Proper Use of This Medicine

To help you remember to take your medicine, try to get into the habit of taking it at the same time each day.

For patients taking captopril or moexipril :

• These medicines are best taken on an empty stomach 1 hour before meals, unless you are otherwise directed by your doctor.

For patients taking this medicine for high blood pressure :

• In addition to the use of the medicine your doctor has prescribed, treatment for your high blood pressure may include weight control and care in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium. Your doctor will tell you which of these are most important for you. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet.
• Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any signs of the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed and that you keep your appointments with your doctor even if you feel well.
• Remember that this medicine will not cure your high blood pressure but it does help control it. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. You may have to take high blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life . If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problems such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease.

Dosing—The dose of the ACE inhibitor will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules or tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking the ACE inhibitor .

For benazepril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—10 milligrams (mg) once a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose to 20 to 40 mg a day taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For captopril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For congestive heart failure:
    • Adults—25 to 100 mg two or three times a day.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—25 to 50 mg two or three times a day.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For kidney problems related to diabetes:
    • Adults—25 mg three times a day.
  • For treatment after a heart attack:
    • Adults—12.5 to 50 mg three times a day.

For cilazapril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For congestive heart failure:
    • Adults—0.5 mg once a day at first. Then your doctor may increase your dosage up to 5 mg once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—2.5 to 10 mg once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For enalapril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For congestive heart failure:
    • Adults—2.5 mg once a day or two times a day at first. Your doctor may increase your dose to 5 to 40 mg a day taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—5 mg once a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose to 10 to 40 mg a day taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For treating weakened heart muscle:
    • Adults—2.5 mg two times a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose up to 20 mg a day taken in divided doses.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—1.25 mg every six hours injected into a vein.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For fosinopril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For congestive heart failure:
    • Adults—10 mg once a day at first. Then your doctor may increase your dose to 20 to 40 mg once a day.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—10 to 40 mg once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For lisinopril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For congestive heart failure:
    • Adults—5 to 20 mg once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—10 to 40 mg once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For immediate treatment after a heart attack:
    • Adults—5 mg once a day at first. Your doctor may increase the dose to 10 mg once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For moexipril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—7.5 mg once a day. Then, your doctor may increase your dose up to 30 mg a day taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For perindopril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—4 mg once a day. Then, your doctor may increase your dosage up to 16 mg a day taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For quinapril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—10 to 20 mg once a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dosage up to 80 mg a day taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For congestive heart failure:
    • Adults—5 mg twice a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose to 20 to 40 mg a day taken in two divided doses.

For ramipril
• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—2.5 mg once a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dosage up to 20 mg a day taken as a single dose or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For congestive heart failure after a heart attack:
    • Adults—2.5 to 5 mg twice a day.
  • For reducing risk of heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular causes
    • Adults— 2.5 mg once a day for one week. For the next three weeks the dose is 5 mg a day, and then increased as needed to 10 mg a day. The dose may be divided if needed.

      Note:

      For use in people aged 55 and older.

For trandolapril
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For high blood pressure:
    • Adults—1 to 2 mg once a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose to 2 to 4 mg a day taken as a single or divided into two doses.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For treatment after a heart attack:
    • Adults—1 mg once a day at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose up to 4 mg a day taken as a single or divided into two doses.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.