Capoten

Do NOT use Capoten if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Capoten
• you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy
• you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue) to any other ACE inhibitor (eg, enalapril)
• you are currently taking dextran sulfate.

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Some medical conditions may interact with Capoten. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have swelling of the lips, eyes, or tongue; bone marrow depression; decreased blood flow to the heart or brain; high blood potassium levels; low blood sodium levels; thickening of the skin; kidney disease, transplant, or dialysis; heart problems; lupus; or an autoimmune disease; or if you are on a sodium-restricted diet.

Some medicines may interact with Capoten. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Allopurinol or dextran sulfate because they may increase the risk of an allergic reaction (eg, rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue) and lightheadedness upon standing
• Diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because the risk of low blood pressure or low blood sodium levels may be increased
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, amiloride) or potassium supplements because high blood potassium levels (eg, abnormal skin sensations in the arms or legs, confusion, heaviness of limbs, listlessness, slow or irregular heartbeat, stopping of the heart) may occur
• Certain gold-containing medicines (eg, sodium aurothiomalate) because flushing, low blood pressure, nausea, and vomiting may occur
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen, indomethacin) because they may decrease Capoten's effectiveness
• Lithium or thiopurines (eg, azathioprine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Capoten
• Oral diabetes medicine (eg, glyburide) because the risk of their side effects, including low blood sugar levels (eg, dizziness, headache, hunger, shakiness or weakness, sweating), may be increased by Capoten.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Capoten may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Important safety information:

• Capoten may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Capoten with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Capoten may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects. If lightheadedness occurs, especially during the first few days of treatment, contact your doctor.
• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
• Capoten may not work as well in black patients. They may also be at greater risk of side effects. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse.
• If you have high blood pressure, do not use nonprescription products that contain stimulants. These products may include diet pills or cold medicines. Contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Check with your doctor before you use a salt substitute or a product that has potassium in it.
• Diabetes patients - Capoten may cause the results of some tests for urine ketones to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Lab tests, including blood pressure monitoring, blood potassium or other electrolyte levels, and urine tests, may be performed while you use Capoten. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Capoten should be used with extreme caution in children; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Capoten may cause fetal and newborn death if you take it while you are pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Capoten is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Capoten.

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

Cough; diarrhea; dizziness or lightheadedness when sitting or standing quickly; fatigue; fever; headache; itching; joint pain; nausea; taste changes; vomiting; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); any signs of infection such as fever or sore throat; chest pain; difficulty swallowing; fainting; irregular or slow heartbeat; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.