  • orthostatic hypotension
  • syncope
  • skin rash

  Less Severe

  • hypotension
  • vertigo
  • dysgeusia
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • angina

  Rare or Very Rare Altace Side Effects

  Severe

  • agranulocytosis
  • neutropenic disorder
  • laryngeal edema
  • acute pancreatitis
  • acute renal failure
  • toxic epidermal necrolysis
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • fever
  • hepatic failure
  • angioedema
  • intestinal angioedema
  • head and neck angioedema
  • anaphylaxis
  • thrombocytopenic disorder
  • pancytopenia
  • hemolytic anemia
  • hepatitis
  • erythema multiforme
  • hypersensitivity angiitis
  • obstructive hyperbilirubinemia
  • abnormal hepatic function tests
  • seizure disorder
  • eosinophilic pneumonia
  • hearing loss
  • hypoglycemic disorder

  Less Severe

  • palpitations
  • erectile dysfunction
  • pemphigus
  • malaise
  • weight gain
  • myalgias
  • anorexia
  • constipation
  • xerostomia
  • dyspepsia
  • dysphagia
  • skin photosensitivity
  • peripheral sensory neuropathy
  • insomnia
  • symptoms of anxiety
  • visual changes
  • dyspnea
  • sialorrhea
  • purpura
  • memory impairment
  • acute abdominal pain
  • gastroenteritis
  • urticaria
  • pruritus of skin
  • onycholysis
  • depression
  • nervousness
  • neuralgia
  • paresthesia
  • drowsy
  • tinnitus
  • tremor
  • arthritis
  • hyperhidrosis

• Altace Storage

  Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. If you are taking the capsule form of ramipril and have opened the capsule and mixed the contents with food or liquid, then the mixture can be kept at room temperature for up to 24 hours or refrigerated for up to 48 hours. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard Altace when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.