What is Fosinopril?
Fosinopril can be used alone or with other medications in the treatment of high blood pressure in adults and children older than 6 years. Fosinopril can also be used to treat heart failure in adults with congestive heart disease. Fosinopril can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Fosinopril
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, severe abdominal pain, swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
Fosinopril may cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Kidney problems: swelling, decreased urination, fatigue, or feeling short of breath.
- Low white blood cell count—fevers, mouth sores, and skin sores;
- High blood potassium—nausea and weakness, chest pains, irregular heartbeats, or loss of mobility;
- Liver problems: loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, itching, and dark urine.
Side effects of fosinopril include:
- Chest pain, coughing, runny nose, or congestion
- Muscle or joint pain
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- Dizziness, low blood pressure.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice regarding side effects, call your physician directly. Alternatively, the FDA can be reached at 1-800-FDA-1088 in order to report them.
Similar/related drugs
Amlodipine, lisinopril, metoprolol, losartan, furosemide, carvedilol, and hydrochlorothiazide
Warnings
Use it only if you're not pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop using fosinopril immediately and inform your doctor. Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking. Certain drugs should not interact with fosinopril.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to fosinopril or any other ACE inhibitor, such as perindopril or trandolapril, then you should avoid using it. Do not combine fosinopril with any blood pressure medication containing aliskiren if you have diabetes. Take fosinopril at least 36 hours after taking a medicine containing sacubitril, such as Entresto.
Notify your doctor of any of the following conditions:
- Angioedema is a severe allergic reaction.
- Heart problems, such as recent attacks.
- Stomach pain;
- Low blood pressure
- If you're on a diet low in salt,
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease (or dialysis)
If you have kidney problems, you may need to avoid fosinopril when taking aliskiren. If you suspect that you are pregnant, discontinue use of all medication immediately and inform your physician as soon as possible.Fosinopril may cause harm or even death to an unborn child if taken during the second or third trimester. Breastfeeding is not recommended.
How to take Fosinopril?
Read and follow all instructions or guides included with your medication, such as dosing guides. Depending on what the doctor prescribes, dosage adjustments may occur - you must always take your dose as specified by him or her. Take fosinopril either with or without food. If you experience diarrhea or vomiting that persists, or if your sweating is greater than normal, call your doctor. It is easy to become dehydrated when taking fosinopril. It can cause very low blood pressure, an electrolyte imbalance, or renal failure. You may require frequent blood tests to check your blood pressure. Fosinopril may affect certain medical tests.Fosinopril can have an adverse impact on certain medical tests. Even if you are feeling well, continue to take this medication if you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often asymptomatic. Inform your doctor of any planned surgeries. Store tightly closed, at room temperature, and away from moisture, light, heat, or humidity.
Details on dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:
Initial dose: 10mg orally, once daily alone or with a diuretic
Maintenance dose: 20–40 mg orally, once daily. Some patients may respond better to 80 mg.
Comments:
Adjust the dosage according to the blood pressure response during peak blood pressure (2–6 hours after the dose) and at the trough blood level (about 24 hours following dosing).
Consider dividing the dose daily in patients with inadequate trough responses.
Stop the diuretic two to three days before starting this medication. It may be restarted later, if clinically necessary.
If stopping the diuretic medication is not possible, it is advised that you be under medical supervision for several hours to allow your blood pressure to stabilize.
Uses: To treat hypertension, alone or with other medications
Adult dose for congestive heart failure:
Initial dose: 10mg orally, once per day.
Dose range: 20–40 mg orally, once per day.
Maximum dose: 40mg orally, once daily.
Comments:
Patients should be monitored by a doctor for at least two hours after the first dose, until their blood pressure has stabilized.
Dosages can be gradually increased based on tolerance over a period of several weeks.
The presence of hypertension or orthostasis early in the dose titration process should not prevent further, careful dose titration. Consider a dose-reducing concomitant drug.
Use: As an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of heart failure, when combined with conventional therapy such as diuretics and digitalis.
The usual pediatric dose for hypertension is:
From 6 to 16 years:
More than 50 kg: orally, 5–10 mg once daily as monotherapy
Dose not available for less than 50 kg
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are almost due for your next dose, skip the missed one. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
You may get dizzy if you stand up quickly from a seated or lying position. You should not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes unless you have been told to do so by your doctor. Drink enough fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated or overheated during exercise or in hot weather. You should follow your doctor's advice on the amount and type of fluids to drink.Imbibing too much liquid is just as hazardous as not consuming enough.
Interaction with other drug
Fosinopril may harm your kidneys if you are also taking certain medications for cancer, infections, or osteoporosis. Do not take an antacid for 2 hours after or before taking fosinopril.
Tell your doctor about your other medications, including:
- A diuretic (or "water pill") that can increase potassium in the blood, such as triamterene or spironolactone;
- Medicines to prevent organ rejection, such as sirolimus or everolimus,
- NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (nonsteroidal analgesic drugs), such as aspirin, naproxen, celecoxib (Aleve), diclofenac (indomethacin), meloxicam, and others.
- Heart or blood pressure medications
This list is incomplete. Fosinopril may be affected by other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all drug interactions.
