Prinivil

Prinivil is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack. Prinivil belongs to a group of drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure and make the heart pump more efficiently.

Prinivil is a prescription medication used:

• alone or with other medications for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure)
• with other medications in the management of congestive heart failure
• to improve survival following a heart attack

Prinivil is not recommended in children less than 6 years of age.

Take Prinivil exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you based on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• other conditions you may have
• other medications you are taking

The dose range is 2.5 mg to 40 mg taken once daily.

USE IN PREGNANCY

When used in pregnancy during the second and third trimesters, ACE inhibitors can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, Prinivil should be discontinued as soon as possible.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby and may even cause death. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. See "FDA Warning" and "Pregnancy Section".

This medicine may cause anaphylaxis and other serious types of allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth, or throat while you are using this medicine.

Prinivil may cause a serious side effect known as angioedema, a rapid swelling of deep layers of the skin. Stop taking Prinivil and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms suggesting angioedema (swelling of face, extremities, eyes, lips, tongue, difficulty in swallowing or breathing).

Prinivil may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position. Make sure you know how you react to the medicine before you drive, use machines, or do other things that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert. 

Excessive sweating and dehydration can lead to a serious drop in blood pressure. Be sure to drink plenty of water during exercise and hot weather. Check with your doctor right away if you become sick while taking this medicine, especially with severe or continuing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These conditions may cause you to lose too much water or salt and may lead to low blood pressure. 

Check with your doctor if you have a fever, chills, or sore throat. These could be symptoms of an infection resulting from low white blood cells.

Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) may occur while you are receiving Prinivil. Symptoms of hyperkalemia include: abdominal or stomach pain, confusion, difficulty with breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, nervousness, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, shortness of breath, or weakness or heaviness of the legs. Call your doctor right away if you have these symptoms. Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without first checking with your doctor.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.

Keep all medical and laboratory appointments while taking Prinivil. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Prinivil may cause serious side effects. See "Precautions".

The most common side effects include:

• cough
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• headache
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• body weakness
• upper respiratory infections (cold, flu)
• decrease in sexual ability (impotence, erectile dysfunction)
• rash
• excessive tiredness
• chest pain
• stomach pain
• extreme low blood pressure

This is not a complete list of Prinivil side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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:

• potassium-sparing diuretics such as:
  • spironolactone (Aldactone)
  • triamterene (Dyrenium)
  • amiloride (Midamor)
• other diuretics such as:
  • furosemide (Lasix)
  • hydrochlorothiazide
  • torsemide (Demadex)
• aliskiren (Tekturna)
• angiotensin receptor blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), losartan (Cozaar), and telmisartan (Micardis, Twynsta)
• aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as:
  • celecoxib (Celebrex)
  • diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam, Flector, Voltaren, Zipsor and others)
  • etodolac (Lodine)
  • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
  • indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin SR)
  • ketoprofen (Orudis, Actron, Oruvail)
  • ketorolac (Toradol)
  • meloxicam (Mobic)
  • nabumetone (Relafen)
  • naproxen (Naprosyn)
  • naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan)
  • oxaprozin (Daypro)
  • piroxicam (Feldene)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• potassium supplements
• injectable gold (sodium aurothiomalate)

This is not a complete list of Prinivil drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Prinivil is usually not recommended during pregnancy. It may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking Prinivil call your doctor right away. See "FDA Warning".

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Prinivil is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

When you first start taking Prinivil you might feel light-headed or dizzy, especially when standing up. If this continues beyond the first few days talk to your doctor.

Some people on ACE inhibitors, like Prinivil, develop a dry, irritating cough. Let your doctor know if this happens to you. You may need to switch to a different medication.

Prinivil can lead to increased blood potassium levels. Salt substitutes containing potassium should be avoided.