Accupril : Drug Information

What is Accupril?

Accupril is the brand-name variant of the drug quinapril, an ACE or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. It works by widening and relaxing your blood vessels to lower the high blood pressure – hypertension. By reducing blood pressure, it can decrease the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Doctors often recommend this medicine to treat heart failure.

Important Information

Avoid using Accupril if you are pregnant. Stop taking the drug if you become pregnant during the treatment, and tell your doctor right away.

People with angioedema should refrain from using this medicine. Also, avoid taking this medication within 36 hours before or after consuming a drug that contains sacubitril such as Entresto.

People with diabetes should be cautious about mixing this drug with any medicine that contains aliskiren – a blood pressure drug also available under the brand name Tekamlo and Tekturna.

What to know before taking Accupril?

It would best if you don’t consume Accurpil if:

• You allergic to it
• Have a history of angioedema
• Recently taken a heart medicine known as sacubitril

Consult with a doctor about this drug’s safety if you have or ever had:

• A connective tissue disease such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Marfan syndrome, or Sjogren’s syndrome
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Heart disease

This medicine might not be safe to use if you are breastfeeding. Make sure to talk to a doctor before breastfeeding if you are using this drug.

Accupril is also not suitable for people younger than 18 years.

How to take Accupril?

Try taking Accupril specifically as your doctor prescribes. Strictly follow the direction on the prescription label. The doctor might occasionally change the quantity to ensure you are getting the most benefits of this medicine. Avoid taking this medicine in more or less than the amount recommended. Also, make sure to not consume this drug for longer than the prescription period.

The doctor might need to check your blood pressure often. Your kidney or liver function might also need testing if you use this drug for a prolonged time.

Inform your doctor if you have ongoing diarrhea or vomiting or if you are sweating higher than usual. Accupril can make you severely dehydrated, leading to significantly low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure.

If you are to undergo surgery, you might need to inform the surgeon ahead of time about using this drug. They can ask you to stop using this medication for a short period.

People having high blood pressure problems should keep consuming this medicine if they don’t feel any issue. High blood pressure often presents no symptoms, so you might have to use this medication for the rest of your life.

Accupril dosage

Accurpil’s dose differs from person to person, depending on various factors. A doctor can assess different things to determine the best suitable quantity of this drug for an individual. These factors include:

• Patient’s age
• The condition to treat
• The severity of the problem
• How the patient’s body responds to the initial dose

Typical Accupril dosage is as per the following:

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Those who are not using diuretic:

• The starting dose is between 10mg and 20mg.
• Take medicine orally.
• Your doctor might increase the medication’s quantity up to 80mg per day.
• The doctor might prescribe taking the entire amount at once or dividing it into equal doses.

Those are using diuretic:

• The starting dose is 5mg.
• Your doctor might adjust the quantity depending on your body’s response to the initial amount.

Heart failure

• The initial dose is 5mg.
• Take it orally twice a day.
• A doctor might gradually increase the quantity to 20-40mg.
• Take medicine in two equally divided doses twice a day.

Overdose

When you consume more than the recommended quantity of this drug, you can experience low blood pressure and changes in blood’s electrolytes amount, resulting in the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Tingling sensation
• Tiredness
• Muscle weakness

In case of an Accupril overdose, seek emergency medical assistance by calling 911 or call the Poison helpline @ 1-800-222-1222.

What to avoid while using Accupril?

Drinking alcohol while using Accupril can lower your blood pressure further and amplify this drug’s side effects.

Avoid taking salt substitute or potassium supplements without consulting a doctor while you are using this drug.

Try not to stand up instantaneously from a sitting position, or you might feel dizzy. Get up steady and slow to prevent falling.

Accupril side effects

Accupril can be responsible for mild to severe side effects. These adverse symptoms might last for a few days or indefinitely. While not everyone who uses this drug experience its side effects, you are more likely to face undesirable results if you alter its quantity.

A person can experience the following side effects after consuming Accupril.

Common side effects

• Black pain
• Skin rash
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Low blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headache

Serious side effects

• Angioedema – symptoms can include:
  • Stomach pain
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Trouble breathing
  • Swelling of throat, tongue, lips, or face
• Liver failure – symptoms can include:
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdomen pain
  • Yellowing of eyes and skin
• Increased potassium levels – symptoms can include:
  • Tingling sensation
  • Tiredness
  • Muscle weakness

The severe side effects can be life-threatening if not treated in time. Immediately stop using this drug if you face any of the intense symptoms and contact your doctor. Call 911 or visit an ER and seek immediate medical attention.

What drugs can interact with Accupril?

Accupril oral pills can interact with other over-the-counter drugs, prescription medications, herbal supplements, vitamins, etc. Some substances might worsen this drug’s side effects, while others might make it less effective.

A doctor needs to know what medications you are taking to manage Accupril’s quantity to prevent you from experiencing any harmful effects.

The following are the drugs that can interact with Accurpil:

• High blood pressure medications
  • Candesartan (Atacand, Atacand HCT)
  • Eprosartan (Teveten)
  • Irbesartan (Avapro, Avalide)
  • Losartan (Cozaar, Hyzaar)
  • Captopril
  • Enalapril (Vasotec, Epaned)
  • Fosinopril (Monopril)
  • Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, Prinzide, Zestoretic)
  • Moexipril (Uniretic)
• Diuretics
  • Bumetanide
  • Furosemide
  • Eplerenone
  • Spironolactone
  • Hydrochlorothiazide
  • Methyclothiazide
• Potassium Supplements
• Mood stabilizing medicines like Lithium
• Arthritis and pain medications
  • Indomethacin
  • Ketoprofen
  • Ketorolac
  • Meloxicam
• Other medications
  • Temsirolimus
  • Injectable gold

Accupril can also interact with other medications and substances not listed here. So, it is vital to talk with a doctor before taking this drug if you are already using any other medicine to avoid adverse results.