About moexipril

Moexipril is used in the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). High blood pressure often causes no symptoms, but if it is not treated it can damage blood vessels in the long term. This can lead to heart attacks, kidney problems, or stroke.

ACE inhibitors like moexipril prevent your body from creating a hormone known as angiotensin II. They do this by blocking (inhibiting) a chemical called angiotensin-converting enzyme. This relaxes your blood vessels and helps to reduce the amount of water put back into your blood by the kidneys. These actions help to decrease blood pressure.

Moexipril can be used on its own or alongside other medicines which reduce blood pressure.

Before taking moexipril

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking moexipril it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
• If you have kidney or liver problems.
• If you use salt substitutes which contain potassium.
• If you are dehydrated - for example, if you have had diarrhoea or sickness very recently.
• If you have been told you have atherosclerosis (a build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of your arteries).
• If you have peripheral vascular disease (a particular type of poor circulation).
• If you have collagen vascular disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or scleroderma.
• If you have been told you have cardiomyopathy (cardiac muscle disease), or aortic stenosis (narrowing of the main blood vessel from your heart), or any other heart problem.
• If you have ever had angio-oedema (where your face, tongue or throat swells).
• If you are having desensitisation treatment to protect against bee and wasp stings.
• If you have dialysis treatment, or treatment to remove cholesterol from your blood by a machine (LDL apheresis).
• If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
• If you have ever had an allergic or unusual reaction to any other ACE inhibitor (such as ramipril, lisinopril and perindopril), or to any other medicine.

How to take moexipril

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The leaflet will give you more information about the brand of moexipril you have been given, and a full list of possible side-effects from taking it.
• Take moexipril exactly as your doctor has told you to. The usual dose is one tablet each day. Your dose will also be on the label of the pack.
• Your doctor may advise you to take your very first dose of moexipril at bedtime. This is because you may feel dizzy when you first start taking it.
• After this first dose, take moexipril at a time of day you find easy to remember and take your doses at the same time each day. This will help you to avoid missing any doses. You can take moexipril tablets before or after meals.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your progress can be monitored. Your doctor will want you to have some blood tests to check on your kidney function from time to time.
• It is very important that you follow any dietary and lifestyle advice that you may have been given by your doctor, such as eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and taking regular exercise.
• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with moexipril. This is because some medicines (such as anti-inflammatory painkillers and indigestion remedies) may interfere with these tablets.
• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice about taking moexipril and alcohol. Alcohol will increase feelings of light-headedness and may not be recommended for you.
• If you have diabetes you may need to check your blood glucose more frequently, as these tablets may lower the levels of sugar in your blood. Your doctor will advise you about this.
• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking moexipril. This is because moexipril taken with an anaesthetic may make your blood pressure drop too low.
• Treatment with moexipril is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise.

Can moexipril cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

Important: if you experience any of the following rare but serious symptoms, stop taking moexipril and contact your doctor for advice straightaway:

• Any difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, mouth, tongue or throat. These are signs of an allergic reaction.
• Any yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes. These may be signs of jaundice which is a rare side-effect.
• A severe skin rash.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store moexipril

• Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines