enalapril
What is the most important information I should know about enalapril?Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. You should not use enalapril if you have ever had angioedema. If you have diabetes, do not use enalapril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo). What is enalapril?Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. Enalapril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children who are at least 1 month old. Enalapril is also used to treat congestive heart failure in adults. Enalapril is also used to treat a disorder of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow out of the heart). This disorder can decrease the heart's ability to pump blood to the body. Enalapril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking enalapril?You should not use enalapril if you are allergic to it, or if you have: - a history of angioedema; or
- if you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor, such as benazepril, captopril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, or trandolapril.
If you have diabetes, do not use enalapril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo). You may also need to avoid taking enalapril with aliskiren if you have kidney disease. To make sure enalapril is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: - kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- liver disease;
- a history of blood clot or stroke (including "mini-stroke");
- an electrolyte imbalance (such as high levels of potassium in your blood); or
- heart disease or congestive heart failure (unless you are taking enalapril for this condition).
Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Enalapril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Enalapril can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using enalapril. How should I take enalapril?Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. You may take enalapril with or without food. Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking enalapril. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using enalapril. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Store the liquid medicine in the refrigerator, do not freeze. Throw away any enalapril liquid not used within 60 days. What happens if I miss a dose?Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose?Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. What should I avoid while taking enalapril?Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of enalapril. Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking enalapril, unless your doctor has told you to. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall. What are the possible side effects of enalapril?Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; severe stomach pain; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: - a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- slow heartbeats;
- pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
- little or no urination;
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;
- fever, chills, cold or flu symptoms;
- easy bruising, unusual bleeding; or
- high potassium --nausea, slow or unusual heart rate, weakness, loss of movement; or
Common side effects may include: - dizziness, feeling tired;
- cough; or
- feeling light-headed.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What other drugs will affect enalapril?Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with enalapril, especially: - lithium;
- a diuretic or "water pill";
- gold injections to treat arthritis; or
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with enalapril, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Where can I get more information?Your pharmacist can provide more information about enalapril.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 11.01. Revision date: 3/27/2017.
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Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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