Capoten (Captopril) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 8, 2012

Capoten

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What is a heart attack?

A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. Coronary arteries are blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen. Blockage of a coronary artery deprives the heart muscle of blood and oxygen,causing injury to the heart muscle. Injury to the heart muscle causes chest pain and chest pressure sensation. If blood flow is not restored to the heart muscle within 20 to 40 minutes, irreversible death of the heart muscle will begin to occur. Muscle continues to die for six to eight hours at which time the heart attack usually is "complete." The dead heart muscle is eventually replaced by scar tissue.

Approximately one million Americans suffer a heart attack each year. Four hundred thousand of them die as a result of their heart attack.

What causes a ...

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Capoten

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CAPOTEN ®
(Captopril) Tablets, USP

WARNING

FETAL TOXICITY

When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Capoten as soon as possible.
Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. See WARNINGS: Fetal Toxicity

DRUG DESCRIPTION

CAPOTEN® (captopril tablets, USP) is a specific competitive inhibitor of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), the enzyme responsible for the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.

CAPOTEN is designated chemically as 1-[(2S)-3-mercapto-2-methylpropionyl]-Lproline [MW 217.29] and has the following structure:

CAPOTEN® (Captopril) Structural Formula Illustration

Captopril is a white to off-white crystalline powder that may have a slight sulfurous odor; it is soluble in water (approx. 160 mg/mL), methanol, and ethanol and sparingly soluble in chloroform and ethyl acetate.

CAPOTEN is available in potencies of 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg as scored tablets for oral administration.

Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, lactose, and stearic acid.

What are the possible side effects of captopril (Capoten)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; severe stomach pain; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

feeling light-headed, fainting;
urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
chest pain; or

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Capoten »

What are the precautions when taking captopril (Capoten)?

Before taking captopril, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: history of an allergic reaction that included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema), blood filtering procedures (such as LDL apheresis, dialysis), collagen vascular disease (such as lupus, scleroderma), high level of potassium in the blood.

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are...

Read All Potential Precautions of Capoten »

Last reviewed on RxList: 1/4/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.