Accupril

Accupril (Quinapril) is used for lowering high blood pressure and managing heart failure.

Drug Name

Accupril (Quinapril)

Drug Uses

Accupril is used for lowering high blood pressure and managing heart failure.

How Taken

Use Accupril as directed by your doctor.

Take Accupril by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating, or with a light meal. High-fat meals, however, may decrease the absorption of the medicine into your bloodstream.

If you are taking a tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline) or fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin), take it at least 3 hours apart from Accupril. This product contains magnesium, which can interfere with absorption of these antibiotics.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Accupril.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Accupril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. ACE is involved in certain chemical reactions that constrict (narrow) blood vessels and cause sodium and fluid retention by the kidney.

Missed Dose

If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless advised by your health care provider. If more than one dose is missed, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

Storage

Store Accupril at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Protect from moisture, heat, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Accupril out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Do not use Accupril if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Accupril;
• you you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy;
• you have a history of angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue) caused by treatment with an ACE inhibitor.

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Important:

Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

Accupril has magnesium in it. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has magnesium in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Accupril may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Accupril. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.

Check with your doctor before you use a salt substitute or a product that has potassium in it.

Dehydration, excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea may lead to a fall in blood pressure. Contact your health care provider at once if any of these occur.

Accupril may not work as well in black patients. They may also be at greater risk of side effects. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse.

Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Accupril before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.

Lab tests, including electrolyte levels, may be performed while you use Accupril . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

Accupril should be used with extreme caution in children; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Do not use Accupril if you are pregnant. It has been shown to cause death to the fetus and newborn. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Accupril is found in the breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Accupril, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible Side Effects

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

• chest pain;
• coughing;
• diarrhea;
• difficulty breathing;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• lightheadedness;
• nausea;
• persistent, dry cough;
• tiredness;
• vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

• severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue);
• chest pain;
• difficulty swallowing or breathing;
• fainting;
• hoarseness;
• infection (sore throat, fever);
• irregular or slow heartbeat;
• shortness of breath;
• unusual stomach pain;
• yellowing of the skin or eyes.

More Information

Accupril is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

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Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

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Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

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The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.