Lotensin

Lotensin is a prescription medicine used with other medications to treat high blood pressure. Lotensin belongs to a group of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Lotensin works by blocking the ACE enzyme, which helps blood vessels to relax and lowers blood pressure.

Lotensin is a prescription medication used alone or with other medications to control high blood pressure (hypertension). 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take Lotensin exactly as prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you based on your age, other medical conditions you have, and other medications you take.

To treat high blood pressure in adults, the recommended starting dose of Lotensin is 10 mg. The normal daily dose is 20 mg to 40 mg. The dose can be divided. This means that if your daily dose is 20 mg, it can be taken as 10 mg twice daily (to reach 20 mg daily). 

The dose of Lotensin for children is based on weight. The recommended starting dose of Lotensin for children six years of age and older is 0.2 mg/kg taken once a day.

WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY

When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Lotensin as soon as possible.

Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.

Do not take Lotensin if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Each manufacturer may use different inactive ingredients. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitors.

Do not take Lotensin if you have ever had angioedema, with or without prior ACE inhibitor treatment.

Lotensin , if taken while pregnant, can harm or cause death to the unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this medication.

ACE inhibitors, including Lotensin, have caused liver failure. While this is rare, be sure to tell your doctor right away if you show symptoms of liver damage including nausea, lack of appetite, tiredness, diarrhea, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), stomach pain, flu-like symptoms, and bleeding easily.

Lotensin may cause extreme low blood pressure. The symptoms are lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting. Until you know how Lotensin affects you, do not drive or operate heavy machinery. Extreme low blood pressure is more likely to happen if you:

• are taking a diuretic
• are on dialysis
• have diarrhea
• are vomiting
• are not drinking enough liquids
• are sweating a lot

The most common Lotensin side effects are:

• headache
• dizziness
• tiredness
• drowsiness
• nausea
• cough

Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away.

Less common, but more serious Lotensin side effects are:

• swelling of the face, legs, feet, ankles, arms, lips, tongue, and throat 
• swelling of the intestines (intestinal angioedema)
• serious allergic reactions
• rash
• decreased kidney function
• pancreatitis
• asthma
• difficulty breathing
• increased levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia)
• anemia
• increased risk of infections
• liver failure

This is not a complete list of Lotensin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Tell your doctor if you develop any side effects.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamin, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• diuretics 
• potassium-sparing diuretics
• potassium supplements
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• NSAIDs
• injectable gold (sodium aurothiomalate)

This is not a complete list of Lotensin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lotensin may cause harm to your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking Lotensin, tell your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Small amounts of Lotensin may be excreted in human breast milk. The effects are unknown.

Your first dose of Lotensin may make you dizzy. If possible, take this medication at night.

Do not drive, operate machinery, or perform tasks that require you to be alert until you know how Lotensin affects you.

Some people will develop a cough while taking ACE inhibitors, like . Tell your doctor if this happens to you.