Generic Name: captopril (KAP toe pril)
Brand Names: Capoten
What is captopril?
Captopril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme.
Captopril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure, kidney problems caused by diabetes, and to improve survival after a heart attack.
Captopril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about captopril?
Do not use captopril if you are pregnant. Captopril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of captopril. Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking captopril, unless your doctor has told you to.
Conditions that may cause very low blood pressure include: vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, heart disease, dialysis, a low salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink while taking captopril. Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking captopril?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to captopril or to any other ACE inhibitor, such as benazepril (Lotensin), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).
To make sure you can safely take captopril, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
liver disease;
heart disease or congestive heart failure;
diabetes; or
a connective tissue disease such as Marfan syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis.
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use captopril if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Captopril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking captopril. Captopril can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using captopril.
How should I take captopril?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
Captopril is usually taken 1 hour before meals. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Conditions that may cause very low blood pressure include: vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, heart disease, dialysis, a low salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink while taking captopril. Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using captopril. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
See also: Captopril dosage (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include feeling extremely dizzy or light-headed, or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking captopril?
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of captopril. Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking captopril, unless your doctor has told you to.
Captopril side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; severe stomach pain; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
feeling light-headed, fainting;
urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;
easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
chest pain; or
swelling, rapid weight gain.
Less serious side effects may include:
cough;
loss of taste sensation, loss of appetite;
dizziness, drowsiness, headache;
sleep problems (insomnia);
dry mouth, sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
nausea, diarrhea, constipation; or
mild skin itching or rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Captopril Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:
Initial dose: 25 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day one hour before meals.
Maintenance dose: 25 to 150 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day one hour before meals.
Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:
Initial dose: 25 mg orally 3 times a day (6.25 to 12.5 mg orally 3 times a day if volume depleted or hypotensive).
Maintenance dose: After a dose of 50 mg three times a day is reached, further increases in dosage should be delayed, where possible, for at least 2 weeks to determine if a satisfactory response occurs. Most patients studied have had a satisfactory clinical improvement at 50 to 100 mg three times a day.
Captopril should generally be used in conjunction with a diuretic and digitalis.
Usual Adult Dose for Left Ventricular Dysfunction:
Initial dose: 6.25 mg orally for one dose, then 12.5 mg orally 3 times a day.
Increasing dose: The dose is increased to 25 mg orally 3 times a day during the next several days.
Maintenance dose: The dose is increased to a target dose of 50 mg orally 3 times a day over the next several weeks as tolerated.
Therapy may be initiated as early as three days following a myocardial infarction.
Captopril may be used in patients treated with other postmyocardial infarction therapies, e.g., thrombolytics, aspirin, beta blockers.
Usual Adult Dose for Diabetic Nephropathy:
The recommended dose for long-term use is 25 mg orally 3 times a day.
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertensive Emergency:
When prompt titration of blood pressure is indicated, continue diuretic therapy and halt current medication therapy and initiate 25 mg two or three times daily under close supervision. Increase the dose every 24 hours or less until a satisfactory response is obtained or the maximum dose is reached.
Usual Adult Dose for Cystinuria:
Initial dose: 25 mg orally 2 to 3 times a day one hour before meals. Initial doses may be titrated as tolerated approximately every 1 to 2 weeks to reduce the degree of cystinuria.
Limited data have shown significant reductions in the urinary excretion of cystine after daily doses of captopril of 150 mg.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:
Note: Dosage must be titrated according to patient response; use lowest effective dose; lower doses should be used in patients who are sodium and water depleted due to diuretic therapy.
Premature neonates and term neonates less than or equal to 7 days of age:
Initial: 0.01 mg/kg/dose every 8 to 12 hours; titrate dose
Term neonates greater than 7 days of age:
Initial: 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg/dose every 8 to 24 hours; titrate dose upward to maximum of 0.5 mg/kg/dose given every 6 to 24 hours
Infants:
Initial: 0.15 to 0.3 mg/kg/dose; titrate dose upward to maximum of 6 mg/kg/day in 1 to 4 divided doses; usual required dose: 2.5 to 6 mg/kg/day
Children:
Initial: 0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg/dose; titrate upward to a maximum dose of 6 mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses
Older children:
Initial: 6.25 to 12.5 mg/dose every 12 to 24 hours; titrate upward to maximum of 6 mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses
Adolescents to adults:
Initial: 12.5 to 25 mg/dose given every 8 to 12 hours; increase by 25 mg/dose at 1 to 2 week intervals based on patient response
Maximum dose: 450 mg/day; usual dosage range for hypertension
Usual Pediatric Dose for Diabetic Nephropathy:
Note: Dosage must be titrated according to patient response; use lowest effective dose; lower doses should be used in patients who are sodium and water depleted due to diuretic therapy.
Premature neonates and term neonates less than or equal to 7 days of age:
Initial: 0.01 mg/kg/dose every 8 to 12 hours; titrate dose
Term neonates greater than 7 days of age:
Initial: 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg/dose every 8 to 24 hours; titrate dose upward to maximum of 0.5 mg/kg/dose given every 6 to 24 hours
Infants:
Initial: 0.15 to 0.3 mg/kg/dose; titrate dose upward to maximum of 6 mg/kg/day in 1 to 4 divided doses; usual required dose: 2.5 to 6 mg/kg/day
Children:
Initial: 0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg/dose; titrate upward to a maximum dose of 6 mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses
Older children:
Initial: 6.25 to 12.5 mg/dose every 12 to 24 hours; titrate upward to maximum of 6 mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses
Adolescents to adults:
Initial: 12.5 to 25 mg/dose given every 8 to 12 hours; increase by 25 mg/dose at 1 to 2 week intervals based on patient response
Maximum dose: 450 mg/day; usual dosage range for hypertension
Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:
Note: Dosage must be titrated according to patient response; use lowest effective dose; lower doses should be used in patients who are sodium and water depleted due to diuretic therapy.
Premature neonates and term neonates less than or equal to 7 days of age:
Initial: 0.01 mg/kg/dose every 8 to 12 hours; titrate dose
Term neonates greater than 7 days of age:
Initial: 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg/dose every 8 to 24 hours; titrate dose upward to maximum of 0.5 mg/kg/dose given every 6 to 24 hours
Infants:
Initial: 0.15 to 0.3 mg/kg/dose; titrate dose upward to maximum of 6 mg/kg/day in 1 to 4 divided doses; usual required dose: 2.5 to 6 mg/kg/day
Children:
Initial: 0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg/dose; titrate upward to a maximum dose of 6 mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses
Older children:
Initial: 6.25 to 12.5 mg/dose every 12 to 24 hours; titrate upward to maximum of 6 mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses
Adolescents to adults:
Initial: 12.5 to 25 mg/dose given every 8 to 12 hours; increase by 25 mg/dose at 1 to 2 week intervals based on patient response
Maximum dose: 450 mg/day; usual dosage range for hypertension
What other drugs will affect captopril?
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
gold injections to treat arthritis;
lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith);
a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con;
salt substitutes that contain potassium;
drugs that can dilate blood vessels, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Edex), nitroglycerin (Nitro Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Transderm Nitro, and others), nitroprusside (Nitropress), nesiritide (Natrecor), minoxidil (Loniten), or isosorbide dinitrate (Imdur, Isordil);
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others; or
a diuretic (water pill).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with captopril. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More captopril resources
- Captopril Side Effects (in more detail)
- Captopril Dosage
- Captopril Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Captopril Drug Interactions
- Captopril Support Group
- 3 Reviews for Captopril - Add your own review/rating
- captopril Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Captopril Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Captopril MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Captopril Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Capoten Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Capoten Consumer Overview
Compare captopril with other medications
- Cystinuria
- Diabetic Kidney Disease
- Heart Failure
- High Blood Pressure
- Hypertensive Emergency
- Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about captopril.
See also: captopril side effects (in more detail)
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