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What is the most important information I should know about
perindopril?
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Do not take perindopril if you are pregnant or planning a
pregnancy. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy,
perindopril can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus.
Notify your doctor immediately if you think you might be pregnant. |
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Perindopril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic
reactions. Before taking perindopril, tell your doctor if you have ever
had an allergic reaction that involved swelling of your lips, face,
tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical
attention if you develop any of these symptoms while taking perindopril.
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing
other hazardous activities. Perindopril may cause dizziness or
drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these
activities and notify your doctor. Also use caution when rising from a
sitting or lying position. |
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Heavy sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, or other causes of fluid
loss may lead to very low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting during
therapy with perindopril. Maintain proper fluid intake to prevent
dehydration and related side effects. |
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Perindopril is in a class of drugs called
angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). |
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Perindopril is used to lower high blood pressure and to reduce the
risk of cardiovascular mortality or non-fatal heart attacks in certain
patients. |
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Perindopril may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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Who should not take perindopril?
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Perindopril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic reactions.
Before taking perindopril, tell your doctor if you have ever had an
allergic reaction that involved swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or
throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you
develop any of these symptoms while taking perindopril. |
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Before taking perindopril, tell your doctor if you |
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are on a salt-restricted diet or have high levels of potassium in
your blood; |
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are taking salt substitutes, potassium supplements (e.g., K-Dur,
Klor-Con), or potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride (Midamor),
triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide), or spironolactone (Aldactone); |
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have scleroderma or lupus; or |
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have any type of heart disease or have had a stroke. |
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You may not be able to take perindopril, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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Perindopril is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that
perindopril is known to harm an unborn baby. When used during the second
and third trimesters of pregnancy, perindopril can cause injury and even
death to the developing fetus.Do not take perindopril if you are
pregnant. |
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It is not known whether perindopril passes into breast milk. Do not
take perindopril without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take perindopril?
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Take perindopril exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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Perindopril can be taken with or without food. |
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Do not stop taking perindopril without first talking to your doctor.
If you stop taking this medication suddenly, your condition could become
worse. |
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Store perindopril at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your
next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this
medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention. |
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Symptoms of an overdose of perindopril may include extreme dizziness,
weakness, fainting, and fatigue. |
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What should I avoid while taking perindopril?
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Perindopril may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If
you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities and
notify your doctor. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying
position. |
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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and
increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking perindopril. |
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Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking
perindopril except under the direction of your doctor. |
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Heavy sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, or other causes of fluid loss
may lead to very low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting during
therapy with perindopril. Maintain proper fluid intake to prevent
dehydration and related adverse effects. |
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What are the possible side effects of perindopril?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking perindopril and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency
medical treatment: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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an irregular heartbeat or changes in your heartbeat; |
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severe dizziness or fainting; or |
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signs of an infection including a sore throat or a fever. |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take perindopril and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness; |
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weakness, numbness, or tingling in the hands, feet, arms, or legs; |
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nausea or upset stomach; |
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itching, rash, or increased sweating. |
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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. |
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What other drugs will affect perindopril?
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Before taking perindopril, tell your doctor if you are taking any of
the following drugs: |
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a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others; |
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salt substitutes that contain potassium; |
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any of the diuretics (water pills) triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide,
Dyazide), spironolactone (Aldactone), or amiloride (Midamor); |
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any other diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ,
HydroDiuril, others), furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), indapamide
(Lozol), and others; |
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lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others); |
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indomethacin (Indocin); |
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cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune). |
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You may not be able to take perindopril, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking
any of the medicines listed above. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with
perindopril or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist
before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about perindopril written
for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2005 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.06. Revision date: 12/
6/ 05. |