Patient Information Leaflet

ACCURETIC™ 10/12.5 mg

Quinapril 10 mg and Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take Accuretic tablets. It contains important information about your treatment. If you have any questions, or if you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What is in the pack?

The name of your medicine is Accuretic. It comes as pink film coated tablets containing 10 mg of quinapril (present as 10.85 mg quinapril hydrochloride) and 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide in each oval tablet. Accuretic tablets are available in blister packs of 28 tablets.

Accuretic tablets also contain the inactive ingredients: Heavy magnesium carbonate, hydrous lactose, povidone, crospovidone and magnesium stearate.

The coating of Accuretic tablets contains candelilla wax and opadry pink OY-S-6937 which contains iron oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol.

What is Accuretic?

The active ingredients in Accuretic are quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide. Quinapril belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE inhibitors work by widening blood vessels in the body, which can reduce the pressure in the vessels. Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a group of medicines called diuretics. Diuretics help the body to get rid of extra fluid and are used in patients with high blood pressure. Because they get rid of fluid diuretics are sometimes called 'water tablets'.

What is Accuretic used for?

Accuretic is used to treat high blood pressure.

Before taking Accuretic

If the answer to any of the following questions is 'yes' you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking Accuretic as it may not be suitable for you.

• If you are of child bearing potential, talk to your doctor about adequate contraception.
• Do you suffer from allergies or asthma?
• Do you have kidney or liver disease?
• Do you have diabetes or gout?
• Do you use a haemodialysis machine (an artificial kidney)?
• Are you taking any other blood pressure medications?
• Are you experiencing problems passing water?
• Do you have aortic stenosis (narrowing of the main blood vessel from the heart)?
• Are you taking other medicines such as tetracycline, lithium, potassium supplements (this includes salt substitutes which often contain potassium) or other blood pressure tablets, steroids (for example hydrocortisone, dexamethasone or prednisolone), ACTH (tetracosactide) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killers (for example aspirin or ibuprofen), procainamide, cytostatic drugs, immunosuppressants, allopurinol, diuretics, sympathomimetics, drugs to treat diabetes, indigestion/heartburn medicines, sedatives or antacids?
• Do you have collagen vascular disease? (e.g. dermatomyosis, lupus erythematosis, polyarteritis nodosa)
• Are you having, or about to have, low density lipoprotein apheresis treatment (removal of cholesterol from your blood by machine)?
• Are you having, or about to have, desensitisation treatment i.e. to reduce the effects of an allergy to a bee or wasp sting?
• Are you drinking alcohol or taking sleeping pills?

If you go into hospital or visit a dentist remember to tell them you are taking Accuretic. This is particularly important if you are going to have an operation as your anaesthetist or dentist will want to know.

How to take Accuretic

• The usual dose of Accuretic is one tablet each day. Your doctor may increase the dose to two tablets which may be taken together once a day or may be taken separately, one tablet in the morning and one in the evening.
• Always take Accuretic exactly as your doctor has told you to. If you are not sure how to take your tablets ask your doctor or pharmacist. Never take more tablets than the doctor has told you to.
• Try to take the tablets at the same time(s) every day, either with or without food.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose.
• If you accidentally take too many Accuretic tablets tell your doctor at once. If you can't do this, go to the nearest hospital accident and emergency department. Take along the medicine container even if there are not any tablets left, this helps the hospital staff tell what medicine you have taken.
• Accuretic is not recommended for use in children

 

 

Side-effects

Like all medicines, as well as helping with your illness, Accuretic can sometimes cause unwanted effects (side-effects).

The following effects are very rare but are serious and so you should tell your doctor at once if they occur.

• Angio-oedema (swelling of the face, tongue and wind pipe which can cause great difficulty in breathing). At the same time, or independently, angio-eodema can affect your stomach and bowels (intestinal angio-eodema - swelling of the gut lining) in which case you will feel unwell, may have to vomit and experience abdominal pain. These are very rare reactions, but they can be very serious if they occur. You should tell your doctor at once if they happen.
• If you have a tight chest, chest pain, palpitations, wheezing or trouble breathing.
• If you develop a severe sore throat or severe mouth ulcers, particularly if you have kidney problems or a collagen vascular disease, you may not have enough white blood cells (Neutropenia/Agranulocytosis - a lack of certain white blood cells which may lead to infection, sore throat or fever. If you have collagen vascular disease your doctor may perform routine tests to check your blood.
• Feeling faint particularly when standing may mean your blood pressure is too low. This is more likely to occur if you have been taking diuretics (water tablets), other blood pressure medications in addition to Accuretic, alcohol or you are dehydrated or on dialysis. If you feel light headed or faint lie down until this feeling passes and tell your doctor at once.
• Other very rare but serious side effects include yellow eyes and skin (jaundice), severe abdominal and back pain (pancreatitis), weakness of arms, legs or problems speaking (possible stroke).

Side-effects that occur more rarely include: Increased heart rate, mini stroke, increased perspiration, dry mouth/throat, hair loss, impotence, urinary infection, tingling in hands or feet, blisters, depression, confusion, nervousness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, taste disturbances.

If these or any other effects are troublesome or do not go away you should see your doctor or pharmacist.

If you experience any dizzy spells you should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery.

Accuretic may cause certain changes in your blood and your doctor may do blood tests to monitor this. If you notice bruising, feeling very tired or if you are diabetic and notice your sugar levels rising let your doctor know so blood tests can be arranged if necessary.

How to store Accuretic

• Do not use the tablets after the expiry date on the package. For example "EXP 11-05" means you should not take your tablets after Nov 2005. Return any out-of-date tablets to your pharmacist.
• Remember, as with all medicines, to keep Accuretic away from children.
• Keep the tablets at normal room temperature (not above 25°C) in the packaging they come in.
• If your doctor decides to end your treatment, return the leftover tablets to your pharmacist. Only keep them if your doctor tells you to.