Univasc Medication - Uses & Side Effects

MOEXIPRIL (Univasc®) is an antihypertensive (blood pressure lowering agent) known as an ACE inhibitor. Moexipril controls high blood pressure (hypertension) by relaxing blood vessels; it is not a cure. High blood pressure levels can damage your kidneys, and may lead to a stroke or heart failure.

Univasc Dosage

• For people not taking a diuretic drug, the usual starting dose is 7.5 milligrams taken once a day, an hour before a meal. The dosage after that can range from 7.5 to 30 milligrams per day, taken in either a single dose or divided into 2 equal doses daily. The maximum dose is 60 milligrams per day. Your doctor will closely monitor the effect of Univasc and adjust it according to your individual needs.
• For people with kidney problems, the usual starting dose is 3.75 milligrams a day; your doctor may gradually raise the dose to a maximum of 15 milligrams a day.

Uses of Univasc

• Moexipril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

Side Effects of Univasc

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 for you to continue taking Univasc. Side effects may include:

• Cough
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• flu-like symptoms

Warnings and precautions before taking Univasc:

• Your doctor will check your kidney function when you start taking Univasc and watch it carefully for the first few weeks.
• Univasc can cause low blood pressure, especially if you are taking high doses of diuretics. You may feel light-headed or faint, especially during the first few days of therapy. If these symptoms occur, contact your doctor. Your dosage may need to be adjusted or discontinued. If you actually faint, stop taking the drug and contact your doctor immediately.
• If you have congestive heart failure or other heart or circulatory disorders, use Univasc with caution. Be cautious, too, if you have kidney disease, diabetes, or a collagen-vascular disease such as lupus erythematosus or scleroderma.
• Excessive sweating, severe diarrhea, or vomiting could make you lose too much water, causing your blood pressure to become too low. Call your doctor if you have any of those conditions.
• If you notice a yellow coloring to your skin or the whites of your eyes, stop taking the drug and notify your doctor immediately. You could be developing liver problems.

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

• Diuretics (Diuril, Hydrodiuril, Lasix)
  
• Potassium supplements (Slow-K)
  
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (Aldactone, Moduretic, Maxzide)
  
• Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)

Overdose

Symptoms of a moexipril overdose include:

• extreme
• dizziness
• weakness
• fainting
• fatigue.