Brand Aceon Plus

Perindopril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This medication is also used to prevent heart attacks in patients with a certain type of heart disease (stable coronary artery disease). Perindopril belongs to a class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily.

Take this medication by mouth, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. For the treatment of high blood pressure, the manufacturer recommends taking no more than 16 milligrams per day. Do not take potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. This medicine can raise your potassium levels, which rarely can cause serious side effects such as muscle weakness or a very slow heartbeat. Tell your doctor immediately if these effects occur. Take this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not skip doses or stop taking this medication unless directed by your doctor. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. It may take up to several weeks before the full benefit of this drug takes effect. Inform your doctor if your condition worsens (e.g., your routine blood pressure readings increase).

Before taking perindopril, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other ACE inhibitors (e.g., captopril, lisinopril); or if you have any other allergies (including an allergic reaction after exposure to certain membranes used for blood filtering). This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a history of an allergic reaction that included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney problems, liver disease, untreated salt/mineral imbalance (e.g., high potassium or low sodium levels in the blood), loss of too much body water (dehydration), collagen vascular disease (e.g., lupus, scleroderma). This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. You can develop dehydration if you do not drink enough fluids or if you have too much diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating. This can cause dizziness and lightheadedness due to low blood pressure. Avoid heavy exercise, and keep cool in hot weather. Contact your doctor if you are unable to drink fluids or if you have persistent diarrhea or vomiting. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication. Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, the elderly may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially dizziness. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. (See also Warning section.) It is not known if perindopril passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

See also How to Use section. Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: drugs affecting the bone marrow (e.g., azathioprine), lithium, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs (e.g., celecoxib, ibuprofen, indomethacin), potassium-sparing "water pills" (diuretics such as amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene), products that may increase your potassium level (e.g., potassium supplements, salt substitutes, drospirenone), gold injections. A very serious reaction may occur if you are getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy (desensitization) and are also taking perindopril. Make sure all your doctors know which medicines you are using. Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine) or reduce the effect of this medication (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen). Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products. Low-dose aspirin, as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day) should be continued. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, tiredness, or dry cough may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. You may also experience decreased sexual ability. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: muscle cramps, weakness, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, fainting, signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat), numbness/tingling/swelling of the hands/feet, chest pain. This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent tiredness, persistent nausea/vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention if this rare but very serious side effect occurs: unusual change in the amount of urine. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Store at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.