Zestril: Side Effects, Overdose and Pregnancy Information

Zestril is a type of drug known as ACE inhibitor. Zestril is primarily used to lower blood pressure. Zestril can also be used to improve the symptoms of heart failure and to improve survival following a heart attack. Zestril works by blocking the action of a compound in the body called Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). ACE produces another compound called Angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to tighten and narrow resulting in increasing the pressure within the blood vessels. Zestril blocks the action of ACE by reducing the production of Angiotensin II. This means that the blood vessels are allowed to relax and expand. The overall effect of this is a drop in blood pressure.

Zestril Side Effects

Common side effects of Zestril are cough, dizziness, headache, sleep interruptions, hypotension, diarrhoea, vomiting, and problems with kidney functions. Rare side effects of Zestril may include fatigue, weakness, nausea, indigestion, itching, mood swings, insomnia, palpitations, enhanced level of potassium in the blood (hyperkalaemia), dry mouth, confusion, swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat, hair loss and severe allergic skin reactions.

Zestril Warning

Some people may experience dizziness caused by low blood pressure in the first few days of taking Zestril and especially the first dose. For this reason, the first dose should preferably be taken at night before going to bed.

Alcohol may enhance the blood pressure lowering effect of Zestril, which can increase dizziness and may increase the risk of fainting.

ACE inhibitors like Zestril can sometimes cause an allergic reaction called angioedema. Stop taking Zestril and consult your physician right away if you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet or ankles while taking Zestril.

Your blood pressure, kidney function and the amount of Potassium in your blood should be regularly monitored while you are taking Zestril.

Zestril should not be given to:

People who are allergic to other ACE inhibitors.

History of swelling of the lips, face or tongue with no known cause, or caused by previous use of an ACE inhibitor.

Pregnant women.

Zestril is not recommended for children.

Zestril should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your physician or pharmacist if you have previously experienced an allergic reaction.

Stop using Zestril and inform your physician or pharmacist right away.

Zestril Caution

Zestril should be used in caution with:

Elderly people.

Decreased kidney function.

Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys.

People with low fluid volume or salt levels in the body, e.g. due to diuretic therapy, low-sodium diet, diarrhea or vomiting.

People taking other medicines for hypertension, specially diuretics.

Low blood pressure (hypotension).

Severe heart failure.

Narrowing of the main artery of the body.

Diseases affecting connective tissue, e.g. scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis.

People with kidney failure requiring a certain type of dialysis (high-flux membrane).

People receiving therapy to remove certain types of fat from the blood using a machine (LDL aphaeresis).

People undergoing therapy to decrease allergy to bee or wasp stings (desensitization).

Zestril Interaction

Zestril may enhace effects of other drugs that lower blood pressure.

Zestril may cause a large drop in blood pressure with the first dose in people taking antihypertensive drugs, especially those taking diuretic drugs.

If you are taking a diuretic drug, your physician may reduce your dose or ask you to stop taking it for a few days before starting Zestril.

If you frequently feel dizzy while taking Zestril in combination with other drugs that can lower blood pressure you should let your physician know, as your doses may need adjusting.

Other drugs that lower blood pressure include:
other ACE inhibitors
alpha-blockers
angiotensin II receptor
antipsychotics
beta-blockers
calcium-channel blockers
diuretics
dopamine agonists
MAOI antidepressants
nitrates

NSAIDs such as Aspirin, Acetaminophen, and Ibuprofen may reduce the blood pressure lowering effect of Zestril and may increase the risk of a decline in kidney function.

There may be a risk of raised potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalaemia) if the following drugs are taken with Zestril:
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
Potassium-containing salt substitutes
Potassium salts
Potassium -sparing diuretics
Potassium supplements.

Zestril may increase the blood level of the medicine lithium and for this reason, it is not normally recommended for people taking lithium.

Zestril may possibly enhance the blood sugar lowering effect of Insulin and oral antidiabetic medicines, and so could increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).

There may be an increased risk of a drop in the normal numbers of white blood cells in the blood if Zestril is taken in combination with any of the following medicines:
Allopurinol
Azathioprine
Immunosuppressant therapy
Procainamide

Pregnancy and Zestril

Zestril should not be used in pregnancy.
Zestril could cause birth defects in the baby if taken during pregnancy.

If you get pregnant while taking this medicine, talk to your physician right away. However, in some cases, where Zestril is considered to be life-saving to the mother, treatment may be continued.

It is not known if Zestril passes into breast milk. It should be used with caution in nursing mothers.

Zestril Doses

Zestril should only be taken at doses directed by the physician.
Zestril can be taken with or without food and at the same time each day.

Zestril should not be taken within two hours of taking an antacid.

The dosage of Zestril is lowered slowly when discontinuing.

The starting dose of Zestril is 5 mg daily, and the effective dose range for treating heart failure is 5-40 mg daily. The dose can be increased by 10 mg every 2 weeks to achieve the maximum effect. The maximum dose is 40 mg daily.

The starting dose of Zestril for treating hypertension is 10 mg daily. The usual dose range is 20-40 mg daily.

Zestril Overdose

Zestril overdose symptoms may include extreme dizziness, light-headedness and or fainting.

Seek emergency medical attention right away.

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