Capoten

Capoten is used for:

Treating high blood pressure, heart failure, or certain diabetic kidney problems. It is used to improve survival and decrease heart failure in certain patients after a heart attack. It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Capoten is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It works by helping to relax blood vessels. This helps to lower blood pressure.

Do NOT use Capoten if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Capoten
• you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy
• you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue) to any other ACE inhibitor (eg, enalapril)
• you are currently taking dextran sulfate

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Capoten :

Some medical conditions may interact with Capoten . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have swelling of the lips, eyes, or tongue; bone marrow depression; decreased blood flow to the heart or brain; high blood potassium levels; low blood sodium levels; thickening of the skin; kidney disease, transplant, or dialysis; heart problems; lupus; an autoimmune disease; or are on a sodium-restricted diet

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Capoten . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Allopurinol or dextran sulfate because it may increase the risk of an allergic reaction (eg, rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue) and lightheadedness upon standing
• Diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide) because the risk of low blood pressure or low blood sodium levels may be increased
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen, indomethacin) because they may decrease Capoten 's effectiveness
• Lithium or thiopurines (eg, azathioprine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Capoten
• Oral diabetes medicine (eg, glyburide) because the risk of their side effects, including low blood sugar levels (eg, hunger, shakiness or weakness, dizziness, headache, sweating), may be increased by Capoten
• Potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, amiloride) because high blood potassium levels (eg, listlessness, confusion, abnormal skin sensations in the arms or legs, heaviness of limbs, slow or irregular heartbeat, or stopping of the heart) may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Capoten may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Capoten :

Use Capoten as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Capoten by mouth on an empty stomach 1 hour before meals.
• Capoten works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
• Continue to use Capoten even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Capoten , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Capoten .

Important safety information:

• Capoten may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Capoten with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Capoten may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects. If lightheadedness occurs, especially during the first few days of treatment, contact your health care provider.
• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
• Capoten may not work as well in black patients. They may also be at greater risk of side effects. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse.
• If you have high blood pressure, do not use nonprescription products that contain stimulants. These products may include diet pills or cold medicines. Contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Check with your doctor before you use a salt substitute or a product that has potassium in it.
• Diabetes patients - Capoten may cause the results of some tests for urine ketones to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• LAB TESTS, including blood pressure monitoring, blood potassium or other electrolyte levels, and urine tests, may be performed while you use Capoten . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Capoten should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Capoten may cause fetal and newborn death if you take it while you are pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Capoten is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Capoten .

Possible side effects of Capoten :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Cough; diarrhea; dizziness or lightheadedness when sitting or standing quickly; fatigue; fever; headache; itching; joint pain; nausea; taste changes; vomiting; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); any signs of infection such as fever or sore throat; chest pain; difficulty swallowing; fainting; irregular or slow heartbeat; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include dizziness; weakness.

Store Capoten at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Capoten out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Capoten , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Capoten is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Capoten . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page

Add to List