Captopril
Captopril Information

About Captopril

Captopril is a sulfhydryl containing ACE inhibitor. Captopril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure and kidney diseases in diabetic patients.

Indications

Captopril is primarily indicated in conditions like Congestive heart failure, Congestive heart failure (adjunct), Diabetic nephropathy, Diabetic retinopathy, Essential hypertension, Essential hypertension (mild to moderate), severe hypertension resistant to other treatment, Gastric acid reduction during anaesthesia, Hypertension, Iron deficiency anaemia, Prophylaxis of acid aspiration, Renal hypertension, Scleroderma renal crisis.

Contraindication

Captopril is contraindicated in conditions like Renal diseases,Collagen vascular disease,Renal artery stenosis.

Side Effects

The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Captopril, which give rise to further complications include Renal damage, Proteinuria.Captopril produces potentially life-threatening effects which include Hyperkalemia, Neutropenia. which are responsible for the discontinuation of Captopril therapy.The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Captopril include Hypotension, Respiratory distress, Angioedema, Laryngeal obstruction.The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Captopril are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Skin rash, Taste disturbance, Cough.

Warnings

White blood cells (W.B.Cs) counts and urinary protein estimation should be done before and during treatment Captopril therapy can cause neutropenia or agranulocytosis. Patients with renal disease, patients with immunosuppression or receiving immunosuppressives, and patients with collagen vascular disease or autoimmune disease are at a greater risk for developing these complications. It should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing bone marrow depression. The dose should be adjusted in patients with renal impairment. It should be used cautiously in patients with congestive heart failure. Initial doses should be lower than in the treatment of hypertension becauseof a greater risk of developing hypotension. It should not be administered to patients with pre-existing renal artery stenosis. Renal function should be monitored closely during the first 2 weeks after initiating therapy. It should be discontinued if renal function worsens acutely. Other types of renal disease can actually improve during captopril therapy. The dose should be adjusted inpatients with renal impairment. It should be used with caution patients with hyperkalemia. It is classified as pregnancy category C and should be used with caution during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

High Risk Groups

Drug should not be given to Pregnant Mothers, and Neonates.If prescribing authority justifies the benefits of the drug against the possible damages he/she should reevaluate them and consult the reference material and previous studies.