Ramipril

Ramipril is a high blood pressure treatment, thereby reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack in patients as well. In addition, it can help improve survival rates of heart failure/heart surgery patients.

Ramipril is an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor. It decreases the concentration of chemicals which cause the blood vessels to tighten. This allows the blood to flow more smoothly through the body so the heart can pump blood efficiently: this helps to reduce blood pressure.

Nothing in your diet should interact with ramipril and alter how it works. However, high blood pressure is often caused by a diet high in salts, fats and cholesterol: your doctor may advise you to improve your diet so that you can get the best out of your treatment.

Yes, but only in moderation. Drinking while taking ramipril can make any feelings of lightheadedness and dizziness worse. This is because when you drink alcohol, it can add to the effects of ramipril, which then drops your blood pressure even more.

The capsules can look different depending on the brand, and the strength of the medication.

The capsules provided by ZAVA are usually white and yellow (1.25mg), white and orange (2.5mg), white and pink (5mg) or white and blue (10mg).

If you’re not sure, check the patient information leaflet with your medication or check with a pharmacist. You can also message your ZAVA doctor through your account.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used as painkillers, particularly for inflammatory conditions, and can affect the way ramipril works.

These include ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and high dose aspirin. Talk to ZAVA or to your GP before taking any painkillers, or if you’re not sure.

You can take ramipril at any time of the day, but you should take it at the same time each day. It doesn’t matter if you take it with a meal or not.

Altace, Tritace, or Triapin (ramipril with felodipine).

Obviously you have to have been prescribed ramipril to take it. It is advised that anyone under 18 should not take ramipril: the safety of this treatment has not been assessed in this age range. Ramipril has been tested in the over 65s age range. It is equally as effective at this age, but patients may experience increased sensitivity to the treatment.

• an allergic reaction (swelling of the face, eyelids and lips, itchiness, redness and difficulty breathing)
• a severe skin reaction to ramipril

• flushing
• balance problems (vertigo)
• itching
• changes in taste
• sleep problems
• depression/anxiety
• blocked nose, difficulty breathing or worsening of asthma
• a swelling in the gut “intestinal angioedema”: diarrhoea and vomiting
• increased sweating
• appetite loss
• heartburn/constipation
• urinating more frequently than normal
• increased/irregular heart beats
• swollen arms or legs (water retention)
• blurred vision
• joint pains
• blurred vision
• fever
• reduced sexual desire
• increased eosinophila (a type of white blood cell) count
• blood tests showing changes to the way your liver and kidneys work

• feeling shaky or confused
• red, swollen tongue
• severe flaking or peeling of the skin
• nail problems
• blotches on the skin
• red, itchy and swollen eyes
• ringing in the ears
• feeling week
• changes to platelet and red blood cell counts

In very rare cases, patients may become more sensitive to the sun.

• swollen mouth
• poor concentration
• blood tests showing too few blood cells or less sodium in the blood than usual
• breast enlargement in men
• impaired reactions
• hair loss
• changes in sense of smell
• burning sensation
• raynaud’s (very cold extremities)

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Ramipril
• you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor
• you have ever had a serious allergic reaction called “angioedema”: symptoms include hives, swelling, red marks on the skin, swelling of the face and difficulty breathing and swallowing
• you are having dialysis or another blood filtration treatment
• you have kidney problems due to reduced blood supply to the kidney
• you are in your last six months of pregnancy
• your blood pressure is very low
• you are under 18

• have heart, kidney or liver problems
• have lost a lot of body fluid (from dehydration, low salt diuretics, dialysis, diarrhoea or vomiting)
• are going to take anaesthetic (for surgery)
• have high potassium levels in the blood
• have a collagen vascular disease such as scleroderma or systemic lupus erythematosus
• think you are pregnant

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin
• medicines for treatment of low blood pressure, shock, cardiac failure, asthma or allergies like ephedrine, noradrenaline and adrenaline

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin
• medicines for cancer (chemotherapy)
• medicines that stop rejection after transplants; immunosuppressants such as ciclosporin
• diuretics like furosemide
• procainamide for heart rhythm problems
• allopurinol (decreases the level of uric acid in your blood)
• steroid anti-inflammatory medicines like prednisolone
• medicines to increase the amount of potassium in the blood such as spironolactone, triamterene, amiloride, potassium salts and heparin

• oral glucose medicines used by diabetics (ramipril may lower your blood sugar levels)
• lithium (for mental health problems)

You should not take ramipril during the first three months of pregnancy. You must not take it during the last 6 months of pregnancy.

You may feel dizzy while you take ramipril. Therefore, it is not advisable to drive or operate machinery.