Inspra Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Inspra is prescribed to improve survival in patients who have congestive heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction following a heart attack. It is also used to treat high blood pressure. Inspra may be used alone or with other antihypertensive agents. Inspra lowers blood pressure by blocking the actions of the hormone aldosterone.

Inspra Dosage

• The recommended daily dose is 50 milligrams. Your doctor will start you at 25 milligrams once a day and gradually increase the dose to 50 milligrams once a day over a period of 4 weeks.

Uses of Inspra

• Inspra is used to treat high blood pressure.
• Inspra is used to help patients who have congestive heart failure after having a heart attack.
• It can be used either alone or with other medicines for high blood pressure.

Side Effects of Inspra

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe to continue using Inspra. Side effects may include:

• Chest pain
• dizziness
• headache
• high cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• increased blood potassium level
• increased risk for heart attack
• kidney problems

Warnings and precautions before taking Inspra:

• Inspra could cause potentially dangerous increases of blood potassium levels. Your doctor will monitor you closely to guard against this problem, especially if you also have diabetes or mild kidney or liver problems.
• Use Inspra with caution if you have severe liver impairment. The drug's safety has not been studied in such people.
• In clinical studies, Inspra did not appear to benefit people 75 years and older who were being treated for congestive heart failure following a heart attack. However, when treated for high blood pressure, those 65 and older experienced the same benefits as younger people.

Drug Interaction :- If Inspra is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either drug could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Inspra with the following:

• Blood pressure drugs known as ACE inhibitors, such as Prinivil and Zestril
  
• Blood pressure drugs known as angiotensin II receptor antagonists, such as Avapro,
• Cozaar, and Diovan
  
• Erythromycin (Ery-Tab)
  
• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
  
• Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate)
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or Advil
  
• Potassium supplements including K-Tabs, K-Dur, and Slow-K
  
• Saquinavir (Invirase)
  
• Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)

Overdose

No cases of overdose have been reported. However, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek emergency treatment immediately. The most likely symptoms of an Inspra overdose may include:

• Dizziness
• diarrhea
• feeling faint or light-headed
• nausea
• weakness