Ramipril

• Chronic congestive heart failure (CCF)
• After a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction)
• High blood pressure
• Diabetic kidney disease

When should one not use Ramipril

• Are allergic to Ramipril
• Ever had angioedema (itching hives, swelling of face, tongue, throat, difficulty breathing)
• Have a condition called renal artery stenosis where blood supply to the kidney is hampered
• Too low blood pressure
• Pregnancy

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Cough, low blood pressure, headache and dizziness
• Fainting
• Skin rash
• Cramps in legs
• Increase potassium in blood test
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are also seen
• Abnormal kidney function

Other General Warnings

• If you have heart, liver or kidney problems
• If you have high amounts of potassium in your blood (shown in blood test results)
• If decreased sodium levels in your blood
• If you have collagen vascular diseases such as scleroderma or systemic lupus erythematosus

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• All angiotensin receptor blockers e.g. Valsartan
• Pregabalin
• Aspirin
• Azathioprine
• When taken along with Ramipril these are known to increase serum potassium in your blood such as Spironolactone, Triamterene, Amiloride, potassium salts, Trimethoprim alone or in combination with Sulfamethoxazole (for infections) and Heparin (for blood thinning)

Interactions with food items

• No known interaction with food.

Overdose

Missed a Dose