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Usage: Altace is in a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. Altace is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack.
Directions: Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Altace can be taken with or without food. Vomiting, diarrhea, or heavy sweating can cause you to become dehydrated. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking Altace. Drink 6 to 8 full glasses of water daily while you are taking this medication. To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor. If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking Altace. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
Side Effects: 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, tired feeling, muscle weakness, and pounding or uneven heartbeats, chest pain or swelling, rapid weight gain. Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as: cough, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm, nausea, vomiting or mild skin itching or rash. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Precautions: Altace can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can further lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of Altace. Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking Altace, unless your doctor has told you to.
Drug Interactions: Before taking Altace, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs: lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith), a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, salt substitutes that contain potassium, aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene) or a diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), torsemide (Demadex). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Altace or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment. There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Altace. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
If You Take Too Much: Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a Altace overdose may include feeling extremely dizzy or light-headed, or fainting.
Missed Dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Storage: Store Altace at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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