Altace
Generic Name: Ramipril
Brand name: Altace
Indications
Altace is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), to prevent heart failure following a heart attack, and to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in the patients who are at risk for these problems.
Dosage and Administration
Altace is available in potencies of 1.25 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg in tablets.
Normal Dosage:
Hypertension: recommended initial dose for patients to be treated for hypertension, not receiving a diuretic is 2.5 mg once a day. Dosage should be adjusted according to the blood pressure response. The usual maintenance dosage range is 2.5 to 20 mg per day administered as a single dose or in two equally divided doses.
Reduction in Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke, and Death from Cardiovascular Causes: recommended dosage is an initial dose of 2.5 mg Altace, once a day for 1 week, 5 mg, once a day for the next 3 weeks, and then increased as tolerated, to a maintenance dose of 10 mg, once a day.
Heart Failure Post Myocardial Infarction: recommended starting dose is Altace 2.5 mg twice daily (5 mg per day).
Over dosage?
Some common symptoms of Altace overdose include extreme dizziness, weakness, fainting, and fatigue.
Drug Description
Ramipril is a 2-aza-bicyclo [3.3.0]-octane-3-carboxylic acid derivative. It is a white, crystalline substance soluble in polar organic solvents and buffered aqueous solutions. Ramipril melts between 105°C and 112°C. The CAS Registry Number is 87333-19-5. Ramipril's chemical name is (2S,3aS,6aS)-1[(S)-N-[(S)-1-Carboxy-3-phenylpropyl] alanyl] octa hydrocyclopenta [b]pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, 1-ethyl ester; its structural formula is:
Its empiric formula is C23H32N2O5, and its molecular weight is 416.5.
Ramiprilat, the diacid metabolite of ramipril, is a non-sulfhydryl angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. Ramipril is converted to ramiprilat by hepatic cleavage of the ester group.
Altace (ramipril) are supplied as tablets for oral administration containing 1.25 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg of ramipril. The inactive ingredients present are calcium sulphate dihydrate, pregelatinized starch, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium stearyl fumarate. The 2.5 mg tablet contains yellow iron oxide and FD&C yellow #6, the 5 mg tablet contains FD&C yellow #6 and FD&C red #40, and the 10 mg tablet contains FD&C blue #2.
Side Effects
Some of the common side effects include headache, unusual fatigue, anxiety, nausea, allergic reactions, irregular palpitation, chest pain, thirst, drowsiness, rapid breathing. The use of this medication can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and this may occur if you do not consume enough calories from food or due to exertion.
Precautions
- Inform your doctor incase of allergic reactions. Before taking this drug you have to consult your doctor if the symptoms of allergic reactions persist.
- Pregnant ladies should avoid taking this medicine.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol, smoking and use of illegal drugs because these may reduce the effectiveness of the medicine.
- Women receiving Altace should not breast feed.
Drug Interactions
Care should be taken if you are administering on other medicines that include:
- potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others
- any of the diuretics (water pills) triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), spironolactone (Aldactone), amiloride (Midamor), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), indapamide (Lozol), and others
- lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others).
