Carace

What is it?

An ACE inhibitor produced in the form of blue, oval tablets marked MSD15 containing 2.5mg lisinopril; white, oval, scored tablets contain 5mg lisinopril; yellow, oval, scored tablets contain 10mg lisinopril; orange, oval, scored tablets contain 20mg lisinopril. All except 2.5mg tablets are marked with name and strength.

Medical Uses

Congestive heart failure (in conjunction with diuretics and possibly digitalis), essential and renovascular hypertension, acute heart attack in patients who are haemodynamically stable.

Dosage

Adults, congestive heart failure, (reduce dose of any diuretic being taken before start of treatment) 2.5mg once each day at first increasing gradually to maintenance dose in the order of 5-20mg once daily, after 2 to 4 weeks. Hypertension, (discontinue any diuretic being taken 2 to 3 days before treatment starts); 2.5mg once a day increasing to a maintenance dose in the order of 10-20mg once daily. Maximum daily dose, 40mg. Following heart attack; 5mg straight away and then a further 5mg after 24 hours. Another 10mg after 48 hours and then 10mg once each day.

Special Care

Breast-feeding, patients with kidney disease, receiving dialysis, renovascular hypertension, severe congestive heart failure, undergoing anaesthesia. Kidney function should be monitored before and during treatment. Treatment should begin under hospital supervision for heart failure patients.

Avoid Use

Pregnancy, children, patients with various heart disorders (aortic stenosis, outflow obstruction), cor pulmonale (a lung disorder), angioneurotic oedema as a result of previous ACE inhibitor treatment.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Potassium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretics, antihypertensives, neuroleptics, antidiabetic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants.

Known Side Effects

Headache, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, tiredness, palpitations, low blood pressure, rash, angioedema, asthenia (weakness), cough.

Manufacturer

BMS.