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The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 39307/0076.
Captopril 5mg/5ml Sugar Free Oral Solution
Captopril 5mg/5ml Sugar Free Oral Solution
The name of your medicine is Captopril 5mg/5ml Sugar Free Oral Solution but it will be referred to as 'Captopril' throughout this leaflet.
1. What Captopril is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Captopril
3. How to take Captopril
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Captopril
6. Contents of the pack and other information
This medicine contains the active substance Captopril. Captopril belongs to the group of medicines called Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors. ACE inhibitors work by helping to widen your blood vessels, which then make it easier for your heart to pump blood through them.
Captopril is used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart conditions. If high blood pressure is left uncontrolled it can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke. Captopril works by lowering your blood pressure which reduces this risk.
Captopril can also help people whose heart no longer pumps blood as well as it once did. This condition is known as heart failure.
Captopril may also be used to treat patients who recently suffered a heart attack. A heart attack happens once one of the major blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle becomes blocked. This means that the heart does not receive the oxygen it needs and the heart muscle becomes damaged.
In addition, Captopril can be used for the treatment of kidney disease in patients with diabetes.
You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse.
If any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Captopril.
If you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure:
If you are taking any of the following medicines, the risk of angioedema (rapid swelling under the skin in area such as the throat) is increased:
Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and the amount of electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals.
See also information under the heading 'Do not take Captopril if'.
If you are to have desensitisation treatment for wasp or bee stings you should tell the doctor who is treating you that you are taking Captopril.
If you are about to have treatment for the removal of cholesterol from your blood by a machine, (called LDL apheresis) you should tell your doctor you are taking Captopril.
Tell your doctor you are taking Captopril before you have any blood or urine tests as Captopril may interfere with the results of some tests.
Some Afro-Caribbean patients may require higher dose of Captopril to obtain an adequate reduction in blood pressure.
Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established. Newborns and infants may be at greater risk to the low blood pressure side-effects of Captopril.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription including herbal medicines. It is especially important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions: If you are taking an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or aliskiren (see also information under the headings 'Do not take Captopril if' and 'Warnings and precautions'.
Captopril can be taken with or without food. Your doctor may advise you to limit the amount of salt in your diet while taking Captopril.
Moderate amounts of alcohol will not affect Captopril, however, you should check with your doctor first to see if drinking is advisable for you.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Captopril before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of Captopril.
Captopril is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used after the third month of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Breast-feeding newborn babies (first few weeks after birth), and especially premature babies, is not recommended whilst taking Captopril.
In the case of an older baby your doctor should advise you on the benefits and risks of taking Captopril whilst breast-feeding, compared with other treatments.
Before surgery and anaesthesia (even at the dentist) you should tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Captopril as there may be sudden fall in your blood pressure.
Captopril can affect your ability to drive, usually when you first start taking your medicine or if your doctor changes your dose. If you do feel light-headed or dizzy when taking Captopril, you should not drive or use machinery.
Sodium benzoate (E211): This medicine contains 1.25mg Sodium benzoate in each 5ml dose, which is equivalent to 0.25mg/ml. Sodium benzoate may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old).
Sodium: This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5ml dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Note: Captopril Oral Solution is also available in 25mg/5ml strength which allows the dose to be taken in a smaller volume of solution. If you feel you would benefit from using the higher strength product, speak to your doctor.
The recommended doses are:
For the treatment of high blood pressure
The usual starting dose is 12.5 - 25mg (12.5 – 25ml) twice a day. Your doctor may gradually increase this dose to 100 - 150mg (100 – 150ml) a day. You may also need to be given other medicines to lower your blood pressure.
Older patients and those with kidney problems may be given a lower starting dose.
In heart failure
The usual starting dose is 6.25 - 12.5mg (6.25-12.5ml) two or three times a day.
Your doctor may gradually increase this dose to a maximum of 150mg (150ml) a day.
After heart attack
The usual starting dose is 6.25mg (6.25ml), which will then be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 150mg (150ml) a day.
For the treatment of diabetic patients with kidney disease
The usual dose is 75-100mg (75 – 100ml) a day.
For children
The starting dose is 0.3mg (0.3ml)/kg bodyweight, which may be increased gradually by the doctor.
For children with kidney problems, premature babies, new born babies and infants
The starting dose should be 0.15mg (0.15ml)/kg body weight.
Doctors sometimes prescribe different doses to the above and if this applies to you, you should discuss it with your doctor.
Sometimes patients may feel dizzy after taking the first one or two doses of Captopril. If this happens to you, lie down until these symptoms disappear.
You should try to take Captopril at about the same time each morning. It can be taken before, during or after meals.
Even if you feel well continue to take Captopril until your doctor tells you otherwise.
This medicine must be taken orally.
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse will show you how to administer this medicine by oral syringe or by a gastric feeding tube. The box containing this medicine will also contain a 1ml dosing syringe, a 5ml dosing syringe, and a syringe adaptor.
You may need to use both syringes in order to measure the correct dose.
1ml syringe, each numbered increment is 0.1ml equivalent to 0.1mg Captopril Oral Solution.
5ml syringe, each numbered increment is 1ml equivalent to 1mg Captopril Oral Solution.
The smaller increments are 0.2ml (0.2mg) of the solution.
Instructions are provided below for using the dosing syringe. If you have any questions about the dose you should use or how to use the syringe, ask your pharmacist.
a) Open the bottle: press the cap and turn it anticlockwise.
b) Separate the adaptor from the syringe. Insert the adaptor into the bottle neck. Ensure it is properly fixed. Take the syringe and put it in the adaptor opening.
c) Turn the bottle upside down. Fill the syringe with a small amount of solution by pulling the piston down, then push the piston upwards in order to remove any possible bubble. Pull the piston down to the graduation mark corresponding to the quantity in millilitres (ml) prescribed by your doctor.
d) Turn the bottle the right way up. Remove the syringe from the adaptor.
e) Empty the contents of the syringe into the patient's mouth by gently pushing the piston to the bottom of the syringe. The contents of the syringe should be emptied into the side cheek of the patient's mouth to avoid a choking hazard. Close the bottle with the plastic screw cap. Do not remove the syringe adaptor from the bottle. Wash the syringe with water.
If you or anyone else take more Captopril than you should go to your nearest hospital emergency department or tell your doctor immediately. Take the carton and any remaining Captopril you have with you. This will help the doctor identify what medicine you have taken.
If you miss a dose do not worry. Just carry on taking your normal dose when the next one is due. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following reactions stop taking Captopril and contact your doctor immediately:
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, 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 side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
The active substance is captopril.
Each 5ml of solution contains 5mg captopril.
The other ingredients are sodium benzoate (E211), citric acid monohydrate (E330), sodium citrate (E331), disodium edetate and purified water.
Captopril is a clear, colourless oral solution supplied in an amber glass bottle with tamper-evident child resistant plastic cap with a 1ml oral syringe with 0.01ml graduation marks and a 5ml oral syringe with 0.2ml graduation marks for measuring and administering the dose and a syringe adaptor.
Captopril Oral Solution is supplied in bottles containing 100ml oral solution.
This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) under the following names:
Malta: Captopril Thame 5mg/5ml Sugar Free Oral Solution.
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland): Captopril 5mg/5ml Sugar Free Oral Solution.
If this leaflet is hard to see or read, please call +44 (0) 208 515 3700 for help.
This leaflet was last revised in 06/2023.
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