patient information leaflet carace tablets

Patient Information Leaflet

Carace® Tablets 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg & 20mg

Please read this carefully before you start to take your medicine.
If you have any questions or are not sure about anything ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What you should know about Carace® - What is Carace®?

The name of this medicine is Carace®. Each tablet contains lisinopril (either 2.5, 5, 10 or 20mg, as the dihydrate) as the active ingredient. In addition Carace® tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate; Magnesium Stearate; Pregelatinised Maize Starch; Mannitol; Maize Starch; Indigo Carmine Aluminium Lake E132 (2/5mg tablets only); Iron Oxides E172 (10mg & 20mg tablets only).

Carace® tablets are available in calendar packs of 28 tablets.

How do your tablets work?

The active ingredient in your tablet is lisinopril. This is one of a group of medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medicines work by widening your blood vessels to make it easier for the heart to pump blood through them, to all parts of the body. This helps to reduce raised blood pressure. In many patients with heart failure, Carace® will help your heart work better.

Why are you taking Carace®?

Carace® is used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart conditions. High blood pressure if left uncontrolled can increase the risk of heart disease or a stroke. Carace® works by lowering your blood pressure which reduces the risk. Carace® can also help people whose heart no longer pumps blood as effectively as it once did. This condition is known as heart failure.
Carace® may also be used to treat patients who recently suffered a heart attack. A heart attack is an episode during which one of the major blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle becomes blocked. As a result of the blockage, the heart does not receive the oxygen it needs and the heart muscle is damaged.

What you should know before you start taking Carace® - Do not take Carace® Tablets if:

You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. ACE inhibitors, including Carace®, can cause injury and death to the developing baby when taken during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It is not known whether the use of Carace® in the first three months of pregnancy only can also cause harmful effects. If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, you must tell your doctor before starting therapy to discuss another treatment.
You have ever been allergic to this medicine or to any of its ingredients (See What is Carace®? section)
You have previously been treated with a medication in the same group of medicines as Carace® (ACE inhibitors) and have had allergic reactions with swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty in swallowing or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary or idiopathic angioedema.
You have a specific type of heart and lung disease called cor pulmonale, aortic stenosis, or outflow tract obstruction.

If any of the above affect you, or you are not clear if they do, discuss this matter with your doctor who will be able to advise you.

You must tell your doctor if:

You have or have had any medical problems or any allergies
You suffer from kidney or heart disease (including heart failure).
You are undergoing dialysis.
You have recently suffered from excessive vomiting or diarrhoea.

Before surgery and anaesthesia (even at the dentist's) you should tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Carace® as there may be a sudden fall in blood pressure. If you are about to have desensitisation treatment, that is treatment to reduce the effects of an allergy to bee or wasp stings, you should tell the doctor who is treating you that you are taking Carace®.
If you are about to have a treatment called LDL apheresis, which is the removal of cholesterol from your by a machine, you should tell the doctor who is treating you that you are taking Carace®.
Some Afro-Caribbean patients may require higher doses of Carace® to obtain an adequate reduction in blood pressure.
Carace® is not for use in children.

More about Carace® - Can you take Carace® with other medicines?

It is important to tell you doctor about other drugs that you are taking, including those obtained without a prescription, as some drugs may affect each other's action. It is especially important for your doctor to know if you are taking:

Medicines for the treatment of diabetes such as insulin or tablets to lower blood sugar.
Other medicines to reduce blood pressure such as beta-blockers or diuretics (water tablets).
Medicines for treatment of mental disorders such as lithium or antipsychotics.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) (a type of pain killer e.g. indomethacin).
A narcotic pain killer (e.g. codeine, dextropopoxyphene, diamorphine, morphine, pentazocine, pethidine).
Allopurinol used for the treatment of gout.
Medicines for the treatment of cancer.
Immunosuppressive agents such as ciclosporin used following transplant surgery or for treatment of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
A steroid to treat various conditions including rheumatism, arthritis, allergic conditions, certain skin disease, asthma or a blood disorder.
Procainamide used to treat abnormal heart rhythms.
Antacids for the relief of indigestion.
Medicines such as ephedrine, noradrenaline or epinephrine (adrenaline) used for the treatment of hypertension, shock, cardiac failure, asthma or allergies.

You should also tell your doctor if you are on a salt-restrictive diet, are taking potassium supplements, potassium-sparing agents or potassium-containing salt substitutes.

What about alcohol?

Medicines used to reduce blood pressure and alcohol can have additive effects and may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. If you are concerned about how much alcohol you can drink while you are taking Carace® discuss this with your doctor.

How to take Carace®

Your doctor will decide on the appropriate dose, depending on your condition and whether you are taking other medicines.
If you are already taking diuretics your doctor may tell you to reduce the dose of the diuretic, or even tell you to stop taking them, before you start taking Carace®.
Take Carace® as your doctor has instructed. Your pharmacist may also help if you are not sure.
High blood pressure: the usual long-term dose is 10-20mg once a day.
Heart failure: the usual long-term dose is 5-20mg once a day.
After heart attack: the usual dose is 5mg on the first and the second days, then 10mg taken once a day.

Be especially careful when you take your first dose or if your dose is increased. Let you doctor know immediately if you feel any dizziness or lightheadedness.

The effect of Carace® lasts 24 hours so you need only take the tablets once a day.
Carace® can be taken at any time of the day before, during, or after a meal. Choose a time that is convenient for you and take your tablet at this time every day.
Take the tablet for the day marked on the calendar pack. This will help you to remember whether you have taken your tablet for that day.
Keep taking your tablets until your doctor tells you to stop.

If you take too many tablets, see your doctor immediately.

The most likely symptoms of overdose would be a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness due to a drop in blood pressure.
If you forget to take a tablet, DO NOT WORRY - just take the next day's tablet when it is due.

What unwanted effects may Carace® have?

Most people find that Carace® is suitable for them. However, Carace® as with all medicines can sometimes cause unwanted effects, so called side effects, in certain people. The most frequent side effects are dizziness, headache, diarrhoea, tiredness, cough and nausea. Other side effects occurring less frequently are rash and loss of strength. Another side effect may be a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness due to a drop in blood pressure when standing up quickly.

Less common are heart attacks or stroke possibly due to excessive drop in blood pressure in susceptible patients, palpitations or irregular heart beats, fast heart beat, chest pain, inflammation of the pancreas, abdominal pain, dry mouth, hepatitis (nausea, fever, dark urine, jaundice), constipation, indigestion and vomiting.

Other rare side effects include mood alterations, mental confusion, difficulty breathing, abnormal sensations such as pins and needles, depression, difficulty in sleeping, vertigo, bronchitis, blocked or runny nose, hives and itching, sweating, hair loss, abnormal redness of the skin, blisters, high urea levels, change in urine amount, kidney failure or dysfunction, impotence, fainting, blurred vision, taste alteration.

There have been rare reports of blood disorders which may be characterised by fever or chills, sore throats, ulcers in your mouth or throat, unusual bleeding or unexplained bruises.

A symptom complex involving fever, muscle and joint pain and inflammation of the blood vessels has been reported. Rash and/or sensitivity to light may occur. If these symptoms persist or you experience any other effects please tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. It will help if you make a note of what you experienced, when it started and how long it lasted.

If you get any of the following stop taking the tablets and tell your doctor immediately: Possible allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty in swallowing or breathing.

If you feel tired or dizzy do not drive or operate machinery until you have discussed this with your doctor.

Please note that when you are on this medicine it may affect any tests your doctor may perform on blood or urine samples. Please remind your doctor you are taking Carace® if ever they want to carry out such a test.

Things to remember about Carace®

Please check the expiry date of the product, shown on the carton and on the blister pack. Do not use after the month stated.
Do not store your tablets above 25°C.
Store in the original package.

Keep your medicines out of reach of children.

Remember that this medicine should only be taken by you. It must not be taken by anyone else.

Take your medicines as directed by your doctor. The directions should be given on the label.

If you are told to stop taking this medicine, return any unused tablets to your pharmacist.

How can you obtain more information about Carace®?

This leaflet gives you the most important patient information about Carace®. If you have any questions after you have read it, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Medicine: carace tablets