Monopril contains fosinopril sodium. Fosinopril sodium belongs to a class of medicines known as ACE inhibitors. It works by widening your blood vessels, reducing the pressure in the vessels (reducing 'blood pressure') and by making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. This helps your heart to work better by increasing the supply of oxygen to your heart.
Monopril is not addictive.
Precautions
Before taking Monopril,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fosinopril, benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), trandolapril (Mavik), or any other medications.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: diuretics ('water pills'); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); and potassium supplements. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- if you are taking antacids (Maalox, Mylanta), take them 2 hours before or after fosinopril.
- tell your doctor if you are on dialysis and if you have or have ever had lupus; scleroderma; heart failure; high blood pressure; diabetes; or liver or kidney disease.
- tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking fosinopril.
- you should know that diarrhea, vomiting, not drinking enough fluids, and sweating a lot can cause a drop in blood pressure, which may cause lightheadedness and fainting.
The safety and effectiveness of Monopril in children have not been established.
Directions
Monopril comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day. To help you remember to take Monopril, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Monopril exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of Monopril and gradually increase your dose.
Monopril controls high blood pressure and heart failure but does not cure them. Continue to take Monopril even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Monopril without talking to your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Monopril. Monopril helps most people with high blood pressure, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Following is a list of possible side effects. Do not be alarmed by this list. You may not experience any of them.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- feeling lightheaded, dizzy or faint
- headache
- tiredness, fatigue or weakness
- dry cough
- feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
- upset stomach (dyspepsia) or heartburn
- diarrhoea
- stomach pains
- muscle cramps or pains
These are the more common side effects of Monopril. (Mostly these are mild and short lived).
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- changes to your heart rhythm
- infections of your urinary tract or upper respiratory tract (URTI, or cold or flu symptoms)
- severe dizziness (vertigo)
- impotence (inability to get or maintain an erection)
- mild rash or itching
- gout (painful, swollen joints)
- diabetes (symptoms include - excessive thirst, greatly increased amount of urine, increase of appetite with a loss of weight, feeling tired, drowsy, weak, depressed, irritable and generally unwell)
- sore throat and fever
- hepatitis (symptoms include - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes and dark coloured urine)
- confusion; irregular heartbeat; nervousness; numbness or tingling of the hands, feet or lips; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; weakness or heaviness of legs. (You may experience these symptoms if too much potassium builds up in your body.)
These are serious side effects. You may need medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen you should stop taking Monopril and call your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
- Swollen face, swollen lips, swollen mouth, swollen throat, swollen hands or feet
- if you faint or if your skin turns yellow
- sore throat and fever
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing
- itchy skin and/or rash
- not urinating (passing water) as much as usual
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them
If you take too much (Overdose)
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services. Symptoms of overdose may include dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the pack they will not keep well.
Keep Monopril tablets in a cool dry place, in the dark ,where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Monopril or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
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