Drug Name

Vasotec (Enalapril maleate)

Drug Uses

This drug belongs to a group of medications called ACE inhibitors. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults as well as children. It works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. Lowering high blood pressure helps halt strokes, heart attacks as well as kidney problems. This medication is as well as used with other drugs (e.g., "water pills"/diuretics, digoxin) to treat congestive heart failure.

How Taken

Take this medication by mouth, usually once or twice a day; or as directed by your doctor. You may take this drug with or without food. Take this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to take it at the alike time(s) each day. Incase you are using this drug in the liquid suspension form, shake the bottle well before each take. Measure the dose out carefully. Do not take potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without talking to your doctor or pharmacist earliest. This medicine can raise your potassium levels, which rarely can cause humorless side effects such as muscle weakness or very unhurried heartbeats. Tell your doctor immediately incase these effects occur. The dosage is based on your health examination condition as well as response to therapy. For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take several weeks before the filled benefit of this drug occurs or several weeks to months when used for congestive heart failure. It is substantial to continue using this medication even incase you feelwell. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Vasotec is a drug that is used for treating high blood pressure. It is in a class of drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE is an enzyme in the body that causes the formation of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes the arteries in the body to close, thereby elevating blood pressure. ACE inhibitors, such as enalapril, lower blood pressure by preventing the formation of angiotensin II thereby relaxing the arteries. ACE inhibitors as well as improve the effectiveness of the heart in patients with heart failure by reducing the blood pressure that the heart must maintain.

Missed Dose

Incase you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Incase it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose as well as resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store tablets at room temperature below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) away from light as well as moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Refrigerate the liquid suspension between 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Discard any unused suspension after 30 days. Keep all medicines away from children as well as pets.

Warnings/Precautions

This drug can cause humorless fetal harm (possibly death) incase used during the final 6 months of pregnancy. Incase you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. Before using vasotec, tell your doctor or pharmacist incase you are allergic to it; or to other ACE inhibitors (e.g., benazepril, captopril); or incase you possess any other allergies (including allergies to bee or wasp stings, or exposure to confident membranes used for blood filtering). This medication should not be used incase you possess confident health examination conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist incase you have: history of an allergic reaction which included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your health examination history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, high blood levels of potassium, heart problems, very bad dehydration (and loss of electrolytes such as sodium), diabetes (poorly controlled), strokes, blood vessel disease (e.g., collagen vascular diseases such as lupus, scleroderma). This drug may make you dizzy; take caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages. To minimize dizziness as well as light-headedness due to lowering of your blood pressure, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position. Humorless loss of body fluids can as well as lower your blood pressure as well as worsen dizziness. Drink adequate fluids to halt from becoming dehydrated. Incase you are on restricted fluid intake, consult your doctor for further instructions. Be careful not to become too overheated during exercise which can lead to excessive sweating. Consult your doctor incase you experience very bad vomiting or diarrhea. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive its effects, especially dizziness. Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may bemore sensitive to its effects. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during the earliest 3 months of pregnancy. It is not recommended for take during the final 6 months of pregnancy due to the risk for fetal harm. Discuss the risks as well as benefits with your doctor. See as well as Warning section. This drug passes into breast milk. While there possess been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Likely Side Effects

You may experience headache, dizziness, light-headedness, weakness, nausea, moistureless cough or blurred vision as your body adjusts to the medication. Incase any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Tell your doctor immediately incase any of these unlikely but humorless side effects occur: fainting, decreased sexual ability. Tell your doctor immediately incase any of these highly unlikely but very humorless side effects occur: change in the amount of urine, signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat). This drug may rarely cause humorless (possibly fatal) liver problems. Incase you notice any of the following highly unlikely but very humorless side effects, seek immediate health examination attention: yellowing eyes or skin, not light urine, stomach/abdominal pain, persistent fatigue, persistent nausea. A humorless allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate health examination attention incase it occurs. Symptoms of a humorless allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling (especially of the face, lips, tongue, or throat), very bad dizziness, trouble breathing. Incase you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

More Information

Do not share this medication with others. Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise as well as dietary changes may increase the effectiveness of this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that may benefit you. Laboratory and/or health examination tests (e.g., kidney function, potassium blood level) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Possess your blood pressure checked regularly while using this medication. Learn how to monitor your own blood pressure at home. Discuss this with your doctor.