Generic Zestril is in a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

Generic Zestril is used in the treatment of high blood pressure. Generic Zestril is used to lower blood pressure, to treat congestive heart failure, and to improve the survival rate after a heart attack.

Generic Zestril is effective when used alone or when combined with other high blood pressure medications. Generic Zestril may also be used with other medications in the treatment of heart failure, and may be given within 24 hours of a heart attack to improve chances of survival.

Generic Zestril is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the management of heart failure in patients who are not responding adequately to diuretics and digitalis.

Generic Zestril works by reducing production of a substance that increases salt and water retention in your body. Generic Zestril decreases certain chemicals that tighten the blood vessels, so blood flows more smoothly and the heart can pump blood more efficiently.

ACE inhibitors work by blocking the action of a compound in the body called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin is a chemical that is made by the body continuously. It narrows blood vessels and thereby maintains (elevates) blood pressure. When the enzyme is blocked by Generic Zestril, angiotensin cannot be converted into its active form. As a result, blood pressure falls.

Normally ACE produces another compound called angiotensin II, as part of the bodys natural control of blood pressure. Angiotensin II has two actions. Firstly, it causes blood vessels to constrict and narrow, and secondly, it reduces the production of urine by the kidneys. Both these actions increase the pressure within the blood vessels.

As Generic Zestril blocks the action of ACE, it reduces the production of angiotensin II. This means that the blood vessels are allowed to relax to widen and more urine is produced by the kidneys. The overall effect of this is a drop in blood pressure.

The reduced pressure within the blood vessels means that the heart doesnot have to work as hard to pump the blood around the body. This is why Generic Zestril can be used to improve the symptoms of heart failure, where the heart is not pumping as efficiently, and to improve survival following a heart attack.

The effects of Generic Zestril in hypertension and heart failure appear to result primarily from suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Inhibition of ACE results in decreased plasma angiotensin II, which leads to decreased vasopressor activity and to decreased aldosterone secretion.

If you miss a Generic Zestril dose
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take 2 doses at the same time.

Adults

High Blood Pressure
For people not on water pills (diuretics), the initial starting dose of Generic Zestril is usually 10 milligrams, taken 1 time a day. Your doctor will increase the dosage until your blood pressure is under control. The long-term dosage usually ranges from 20 to 40 milligrams a day, taken in a single dose.

Diuretic use should, if possible, be stopped before using Generic Zestril. If not, your physician may give an initial dose of 5 milligrams under supervision before any further medication is prescribed.

People with kidney disorders must be carefully monitored, and dosages will be adjusted to the individuals needs, depending on kidney function.

Heart Failure
For this condition, Generic Zestril is usually prescribed along with diuretics and digitalis. The recommended starting dose of Generic Zestril is 5 milligrams once a day, with the first dose taken under your doctors supervision. The doctor may increase the dose of Generic Zestril by upto 10 milligrams at intervals of no less than 2 weeks. Typical long-term dosages range from 5 to 40 milligrams taken once a day.

Heart Attack
The usual dose of Generic Zestril is 5 milligrams within the first 24 hours after a heart attack, then 5 milligrams 24 hours later, 10 milligrams 48 hours later, and, finally, 10 milligrams once a day for 6 weeks. If low blood pressure is a problem, the doctor may recommend a lower dosage.

Pediatric Hypertensive Patients less than or 6 years of age
The usual recommended starting dose of Generic Zestril is 0.07 mg/kg once daily (up to 5mg total). Dosage should be adjusted according to blood pressure response.

Children
The safety and effectiveness of Generic Zestril in children have not been established.

Older adults
The physician will adjust the dose of Generic Zestril carefully, according to the individuals needs.

Generic Zestril Overdose
Generic Zestril taken in excess can cause symptoms of overdose. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

A severe drop in blood pressure is the primary sign of a Generic Zestril overdose.

Symptoms of a Generic Zestril overdose include extreme dizziness, weakness, fainting, and fatigue.

Generic Zestril Storage instructions
Store at room temperature, with the container sealed and dry. Avoid excessive heat or freezing cold.

Generic Zestril Preparations
Generic Zestril Tablets: 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg

• Indomethacin (Indocin)
• Lithium (Lithonate, Eskalith)
• Potassium preparations such as K-Phos and Micro-K
• Water pills such as HydroDIURIL and Lasix, and others that leave potassium in the body, such as Aldactone and Midamor

Tell your doctor if you use salt substitutes that contain potassium.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Generic Zestril.

Special precautions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
If Generic Zestril is taken during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, Generic Zestril can cause birth defects, prematurity, and death in the fetus and newborn. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant and are taking Generic Zestril, contact your doctor immediately to discuss the potential hazard to your unborn child.

It is not known whether Generic Zestril passes into breast milk, and its effects on a nursing baby are not known. Do not take Generic Zestril without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Special warnings about Generic Zestril
If you develop swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or of your arms and legs, or have difficulty swallowing or breathing, you should contact your doctor immediately. You may need emergency treatment.

If you are being given bee or wasp venom to guard against future reactions, you may have a severe reaction to Generic Zestril.

Alcohol may enhance the blood pressure lowering effect of Generic Zestril, which may result in dizziness or fainting.

If you have congestive heart failure or other heart problems, a kidney disorder, or a connective tissue disease such as lupus, you should use Generic Zestril with caution. Your doctor may perform periodic blood tests while you are taking Generic Zestril

If you are taking Generic Zestril, a complete assessment of your kidney function should be done and kidney function should continue to be monitored. Generic Zestril is used with great caution after a heart attack if the patient also has kidney problems.

Generic Zestril also should be used with caution if you are on dialysis. There have been reports of extreme allergic reactions during dialysis in people taking Generic Zestril.

If you are taking high doses of a diuretic (water pill) and Generic Zestril, you may develop excessively low blood pressure. This problem is also more likely if you are being treated for heart failure.

Generic Zestril may cause some people to become dizzy, light-headed, or faint, especially if they have heart failure or are taking a water pill at the same time. Some people may experience dizziness caused by low blood pressure in the first few days of taking Generic Zestril. This can be relieved by lying down until the symptoms pass. If affected you should avoid performing potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinary.

If you develop chest pain, sore throat, fever, and chills, contact your doctor for medical attention. It could indicate a more serious condition.

If your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow, stop taking Generic Zestril and contact your doctor.

Avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium. Limit your consumption of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, prunes, raisins, orange juice, and whole and skim milk. Ask your doctor for advice on how much of these foods to consume.

Generic Zestril should be used with caution in patients with decreased kidney function, diabetes, disease of the blood vessels in and around the brain (cerebrovascular disease), diseases affecting connective tissue, eg scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis (collagen vascular diseases), heart disease caused by inadequate blood flow to the heart (ischaemic heart disease), low blood pressure (hypotension), narrowing of blood vessels in the extremities (peripheral vascular disease), narrowing of the artery which supplies blood to the kidneys (renal artery stenosis), people aged over 70 years, people receiving therapy to remove certain types of fat from the blood using a machine (LDL apheresis), people taking blood pressure lowering medicines, people undergoing therapy to decrease allergy to bee or wasp stings (desensitisation), people with low fluid volume or salt levels in the body, eg due to diuretic therapy, low-sodium diet, diarrhoea or vomiting, severe heart failure.

Generic Zestril should not to be used in people with any condition in which there is obstruction to the pumping of blood out of the heart (outflow tract obstruction), enlargement of a chamber of the heart (right ventricle) due to high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery (cor pulmonale), heart disease characterised by thickening of the internal heart muscle and a blockage inside the heart (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy), hereditary angioedema (angioneurotic oedema), history of swelling of the lips, face or tongue (angioedema) caused by Generic Zestril, history of swelling of the lips, face or tongue with no known cause (idiopathic angioedema), kidney failure requiring a certain type of haemodialysis (high-flux membrane), narrowing of the main artery of the body (aortic stenosis), pregnancy, excessive sweating, dehydration, severe diarrhea, or vomiting could cause you to lose too much water and cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously.

Possible Generic Zestril side effects
Side effects of Generic Zestril cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Generic Zestril.

More common side effects of Generic Zestril may include:
Chest pain, cough, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, low blood pressure.

Less common or rare side effects of Generic Zestril may include:
Abdominal pain, anemia, arm pain, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood clot in lungs, blurred vision, breast pain, bronchitis, changes in sense of taste, chills, common cold, confusion, constipation, coughing up blood, cramps in stomach/intestines, decreased sex drive, dehydration, diabetes, dizziness on standing, double vision, dry mouth, fainting, fatigue, feeling of illness, fever, flu, fluid retention, flushing, gas, gout, hair loss, heart attack, heartburn, hepatitis, hip pain, hives, impotence, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, incoordination, indigestion, inflamed stomach, intolerance of light, irregular heartbeat, irritability, joint pain, kidney trouble or failure, knee pain, laryngitis, leg pain, little or no urine, lung cancer, lung inflammation, memory impairment, muscle pain or cramps, nasal congestion or inflammation, nausea, neck pain, nervousness, nosebleed, numbness or tingling, painful breathing, painful urination, pelvic pain, pneumonia, prickling or burning sensation, rapid or fluttery heartbeat, rash, reddening of skin, respiratory infection, ringing in ears, runny nose, sensitivity to light, skin infections or eruptions, shoulder pain, sinus inflammation, sleepiness, sore throat, spasm, stroke, sweating, swelling of face or arms and legs, taste disturbances, thigh pain, tremor, urinary tract infection, vertigo, virus infection, vision changes, vomiting, weakness, weight loss or gain, wheezing, yellow eyes and skin.