Amprace

Generic Name: Enalapril maleate
Product Name: Amprace

Indication

Amprace is a medication used to lower high blood pressure. It is also used to treat heart failure.

Action

Amprace is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. The way in which Amprace reduces blood pressure is not fully known, but it is thought to suppress the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which plays an important part in blood pressure regulation. Amprace is thought to widen blood vessels. This increases the flow of blood, hence decreasing blood pressure.

Dose advice

Dose information:

1. Amprace may be used for several conditions. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day.
2. For high blood pressure, the usual starting dose is 5mg daily. It may be increased depending on your blood pressure control, up to a maximum of 40mg. Most patients maintain at dose between 10 and 40 mg
3. For heart failure, the usual starting dose is 2.5 mg once a day. Depending on your response, this dose may need to be increased up to 20 mg each day. This dose may be taken once a day or divided into two doses per day.
4. You should take Amprace at the same time each day.
5. You may take Amprace before or after food.
6. You should take Amprace for as long as your doctor prescribes. It helps control your high blood pressure and helps improve your heart failure.
7. You may feel some light-headedness or dizziness after you take the first dose or if your dose is increased by your doctor. Avoid getting up quickly after lying or sitting down for too long. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Amprace affects you.

Contraindications:

Avoid using Amprace if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have a known allergic reaction to Amprace

Precautions:

Some conditoins need special consideration. You should tell your doctor if you:

• Intend to become pregnant or to breastfeed
• Have any medical conditions (e.g. kidney disease, dialysis, diabetes or heart problems)
• Have recently suffered from excessive vomiting or diarrhoea
• Are following a very low salt diet
• Are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop

Use in Pregnancy:

Amprace is a Pregnancy Category D drug.

Amprace should not be used by pregnant women as it may cause major malformations in the foetus. Inform your doctor if you plan to become pregnant. Alternatives should be used while you are pregnant.

Lactation

Your baby may absorb this medicine from your breast milk, and some harmful effections may potentially occur. Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Schedule

Amprace is Schedule 4.

Common side effects

All medicines have side effects. Most commonly the side effects are minor, however some can be more serious. Usually the benefits of taking a medication outweigh the associated side effects. Your doctor would have considered these side effects before starting you on Amprace.

Common side effects are those which occur in more than 1% of patients given Amprace. These include:

• Light-headedness or dizziness
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dry cough
• Mild stomach upsets (e.g. feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach pains)
• Muscle cramps
• Rash

Uncommon side effects

Side effects which occur in less than 1% of patients given Amprace are considered uncommon. Patients do not necessarily experience any of these side effects, so do not become alarmed by this list:

• Changes in the way your heart beats
• Fainting
• Jaundice
• Itchy skin rash or other skin problems
• Signs of worrying or frequent infections (e.g. fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers)
• Passing less urine than is normal for you

Serious side effects related to Amprace are rare (occurrence < 0.1%):

• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat
• Swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles
• Hives
• Chest pain
• Wheeziness
• Collapse, numbness or weakness of arms or legs

If you experience any of the listed side effects, or any other symptoms which appear abnormal or unusual, please tell your doctor.

References

1. Australian Medicines Handbook. Amprace. January 2008 [cited 2008 July 2]. Available from: [URL Link]
2. MIMS Online. Amprace. 30 March 2007 [cited 2008 July 2]. Available from: [URL Link]

For further information talk to your doctor.