Captopril: A Medication for High Blood Pressure, Heart Conditions, and Kidney Disease

warnings and precautions 

It’s important to be aware of certain warnings and precautions associated 

with captopril:

1. Pregnancy:
   Captopril should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking captopril, it is crucial to inform your doctor immediately.

2. Drug Interactions:
   If you have diabetes, avoid taking captopril with any medication containing aliskiren (such as Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo). Additionally, inform your doctor about all the medications you are taking, as some drugs may interact adversely with captopril.

Before taking captopril, inform your doctor about your medical history, particularly if you have had:

• Heart failure or heart problems
• Severe allergic reactions like angioedema
• Stomach pain
• Low blood pressure
• Low white blood cell counts
• Connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis
• A low-salt diet
• Medications that weaken the immune system (e.g., cancer medicine, steroids, and organ transplant rejection prevention medications)
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease or if you are on dialysis

If you have kidney disease, it may be necessary to avoid taking captopril with aliskiren.

During the course of captopril treatment, it is essential to regularly monitor your blood pressure, and you may need frequent blood tests. Inform the laboratory staff that you are taking captopril, as it can cause false results on a urine test. If you experience ongoing vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive sweating, contact your doctor, as these can lead to dehydration, low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalance, or kidney failure.