Accupril

Generic name: Quinapril
Drug class: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Usage of Accupril

Accupril (quinapril) is used in adults alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Accupril is also used in adults together with other medications to treat heart failure.

Accupril belongs to 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.

Accupril side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Accupril: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Accupril may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

chest pain, fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

heart problems - swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;

kidney problems - swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath;

liver problems - loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), abnormal liver function tests;

signs of infection - fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, bruising or bleeding; or

high blood potassium - nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.

Common Accupril side effects may include:

headache;

nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

cough; or

dizziness, tiredness.

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.

Before taking Accupril

You should not use Accupril if you are allergic to quinapril, or if:

have a history of angioedema; or

you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor, such as benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, ramipril, or trandolapril.

Do not take Accupril within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubitril (such as Entresto).

If you have diabetes, do not use Accupril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

You may also need to avoid taking Accupril with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

To make sure Accupril is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a connective tissue disease such as Marfan syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis;

heart problems;

low blood pressure;

high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalemia);

if you are on a low-salt diet;

low white blood cell counts;

diabetes;

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); or

liver disease.

Do not use Accupril if you are pregnant. Stop using the medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Quinapril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take Accupril during your second or third trimester.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Accupril

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 10 or 20 mg orally once a day in patients not on diuretics Maintenance dose: 20 to 80 mg orally per day, administered as a single dose or in two equally divided doses Use: -Treatment of hypertension

Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

Initial dose: 5 mg orally twice a day Maintenance dose: 20 to 40 mg orally per day administered in two equally divided doses Comments: -This dose may improve symptoms of heart failure, but increases in exercise duration have generally required higher doses. -If the initial dosage is well tolerated, patients should then be titrated at weekly intervals until an effective dose. Use: -Management of heart failure as adjunctive therapy when added to conventional therapy including diuretics and/or digitalis

Usual Geriatric Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

10 mg orally once a day Comments: Dose should be titrated the same way as for other adult patients. Uses: -Treatment of hypertension -Management of heart failure as adjunctive therapy when added to conventional therapy including diuretics and/or digitalis

Usual Geriatric Dose for Hypertension:

Warnings

Do not use Accupril if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away.

You should not use Accuprilif you have ever had angioedema. Do not take Accupril within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubitril(such as Entresto).

If you have diabetes, do not use Accupril together with any medication that contains aliskiren, a blood pressure medicine (brand names include Tekturna and Tekamlo).

What other drugs will affect Accupril

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

lithium;

a diuretic or "water pill";

gold injections to treat arthritis;

temsirolimus, sirolimus, or everolimus; 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 quinapril, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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