WARNING
If you are pregnant, avoid taking perindopril. Dial your doctor right away if you get pregnant while taking perindopril. The foetus could be harmed by perindopril.
Why is this medication prescribed?
To treat high blood pressure, perindopril may be taken either on its own or in combination with other drugs. The medicine perindopril belongs to is known as an ACE inhibitor, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. By halting the synthesis of specific natural molecules that constrict blood vessels, it improves blood flow.
Untreated high blood pressure is a frequent illness that can harm the kidneys, brain, heart, blood vessels, and other body organs. Heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, a stroke, renal failure, eyesight loss, and other issues may result from damage to these organs. Making lifestyle modifications will help you control your blood pressure in addition to taking medication. These adjustments include quitting smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating a diet low in fat and salt, keeping a healthy weight, and exercising for at least 30 minutes most days.
How should this medicine be used?
Perindopril is available as an oral tablet. Typically, it is taken once or twice a day. Take perindopril at around the same time(s) every day to make it easier for you to remember to take it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the medication’s directions precisely. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.
Your physician might prescribe you a modest dose of perindopril and then gradually increase it.
Despite not curing high blood pressure, perindopril manages it. Even if you are feeling fine, keep taking perindopril. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking perindopril.
Other uses for this medicine
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking perindopril,
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you have any allergies to perindopril, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors like benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (n Prinzide, in Zestoretic), moexipril ( Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
- If you are using sacubitril and valsartan together (Entresto), or if you have stopped taking it within the last 36 hours, let your doctor or pharmacist know. If you take valsartan and sacubitril in addition to perindopril, your doctor probably won’t recommend that you take perindopril. Additionally, let your physician know if you have diabetes and are on aliskiren (Tekturna, in Amturnide, Tekamlo, Tekturna HCT). If you have diabetes and are also on aliskiren, your doctor will likely advise against using perindopril.
- Inform your physician and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Incorporate any of the following: Heparin, indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), diuretics (‘water pills’), lithium (Lithobid), and potassium supplements (K-Dur, Klor-Con, others). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
- Inform your physician if you are receiving dialysis, have heart failure, lupus (SLE), scleroderma, diabetes, angioedema (swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, and/or lower legs), kidney disease, or if you have ever had any of these conditions.
- Inform your doctor if you are nursing a child.
- You should be aware that blood pressure might drop as a result of diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, excessive perspiration, and not drinking enough water, which can result in dizziness and fainting.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Before using potassium-containing salt replacements, consult your doctor. If your doctor advises a low-salt or low-sodium diet, strictly follow the instructions.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Side effects are possible with perindopril. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:
- Cough
- Headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Uneasy stomach
Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:
- Swelling of the lower legs, hands, feet, ankles, or face, neck, tongue, lips, eyes, or mouth
- Hoarseness
- Breathing or swallowing challenges
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Fever, chills, a sore throat, and other symptoms of infection
- Fast or irregular heartbeats
Other negative effects of perindopril are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.
You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).
Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.
As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org
In case of emergency/overdose
Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.
What other information should I know?
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.
No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.
You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.
Brand names
- Aceon®
- Prestalia® (as a combination product containing Amlodipine, Perindopril)
