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

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May 26, 2012

Capoten

Heart Attack »

Heart attack facts

A heart attack results when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle and heart muscle dies.
The blood clot that causes the heart attack usually forms at the site of rupture of an atherosclerotic, cholesterol plaque on the inner wall of a coronary artery.
The most common symptom of heart attack is chest pain.
The most common complications of a heart attack are heart failure and ventricular fibrillation.
The risk factors for atherosclerosis and heart attack include elevated cholesterol levels, increased blood pressure, tobacco use, diabetes, male gender, and a family history of heart attacks at an early age.
Heart attacks are diagnosed with electrocardiograms and measurement of cardiac enzymes in blood.
Early reopening of blocked coronary arteries reduces the amount of damage to the heart and im...

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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

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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...

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