quinapril

(KWIH na pril)
Accupril

What is the most important information I should know about quinapril?

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Quinapril is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that quinapril is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, quinapril can cause injury and even death to the developing baby. Do not take quinapril if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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Quinapril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic reactions. Before taking quinapril, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction that involved swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms while taking quinapril.

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Quinapril may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities and notify your doctor. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position.

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Heavy sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, or other causes of fluid loss may lead to very low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting during therapy with quinapril. Maintain proper fluid intake to prevent dehydration and related side effects.

What is quinapril?

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Quinapril is in a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors).

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Quinapril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and to treat congestive heart failure.

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Quinapril may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking quinapril?

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Quinapril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic reactions. Before taking quinapril, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction that involved swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms while taking quinapril.

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Before taking quinapril, tell your doctor if you

have kidney disease;

have liver disease;

are on a salt-restricted diet or have high levels of potassium in your blood;

are taking salt substitutes, potassium supplements (e.g., K-Dur, Klor-Con), or potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride (Midamor), triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide), or spironolactone (Aldactone); or

have diabetes.

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You may not be able to take quinapril, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Quinapril passes into breast milk, and its effects on a nursing infant are not known. Do not take quinapril without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take quinapril?

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Take quinapril exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take each dose with a full glass of water.

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Take quinapril on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

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It is important to take quinapril regularly to get the most benefit.

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Do not stop taking quinapril without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking this medication suddenly, your condition could become worse.

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Your doctor may want you to have blood pressure checks, blood tests, or other medical evaluations during treatment with quinapril to monitor progress and side effects.

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Store quinapril at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

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Symptoms of a quinapril overdose may include extreme dizziness, weakness, fainting, and fatigue.

What should I avoid while taking quinapril?

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, performing other hazardous activities. Quinapril may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities and notify your doctor. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position.

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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking quinapril.

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Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking quinapril except under the supervision of your doctor.

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What are the possible side effects of quinapril?

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If you experience any of the following rare but serious side effects, stop taking quinapril and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

little or no urine;

irregular heartbeats or changes in heartbeats;

chest pain;

severe dizziness or fainting; or

signs of an infection including a sore throat or a fever.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take quinapril and talk to your doctor if you experience

mild dizziness or lightheadedness;

fatigue;

dry, tickling cough;

headache;

muscle pain or cramps;

rash;

anxiety or depression;

numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, arms, or legs; or

nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect quinapril?

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Before taking quinapril, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others;

salt substitutes that contain potassium;

any of the diuretics (water pills) triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), spironolactone (Aldactone), or amiloride (Midamor);

any other diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, others), furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), indapamide (Lozol), and others;

lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others); or

tetracycline (Achromycin, Sumycin).

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You may not be able to take quinapril, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with quinapril or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about quinapril written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children. Never share your medicines with others and use this medication only for the condition prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.