The medication Vasotec is prescribed for reducing high blood pressure. When blood pressure is high, the workload on the heart and arteries increases, and with time, these organs stop working normally, leading to damage of vital organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys. This can result in stroke, heart failure, heart attack, blood vessel disease or kidney problems. Vasotec is used to treat patients with heart failure. Vasotec belongs to a class of medications known as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It helps to lower the blood pressure by specifically blocking a naturally occurring substance in the body known as angiotensin II. Angiotensin II normally tightens the blood vessels. Vasotec helps these blood vessels to relax, thus helping to lower the high blood pressure. This medication does not cure high blood pressure but helps to control it. Hence, it is important to continue taking the medication regularly to keep the blood pressure under control. If your healthcare professional has recommended a particular diet such as low salt intake, follow the diet carefully. This will help your medicine to control the blood pressure better. Your doctor may also recommend weight loss.
Manufacturer Information
Vasotec comes from United Kingdom manufactured by Merck. The generic form of Vasotec is enalapril comes from Canada by Ranbaxy and United Kingdom by a different manufacturer. It may come from other international countries. Vasotec is available in the dosage forms of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg.
Stop taking Vasotec and call your doctor at once if you have one of these serious side effects:
• Allergic reactions
• Flu-like symptoms
• Liver disease
• Low blood sugar in diabetic patients
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
Less serious side effects include dry cough, sore throat, dizziness, fainting, light-headedness especially following exercise, and/or when it is hot and you have lost a lot of water by sweating. Some other side effects include a headache, low blood pressure, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Please call your doctor if you have any further concerns or questions.
Take Vasotec exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Vasotec can be taken with or without food. You should swallow the tablets whole with water. Do not split them. This medication may cause dizziness or drowsiness due to a fall in blood pressure. Hence, do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Vasotec affects you. Do not take Vasotec at least 36 hours before or after you take sacubitril/valsartan. Vasotec may interact with medications such as diuretics or water pills or other medicines used to reduce blood pressure, medicines used to treat diabetes or insulin, aliskiren-containing products such as Rasilez, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), potassium supplements, or other medications that increase serum potassium levels such as trimethoprim or salt substitutes that contain potassium, lithium used to treat bipolar disorder, pain and arthritis medications including gold therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and anti-cancer medications such as temsirolimus, sirolimus or medicine containing neprilysin inhibitor (e.g., sacubitril). If you have diabetes and take anti-diabetic medications or insulin, closely monitor your blood sugar especially during the first month of treatment with Vasotec. In case you have to go dental or other surgery, inform your dentist or surgeon that you are taking Vasotec. Before taking Vasotec, inform your doctor if you have previously taken Vasotec or other similar medications such as enalapril, lisinopril, captopril and were allergic to them, are taking anti-rejection medications, are pregnant or planning of becoming pregnant, are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, suffer from low blood pressure, are undergoing dialysis, have diabetes, heart or blood vessel disease, liver or kidney problems, or have recently suffered from excessive vomiting or diarrhea.