Captopril treats high blood pressure. This medication should not be used during pregnancy. Avoid salt substitutes containing potassium. Show
Reviewed: June 26, 2013 Updated: August 21, 2015 Captopril is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, a condition called Left Ventricular Dysfunction, and diabetic nephropathy. If taken after a heart attack, captopril can also help improve survival and lower the risk of developing congestive heart failure. Captopril belongs to a group of drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure and make the heart more efficient. This medication comes in tablet form and is taken 2 to 3 times a day. It should be taken without food or at least one hour before a meal or snack. Common side effects of captopril include rash, cough, and loss of taste. Captopril can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you. How was your experience with Captopril?First, a little about yourselfMale Female Age: Tell us about yourself in a few words?/ Next What tips would you provide a friend before taking Captopril?/ What are you taking Captopril for?Choose one
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Back Next How well did Captopril work for you?Did you experience many side effects while taking this drug?How likely would you be to recommend Captopril to a friend?Back Submit Pill Images{{ slide.name }} Uses of CaptoprilBack to Top Captopril is a prescription medication used to:
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Captopril Brand NamesBack to Top Captopril may be found in some form under the following brand names:
Captopril Drug ClassBack to Top Captopril is part of the drug class:
Side Effects of CaptoprilBack to Top Serious side effects have been reported with captopril. See “Drug Precautions” section. Common side effects are rash, itching, cough, metallic or loss of taste, skin flushing, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, constipation, dizziness, headache, weakness, fatigue, insomnia, and dry mouth. This is not a complete list of captopril side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Captopril InteractionsBack to Top Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
This is not a complete list of captopril drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Captopril PrecautionsBack to Top Serious side effects have been reported with captopril including:
Captopril can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how captopril affects you. Do not take captopril if you are hypersensitive to this product. Signs of a hypersensitivity reaction include:
Captopril Food InteractionsBack to Top Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of captopril, salt substitutes containing potassium should be avoided. Inform MDBack to Top Before taking captopril, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Captopril and PregnancyBack to Top Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy. Captopril falls into category D. It has been shown that use of captopril in pregnant women caused some babies to be born with problems. More specifically, it has been shown that use of drugs like captopril during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy harms the unborn baby’s kidneys and even increases the risk of death to the unborn baby. However, in some serious situations, the benefit of using this medication may be greater than the risk of harm to the baby. Captopril and LactationBack to Top Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Captopril has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from captopril, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. Determining the importance of the drug to the mother should be considered. Captopril UsageBack to Top Take captopril exactly as prescribed. Captopril comes in tablet form and is given either 2 or 3 times a day, at least 1 hour before a meal. It should be taken without food or at least one hour before a meal or snack. If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of captopril at the same time.
Captopril DosageBack to Top Take captopril exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. The starting dose of captopril is 25 mg twice a day or three times a day. If the goal reduction of blood pressure has not been reached after one or two weeks, the dose may be titrated to 50 mg twice a day or three times a day. The dose of captopril in hypertension usually is maxed at 50 mg three times a day. If the blood pressure has not been satisfactorily controlled after one to two weeks at this dose, (and the patient is not already receiving a diuretic), a dose of diuretic (such as hydrochlorothiazide, 25 mg daily), may be added by your doctor. This diuretic dose may be increased every one to two weeks until its maximum effective dose is reached. Captopril OverdoseBack to Top If you take too much captopril call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away. If captopril is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention. Other RequirementsBack to Top
Captopril FDA WarningBack to Top
Contributors Eric Ho, PharmD Eric Ho, PharmD serves as RxWiki content development lead with responsibilities concerning information portfolio quality, distribution, and expansion. Teresa Brucker, Pharm.D. Teresa is a pharmacist and recent graduate from the University of Texas in Austin with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Her passion of biochemistry and research led her to pursue a career in pharmacy. She... Anyssa Garza, Pharm.D. Anyssa Garza received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She was later recognized for her contributions to research in the area of alcohol dependence. She went o... Beth Bolt, R.Ph. Beth Bolt, RPh joined RxWiki as a Digital Pharmacist in 2012 with over 15 years of experience practicing in a variety of healthcare settings including home infusion, hospital, drug information and com... References "Capoten", United States of America. FDA. Health and Human Services. Capoten Monograph. Spring Valley, NY: Par Pharmaceutical Companies, n.d. Drugs@FDA. Web. 26 June 2013. "Captopril", Medline Plus: Health Topics; U.S. National Library of Medicine. What is the most common side effect of captopril?The more common side effects that can occur with captopril include: dry cough (should go away after you stop taking captopril) dizziness. skin rash.
What is the principal effect of captopril overdose?Hyperkalemia. Captopril may lead to increased levels of potassium, which could lead to side effects such as heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and nausea.
What happens if you take captopril?Captopril works by blocking a substance in the body that causes blood vessels to tighten. As a result, the blood vessels relax. This lowers blood pressure and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Captopril is also used to help treat heart failure.
What are the side effects of the drug Capoten?Common side effects may include:. cough;. flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);. numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;. loss of taste sensation; or.. mild skin itching or rash.. |