Accupril

Accupril is used for:

Lowering high blood pressure and managing heart failure. It is used alone or with other medicines.

Accupril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. ACE is involved in certain chemical reactions that constrict (narrow) blood vessels and cause sodium and fluid retention by the kidney. This can cause an increase in blood pressure. ACE inhibitors lower elevated blood pressure by interfering with ACE and cause blood vessels to relax (widen). Blood flows more freely and at a lower pressure. ACE inhibitors also increase the heart's ability to pump blood in some types of heart failure.

Do NOT use Accupril if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Accupril
• you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy
• you have a history of angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue) caused by treatment with an ACE inhibitor

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

Before using Accupril :

Some medical conditions may interact with Accupril . 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 are a female of childbearing age
• if you have heart disease, blood-flow problems, bone marrow depression, or kidney disease
• if you have had a stroke or a kidney transplant or are on dialysis
• if you have an autoimmune disease, lupus, or scleroderma (hardening of the skin)
• if you have imbalances of sodium or potassium or are on a sodium restricted diet
• if you are scheduled to have major surgery

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

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen, indomethacin) or salicylates (eg, aspirin) because they may decrease Accupril 's effectiveness
• Clozapine, cyclosporine, dextran sulfate, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin), mannitol, NSAIDs (eg, ibuprofen, indomethacin), pergolide, phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), potassium preparations, potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, spironolactone), thiazide diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), or trimethoprim because side effects, such as low blood pressure or increased potassium levels leading to heart attack, may occur
• Clozapine, iron salts (eg, ferrous sulfate), lithium, NSAIDs (eg, ibuprofen, indomethacin), potassium preparations, potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, spironolactone), sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide), thiazide diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), or thiopurines (eg, azathioprine) because he risk of their side effects may be increased by Accupril

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask you r health care provider if Accupril 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.