Before the beginning, and also regularly during the treatment with the drug Captopril Sandoz® should regularly monitor blood pressure and kidney function. In patients with chronic cardiac Insufficiency of the drug is used under close medical supervision.
Arterial hypotension
In patients with hypertension with the drug Captopril Sandoz®, severe arterial hypotension is observed only in rare cases, the probability of this condition increases when the volume of circulating blood decreases and the water-electrolyte balance is disturbed (for example, after treatment with high doses of diuretics), in patients with chronic heart failure or on hemodialysis. The possibility of a sharp drop in blood pressure can be minimized by first canceling (for 4-7 days) a diuretic or replenishing the volume of circulating blood (about a week before the application starts) or using the drug Captopril Sandoz® in small doses (6.25-12.5 mg / day) at the beginning of treatment.
With the use of antihypertensive drugs, a marked decrease in blood pressure in patients with impaired brain blood circulation, cardiovascular diseases, may increase the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke. If arterial hypotension has developed, the patient should be given a "lying down" position on the back with raised legs. Sometimes, it may be necessary to replenish the volume of circulating blood.
Renovascular hypertension
There is an increased risk of developing arterial hypotension and renal failure in patients with bilateral stenosis of the renal arteries or stenosis of the artery of a single kidney using ACE inhibitors.
Violation of kidney function can occur with a moderate change in the concentration of creatinine in the blood serum. In such patients, therapy should be started under close medical supervision from small doses, carefully titrating and controlling kidney function. The use of ACE inhibitors - including captopril - with aliskiren should be avoided in patients with severe renal failure (GFR less than 60 ml / min / 1.73 m).
Proteinuria
In patients, especially with impaired renal function or in combination with relatively high doses of ACE inhibitors taking the drug Captopril Sandoz®, there may be proteinuria. AT In most cases, proteinuria decreased or disappeared within 6 weeks, regardless of whether captopril treatment continued or not. Parameters of renal function such as residual blood nitrogen and creatinine in patients with proteinuria rarely changed.
Hyperkalemia
In some cases, when the drug is used Captopril Sandoz® there is an increase in potassium in the blood serum. The risk of developing hyperkalemia with ACE inhibitors is elevated in patients with renal insufficiency and diabetes, and also taking potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium preparations and other drugs that cause an increase in the potassium content in the blood (for example, heparin). You should avoid the simultaneous use of potassium-sparing diuretics and potassium preparations. With caution apply in patients on a low-salt or salt-free diet (an increased risk of developing hypotension) and hyperkalemia.
Neutropenia / agranulocytosis
In the first 3 months of therapy, the number of leukocytes in the blood is monitored monthly, then - once in 3 months. Neutropenia / agranulocytosis, anemia and thrombocytopenia have been reported in patients taking ACE inhibitors, including captopril. In patients with normal renal function and the absence of other complicating factors, neutropenia occurs rarely. A drug Captopril Sandoz® should be used with great care in patients with connective tissue diseases and simultaneously receiving immunosuppressive therapy (allopurinol or procainamide), especially with existing impairments of kidney function. Such patients in the first 3 months are monitored by a clinical blood test every 2 weeks, then every 2 months. If the number of white blood cells is below 4.0 x 109/ l, shows a general blood test once a week, below 1.0 x 109/ l - use of the drug Captopril Sandoz® is terminated. These patients can develop severe infections that are not amenable to intensive antibiotic therapy. During treatment, all patients should be instructed that if signs of infection (eg, sore throat, fever) occur, inform the attending physician and perform a clinical blood count with counting the leukocyte formula. In most patients, the number of white blood cells upon quitting captopril quickly returns to normal.
Anaphylactoid reactions
In patients taking the drug Captopril Sandoz® on the background of the desensitizing therapy conducted by the venom of Hymenoptera, etc., the risk of developing anaphylactoid reactions is increased. This can be avoided if the drug is temporarily interrupted.
When conducting hemodialysis in patients receiving the drug Captopril Sandoz®, the use of dialysis membranes with high permeability (for example, AN69®), as in such cases the risk of developing anaphylactoid reactions.
In rare cases, patients with ACE inhibitors may experience life-threatening anaphylactoid reactions during low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis with dextran sulfate. To prevent anaphylactoid reactions, ACE inhibitor therapy should be discontinued before each apheresis procedure of LPNHT using high-flux membranes.
Angioedema
In patients taking the drug Captopril Sandoz® with the appearance of pain in the abdomen must be differentiated with intestinal angioedema.
In the case of development of angioedema, the drug is canceled and provides thorough medical supervision. If the edema is localized on the face, special treatment is usually not required (to reduce the severity of symptoms can be used antihistamines); if the swelling spreads to the tongue, throat or larynx and there is a threat of development of airway obstruction and a threat to the life of the patient, you should immediately enter epinephrine (epinephrine) subcutaneously (0.5 ml in a dilution of 1: 1000), and also to be convinced of the free passableness of the airways. It is recommended to stop taking ACE inhibitors, including the drug Captopril Sandoz®, 12 hours prior to surgery, warning an anesthesiologist about the use of ACE inhibitors.
Cough
Development of unproductive, prolonged cough with the use of ACE inhibitors is reversible and is allowed after the withdrawal of treatment.
Diabetes
In patients with diabetes, who take hypoglycemic means for ingestion or insulin, should regularly monitor the concentration of glucose in the blood during the first month of treatment with the drug Captopril Sandoz®.
Impaired liver function
During therapy with ACE inhibitors, several cases of liver dysfunction with cholestatic jaundice, fulminant liver necrosis (in some cases) with a fatal outcome.
If the background of drug therapy Captopril Sandoz® develops jaundice or the activity of "liver" transaminases increases, the drug Captopril Sandoz® should be immediately discontinued; the patient should be under close supervision and, if necessary, receive appropriate therapy.
Hypokalemia
The simultaneous use of an ACE inhibitor and a thiazide diuretic does not exclude the possibility of hypokalemia. Recommended regularly monitor the potassium content in the blood.
Surgery / anesthesia
Arterial hypotension may occur in patients undergoing extensive surgical interventions or during the use of anesthetics, which are known to lower blood pressure. When arterial hypotension occurs, it is recommended that the volume of circulating blood be replenished.
Ethnic differences
ACE inhibitors, including the drug Captopril Sandoz®, have a less pronounced antihypertensive effect in patients of the Negroid race, which is likely due to the frequent occurrence of low renin activity in this group of patients.
Laboratory data
Captopril may cause a false positive urine test for acetone.