Ramipril
About
Ramipril belongs to the group of blood pressure-lowering medications called 'Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors' primarily used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and reduce the risk of having a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. High blood pressure is a chronic condition in which the pressure in the blood vessels is high.
Ramipril contains 'Ramipril' that relaxes and widens the blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood to all parts of the body thereby lowering the raised blood pressure and reducing the risk of having a heart attack, stroke or heart failure.
Take Ramipril with or without food. Do not chew, crush, or break Ramipril, swallow it as a whole with a glass of water. Take Ramipril at the same time every day. In some cases, Ramipril may cause common side-effects like headache, dizziness, fatigue, and cough. Most of these side-effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. Talk to your doctor if you experience these side-effects persistently.
Try not to stop taking it on your own as it may cause a sudden increase the blood pressure, chest pain or heart attack. Regular monitoring of blood pressure, electrolyte levels and kidney functioning is advised while taking Ramipril. Avoid taking Ramipril if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor, he/she may prescribe you alternate medicine. Ramipril is not recommended for children below 18 years of age as efficacy and safety have not been established.
Uses of Ramipril
Medicinal Benefits
Ramipril is used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure. Ramipril relaxes and widens the blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood to all parts of the body. This helps in lowering blood pressure and the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Ramipril helps in reducing both standing and lying down blood pressure without any orthostatic effect (sudden decrease in blood pressure which might occur when a person stands up suddenly). However, when dehydrated Ramipril may show an orthostatic effect. Continued usage of Ramipril helps in decreasing the severity of heart failure, rate of hospitalization and symptoms such as weakness and shortness of breath.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Ramipril
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Low blood pressure
- Inflammation of the sinus (sinusitis)
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
- Indigestion
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Ramipril if you are allergic to any of its contents. Talk to your doctor if you have heart, kidney or liver problems. Ramipril may sometimes cause a decrease in blood pressure than normal, especially in dehydrated people, who are taking diuretics (medicines to treat oedema) and have low levels of sodium. Avoid taking Ramipril if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor, he/she may prescribe you alternate medicine. Ramipril is not recommended for children below 18 years of age as efficacy and safety have not been established. Inform your doctor about all the medicines you are taking and about your health condition to rule out any unpleasant side effects. Consult your doctor if you have lost a lot of body fluids through vomiting, diarrhoea or sweating more than normal or if you are taking low water tablets to treat oedema (diuretics), or if you undergo dialysis. Inform your doctor that you are taking Ramipril if you are due to undergo any surgery or dental procedure; your doctor may advise you to stop taking Ramipril one day before receiving an anaesthetic to undergo any surgery or dental procedure.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Ramipril may interact with drugs used to treat severe heart failure (sacubitril/valsartan), pain killers (aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen), PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil), a drug used to treat gout (allopurinol), anti-diabetic (sitagliptin, metformin, insulin glargine), diuretics (furosemide), corticosteroid (prednisolone) and anti-convulsant (pregabalin).
Drug-Food Interactions: Maintain low salt and low-fat diet while taking Ramipril. Avoid consuming food rich in potassium such as potassium-containing salt substitutes or over-the-counter potassium supplements. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have angioedema (swelling), congestive heart failure (heart problems), hemodialysis, low blood pressure, hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in the body), liver diseases and kidney dysfunction.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Ramipril to avoid unpleasant side-effects. Alcohol intake might interfere with the working of Ramipril. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Pregnancy
unsafeIt is not recommended to take Ramipril while you are pregnant. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this, your doctor will decide whether Ramipril can be given to pregnant women or not.
Breast Feeding
unsafeIt is not recommended to take Ramipril while you are breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this, your doctor will decide whether Ramipril can be given to breast-feeding mothers or not.
Driving
cautionRamipril may cause dizziness, do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Ramipril should be used with caution in patients with liver impairment/liver disease. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Ramipril should be used with caution in patients with kidney impairment/kidney disease. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Children
unsafeRamipril should not be used by children as the efficacy and safety has not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- You are advised to consume low salt and low-fat diet while taking Ramipril.
- Regular exercise is also recommended to complement treatment with Ramipril.
- Eat a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Maintain a healthy weight with proper diet and exercise.
- Managing stress with meditation, yoga, and massage would also help treat high blood pressure.
Special Advise
- Get up slowly while rising from lying or sitting position as Ramipril may cause dizziness.
- Avoid consuming food rich in potassium such as banana, broccoli, almonds, avocado, and potassium supplements.
- Regular monitoring of blood pressure, electrolyte levels and kidney functioning is advised while taking Ramipril.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
High blood pressure (hypertension): It is a condition in which the blood exerts increased pressure on the walls of blood vessels leading to hypertension. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, high blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. Symptoms of high blood pressure include headache, dizziness, nose bleed, changes in vision, chest pain, weakness and dyspnoea (shortness of breath). However, most of the time, the signs and symptoms of hypertension are none.
FAQs
Ramipril belongs to the group of medicines called Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors that works by lowering the body’s production of substances that could increase the blood pressure. Ramipril relaxes and widens the blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood to all parts of the body. This helps in lowering the blood pressure and the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
If you are diabetic you should monitor your blood glucose levels often especially in the first few weeks because Ramipril can lower glucose/sugar levels in blood. However, please consult your doctor before taking Ramipril if you are diabetic.
Please do not stop taking Ramipril without consulting your doctor on your own as it may lead to rise in blood pressure. Continue taking Ramipril for as long as your doctor has prescribed it to you. Do not be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you experience any difficulty while taking Ramipril.
Orthostatic hypotension could be a side-effect of Ramipril, especially in people who are dehydrated. Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden lowering in blood pressure leading to dizziness on standing. If you experience this, do not try to stand up suddenly or start walking, instead lie down and get up slowly only when you feel better. People taking Ramipril are advised to regularly monitor their blood pressure levels to avoid such unpleasant events.
Do not overdose on Ramipril or any medicine as it could lead to very unpleasant side-effects. Take Ramipril only as prescribed by your doctor. Overdose of Ramipril can cause increased heartbeat, dizziness and sleepiness. Rush to your nearest doctor as early as possible if you have overdosed on Ramipril.
