General Information
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in
this leaflet
This leaflet answers some
common questions about ACCURETIC.
It does
not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your
doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have
risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the
risks of you taking ACCURETIC against the benefits
he/she expects it will have for you.
If you
have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask
your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this
leaflet with your ACCURETIC tablets. You may need
to read it again.
What ACCURETIC is used
for
ACCURETIC is a combination of a
medicine called angiotensin converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitor and a water tablet (diuretic).
ACCURETIC is used to lower high blood pressure
(hypertension). Everyone has blood pressure. This
pressure helps get your blood all around your
body. Your blood pressure may be different at
different times of the day, depending on how busy
or worried you are. You have hypertension (high
blood pressure) when your blood pressure stays
higher than is needed, even when you are calm and
relaxed.
There are usually no symptoms of
hypertension. The only way of knowing that you
have hypertension is to have your blood pressure
checked on a regular basis. If high blood pressure
is not treated it can lead to serious health
problems, including stroke, heart disease and
kidney failure.
How ACCURETIC works
ACCURETIC works by widening your blood
vessels, which reduces pressure in the vessels,
making it easier for your heart to pump blood
around your body.
ACCURETIC also works by
making your kidneys pass more water and salt and
retain more potassium. This helps reduce high
blood pressure.
Your doctor may have
prescribed ACCURETIC for another reason. Ask your
doctor if you have any questions about why
ACCURETIC has been prescribed for you.
ACCURETIC is not addictive.
This
medicine is available only with a doctor's
prescription.
Before you take ACCURETIC
When you must not take it
Do not take
ACCURETIC if:
you have an allergy to ACCURETIC
or any other medicine containing quinapril,
hydrochlorothiazide, or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of this leaflet
you have an
allergy to any sulfonamide or sulfur medicines.
One of the active ingredients of
ACCURETIC, hydrochlorothiazide, is a sulfur-
containing medicine (a sulfonamide). Therefore, if
you are allergic to sulfur medicines, such as some
antibiotics, you are likely to be allergic to
ACCURETIC. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if
you are not sure whether you are allergic to
sulfur medicines.
Symptoms of an allergic
reaction to ACCURETIC may include skin rash,
itchiness, shortness of breath, swelling of the
face, lips or tongue, muscle pain or tenderness or
joint pain.
you have taken any other 'ACE
inhibitor' medicine before, which caused your
face, lips, tongue, throat, hands or feet to swell
up, or made it hard for you to breathe.
If
you have had an allergic reaction to an ACE
inhibitor before, you may be allergic to
ACCURETIC.
you or your family have a history of
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, hands
or feet for no apparent reason.
you have
kidney problems or a condition called 'renal
artery stenosis'.
you have regular dialysis
for blood filtration.
You may experience an
allergic reaction.
Do not take ACCURETIC if
you are pregnant or breastfeeding. ACCURETIC may
enter your womb or it may pass into the breast
milk and there is the possibility that your baby
may be affected.
Do not take ACCURETIC
after the expiry date printed on the pack or if
the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should
start taking ACCURETIC, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your
doctor if you have allergies to:
any other
medicines
any other substances, such as foods,
preservatives or dyes
Tell your doctor if
you have or have had any medical conditions,
especially the following:
kidney problems, or
are having dialysis
liver problems
heart
problems
low blood pressure, which you may
notice as dizziness or light-headedness
diabetes
high levels of potassium in your
blood
gout
high cholesterol
Systemic
Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma or other
autoimmune diseases
You must also tell your
doctor if you:
are following a very low salt
diet
are about to receive desensitisation
therapy for an allergy
are about to have
surgery or a general anaesthetic
plan to
become pregnant or breastfeed
If you have
not told your doctor about any of the above, tell
him/her before you start taking ACCURETIC.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor
or pharmacist if you are taking any other
medicines, including any that you buy without a
prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or
health food shop.
Some medicines and
ACCURETIC may interfere with each other. These
include:
other medicines used to treat high
blood pressure, e.g. angiotensin receptor blockers
other diuretics, also known as fluid or water
tablets
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) or Cox II inhibiting medicines used to
relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of
inflammation, including arthritis
potassium
supplements or potassium-containing salt
substitutes
lithium, a medicine used to treat
mood swings and some types of depression
tetracycline antibiotics
steroid medicines
such as cortisone, prednisone
insulin and
tablets used to treat diabetes
barbiturates,
used to treat epilepsy, such as phenobarbitone
strong pain killers such as codeine, morphine,
dextropropoxyphene
cholestyramine and
colestipol, used to treat high cholesterol
medicines used to relax muscles before and
during surgery
medicines used in emergency
situations such as adrenaline
alcohol
These medicines may be affected by ACCURETIC,
or may affect how well it works. You may need
different amounts of your medicine, or you may
need to take different medicines. Your doctor will
advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may
have more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking ACCURETIC.
Use
in children
The safety and effectiveness of
ACCURETIC in children has not been established.
How to take ACCURETIC
Follow all
directions given to you by your doctor or
pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the
information contained in this leaflet.
Your
doctor or pharmacist will tell you which ACCURETIC
tablet you will need to take each day. This
depends on your condition and whether or not you
are taking any other medicines.
If you do
not understand the instructions on the box, ask
your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How
much to take
For most patients, the usual
starting dose of ACCURETIC is 10/12.5 mg a day.
The dose may need to be increased to one ACCURETIC
20/12.5 tablet a day, then two ACCURETIC 10/12.5
tablets a day if necessary. Most patients take
between 10/12.5 to 20/12.5 mg daily. Each dose may
be taken once a day.
How to take it
Swallow ACCURETIC whole with a full glass of
water.
Do not chew the tablets.
When
to take it
Take ACCURETIC at about the same
time each day, with or without food. Taking your
tablets at the same time each day will have the
best effect. It will also help you remember when
to take the tablets. It does not matter whether
you take it with or without food.
How long
to take it
ACCURETIC helps control your
condition, but does not cure it. Therefore you
must take ACCURETIC every day. Continue taking
your medicine for as long as your doctor tells
you.
If you forget to take it
If it
is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose
you missed and take your next dose when you are
meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you
remember and then go back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
Do not take a double
dose to make up for the dose that you missed. This
may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted
side effect.
If you are not sure what to
do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you
have trouble remembering to take your medicine,
ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you
take too much (overdose)
Immediately
telephone your doctor or the Australian Poisons
Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or the
New Zealand National Poisons Information Centre
(telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), or go
to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital,
if you think that you or anyone else may have
taken too much ACCURETIC. Do this even if there
are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you take too much ACCURETIC, you may
feel light-headed, dizzy or you may faint. You may
also become thirsty, confused, have a change in
the amount of urine passed or have a fast heart
beat.
While you are using ACCURETIC
Things you must do
If you are about to
be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor,
dentist or pharmacist that you are taking
ACCURETIC.
Make sure you drink enough water
during exercise and hot weather when you are
taking ACCURETIC, especially if you sweat a lot.
If you do not drink enough water while taking
ACCURETIC, you may feel faint, light-headed or
sick. This is because your blood pressure is
dropping suddenly. If you continue to feel unwell,
tell your doctor.
If you have excess
vomiting and/or diarrhoea while taking ACCURETIC,
or you have any of the following symptoms, tell
your doctor:
dry mouth, thirst
weakness,
tiredness, drowsiness
muscle pains or cramps
fast heart beat
passing less urine than
normal
You may be dehydrated because you
are losing too much water.
If you feel
light-headed or dizzy after taking your first dose
of ACCURETIC, or when your dose is increased, tell
your doctor immediately.
If you plan to
have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic,
tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking
ACCURETIC. Your blood pressure may drop suddenly.
If you become pregnant while taking
ACCURETIC, tell your doctor immediately.
If
you are about to have any blood tests, tell your
doctor that you are taking ACCURETIC. ACCURETIC
may interfere with the results of some tests.
Have your blood pressure checked when your
doctor says, to make sure ACCURETIC is working.
Go to your doctor regularly for a check-
up. Your doctor may occasionally do a blood test
to check your potassium levels and see how your
kidneys are working.
Things you must not
do
Do not give ACCURETIC to anyone else,
even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take ACCURETIC to treat any other
complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells
you to.
Do not stop taking ACCURETIC, or
lower the dosage, without checking with your
doctor.
Things to be careful of
If
you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting
out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing
up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or
chairs, will help your body get used to the change
in position and blood pressure. If this problem
continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Be careful driving or operating machinery
until you know how ACCURETIC affects you. As with
other medicines in this class, ACCURETIC may cause
dizziness, light-headedness or tiredness in some
people. Make sure you know how you react to
ACCURETIC before you drive a car, operate
machinery, or do anything else that could be
dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed. If
this occurs do not drive. If you drink alcohol,
dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Things that would be helpful for your blood
pressure
Some self help measures suggested
below may help your condition.
Talk to your
doctor or pharmacist about these measures and for
more information.
Alcohol - your doctor may
advise you to limit your alcohol intake.
Weight - your doctor may suggest losing some
weight to help lower your blood pressure and help
lessen the amount of work your heart has to do.
Some people may need a dietician's help to lose
weight.
Diet - eat a healthy diet which
includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, bread
(preferably wholegrain), cereals and fish. Also
eat less sugar and fat (especially saturated fat)
which includes sausages, fatty meats, full cream
dairy products, biscuits, cakes, pastries,
chocolates, chips and coconut. Monounsaturated and
polyunsaturated fats from olive oil, canola oil,
avocado and nuts are beneficial in small
quantities.
Salt - your doctor may advise you
to watch the amount of salt in your diet. To
reduce your salt intake you should avoid using
salt in cooking or at the table and avoid cooked
or processed foods containing high sodium (salt)
levels.
Exercise - regular exercise,
maintained over the long term, helps to reduce
blood pressure and helps get the heart fitter.
Regular exercise also improves your blood
cholesterol levels, helps reduce your weight and
stress levels, and improves your sleep, mood and
ability to concentrate. However, it is important
not to overdo it. Before starting any exercise,
ask your doctor about the best kind of programme
for you.
Smoking - your doctor may advise you
to stop smoking or at least cut down. Ask your
doctor or pharmacist for further information and
advice.
Side effects
Tell your
doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do
not feel well while you are taking ACCURETIC.
ACCURETIC helps most people with high blood
pressure, but it may have unwanted side effects in
a few people. All medicines can have side effects.
Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they
are not. You may need medical treatment if you get
some of the side effects.
If you are over
65 years of age you may have an increased chance
of getting side effects.
Ask your doctor or
pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Following is a list of possible side
effects. Do not be alarmed by this list. You may
not experience any of them.
Tell your
doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the
following and they worry you:
feeling light-
headed, dizzy or faint
dry cough
headache
feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
stomach
pain
diarrhoea
constipation
aching,
tender or weak joints or muscles not caused by
exercise
unusual tiredness or weakness,
fatigue
sleepiness or drowsiness
difficulty in getting or maintaining an
erection (impotence)
runny or blocked nose, or
sneezing
taste disturbances or loss of taste
confusion or nervousness
restlessness
back pain
indigestion
sore throat and
discomfort when swallowing
rash
temporary
blurred vision or yellow vision
These side
effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor
as soon as possible if you notice any of the
following:
itchy or raised skin rash, hives or
nettlerash
muscle cramps
symptoms of
sunburn (such as redness, itching, swelling,
blistering) which may occur more quickly than
normal
signs of anaemia such as tiredness,
being short of breath and looking pale
fast or
irregular heart beat
shortness of breath or
tightness in the chest
tingling or numbness in
the hands, feet or ankles
severe upper stomach
pain, often with nausea and vomiting
signs of
worrying or frequent infections such as fever,
severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
passing little or no urine
swelling of the
hands, feet or ankles
bleeding or bruising
more easily than normal
yellowing of the skin
and/or eyes.
These may be serious side
effects. You may need medical attention. Serious
side effects are rare.
If any of the
following happen, stop taking ACCURETIC and either
tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and
Emergency at your nearest hospital:
fainting
within a few hours of taking a dose
collapse,
numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or
throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or
breathing
sudden onset of stomach pains or
cramps with or without nausea or vomiting
pink
or red itchy spots on the skin which may blister
and progress to form raised, red, pale-centred
marks
severe flaking or peeling of the skin
severe blisters and bleeding in the lips,
eyes, mouth, nose and genitals
severe skin
reaction which starts with painful red areas, then
large blisters and ends with peeling of layers of
skin. This may be accompanied by fever and chills,
aching muscles and generally feeling unwell
chest pain
These are very serious side
effects. You may need urgent medical attention or
hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Other side effects not listed above may
occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you notice anything that is making
you feel unwell.
After using ACCURETIC
Storage
Keep your tablets in the box
until it is time to take them. If you take the
tablets out of the box they will not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place
where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do
not store ACCURETIC or any other medicine in the
bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it on
a windowsill or in the car on hot days. Heat and
dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep
it where children cannot reach it. A locked
cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the
ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist
tells you to stop taking ACCURETIC or the tablets
have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist
what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks
like
ACCURETIC tablets come in two
strengths and each has a different appearance:
ACCURETIC 10/12.5 - Pink, oval, biconvex,
film-coated tablets, scored on both sides
ACCURETIC 20/12.5 - Pink, triangular,
biconvex, film-coated tablets, scored on one
side
A box of ACCURETIC contains 30
tablets.
Ingredients
Active
ingredients:
ACCURETIC 10/12.5 - 10 mg
quinapril hydrochloride and 12.5 mg
hydrochlorothiazide per tablet
ACCURETIC
20/12.5 - 20 mg quinapril hydrochloride and 12.5
mg hydrochlorothiazide per tablet
Other
ingredients:
Crospovidone
Lactose
magnesium carbonate
magnesium stearate
povidone
candelilla wax
Opadry Pink
OY-S-6937
ACCURETIC does not contain
sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Supplier
ACCURETIC is supplied in
Australia by:
Pfizer Australia Pty
Ltd
ABN 50 008 422 348
38-42 Wharf
Road
West Ryde NSW 2114
Australia
Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229
ACCURETIC is supplied in
New Zealand by:
Pfizer New Zealand Ltd
PO Box
3998
Auckland
New Zealand
Toll Free
Number: 0800 736 363
Australian Registration
Numbers
ACCURETIC 10/12.5 - AUST R
81930
ACCURETIC 20/12.5 - AUST R 81931
This leaflet was prepared on
10 May
2005
© Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd, 2005
® Registered Trade Mark