Ace inhibitor notes by s.

Dirivien

1. About ramipril
Ramipril is a medicine widely used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It's also
prescribed after a heart attack.

Ramipril helps prevent future strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. It also improves your
survival if you're taking it for heart failure or after a heart attack.

This medicine is available on prescription. It comes as tablets, capsules and as a liquid that you
swallow.

NHS coronavirus advice

If you have coronavirus, or think you might have it, keep taking your blood pressure medicines
as usual.

There is no clear evidence that taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors like
ramipril will cause complications.

Updated: 17 March 2020

2. Key facts

 Ramipril lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood
around your body.
 Your very first dose of ramipril may make you feel dizzy, so it's best to take it at bedtime.
After that you can take ramipril at any time of day.
 Some people get a dry, irritating cough with ramipril.
 If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor.
You may need to stop taking ramipril for a while until you feel better.
 Drinking alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of ramipril, which can
make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
 Ramipril is also called by the brand name Tritace.
3. Who can and cannot take ramipril
Ramipril can be taken by adults aged 18 and over.
If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar (glucose) more often, particularly in the first few
weeks.

This is because ramipril can lower the sugar level in your blood.

Ramipril is not suitable for everyone.

To make sure ramipril is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

 have had an allergic reaction to ramipril or any other medicine in the past
 are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or you're breastfeeding
 are having dialysis or any other type of blood filtration
 have heart, liver or kidney problems
 have unstable or low blood pressure
 have diabetes
 are going to have a major operation (surgery) or general anaesthetic to put you to sleep
 have recently had any diarrhoea or vomiting
 are on a low-salt diet
 are going to have desensitisation treatment to reduce your allergy to insect stings
 have a blood problem such as low white blood cell count (neutropenia or
agranulocytosis)
4. How and when to take ramipril
It's usual to take ramipril once or twice a day.

You may be advised to take your first dose before bedtime, because it can make you dizzy.

After the very first dose, you can take ramipril at any time during the day.

Try to take it at the same time every day.

You can take ramipril with or without food. Swallow ramipril tablets or capsules whole with a
drink.

If you're taking ramipril as a liquid, it'll come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure
out the right dose.
If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not
give the right amount.

Dosage

The dose of ramipril you take depends on why you need the medicine. Take it as instructed by
your doctor.

To decide the correct dose for you, your doctor will check your blood pressure and ask you if
you're getting any side effects.

You may also have blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working and the amount of
potassium in your blood.

Depending on why you're taking ramipril, the usual starting dose is between 1.25mg once a day
and 2.5mg twice a day.

This will be increased gradually over a few weeks to a usual dose of:

 2.5mg to 5mg once a day for high blood pressure