Ramipril

[Sammy48]

My gp has prescribed Ramipril for borderline blood pressure. She said take in the morning, yet the pharmacist told me to take before I go to bed, because of side affect of feeling faint. I even had to sign a form in the chemist to say he had informed me of the side affect.

I am having second thoughts in taking it. I know most blood pressure meds have to be taken in the mornings, so this has scared the sh...t out of me.

5mg is the dosage.

[sandyRoe]

I've been taking it in the morning for years with no side effects. I don't think the time of day you take it would matter.

[paddywak]

I've been taking rampiril since 2000 and I've never experienced any side effects. I've never had to sign anything either, but I do take them at night.

[DaisyNonna]

My doctor has changed my prescription of Rampiril because of kidney worries.

[jno]

your doctor, who knows your medical history, should take precedence over the chemist, who doesn't. But the chemist did the right thing in alerting you to side effects. Take them in the morning. If you do feel faint, see your doctor again.

[jno]

incidentally, I came off perindopril becase I had a cold and I was coughing for weeks afterward. Apparently anything ending in pril can have this effect.

[Mamyalynne]

Take mine in the morning too.

[Sparkles62]

jno - Mr S was taken off these about 6 months ago because he had developed a cough and bad chest. Think the doc said that they were ace inhibitors and they had caused an ace cough. X

[Sammy48]

Jno, we have new gps on a regular basis, they only read what's on the screen in front of them, she was dithering as to what to do, first lifestyle changes, then antidepressants, then settled for blood pressure meds.

[jno]

we often have more than one problem at a time, and it can be misleading to pin a single label on it. I've had doctors say the same thing to me: it might be this, it might be that, let's try one treatment and if it doesn't work we can switch. If you're really unhappy you can change doctors; but in the meantime I'd do as she suggests and see how it goes. At least you know what possible side effect to look out for: people too often don't read the information sheets to find out.

[Ann]

Don't worry Sammy - I have been taking 10mg for 3 years. I take it just as I get into bed and haven't suffered one side effect from it (and you are on half my dose) People do like to scare-monger!

[Sammy48]

Thank you all for your answers.

[rbar66]

Hi, I take Ramipril and I have to take it in the evenings.

[Ann]

//people too often don't read the information sheets to find out//
Jno - My GP always says DONT read the info sheet inside the tablet box - they cover every possible side effect and they seem to be the same for every type of tablet. They just include it to cover themselves in case you sue them IMO.

[Old_Geezer]

As you mention it is for borderline cases. So I don't see it makes tuppence worth of odds when you take it. Are you saying you actually feel faint when taking it ? Never had that happen.

[jno]

well, I sort of thought that, Ann, until I got hit by a rather dramatic side-effect. Fortunately, having read the sheet, I knew at once what the problem was, which saved everyone a lot of faffing around.

[jno]

(just to make clear, that wasn't for a pril pill)

[Sqad]

I find this quite an interesting situation after coming from an era in which the doctor prescribed and the pharmacist dispensed.

Seems that this is no longer the case.

Ramipril is a popular drug for lowering BP and I do indeed have a certain amount of sympathy for the OP.......who does she believe?

How does the pharmacist know at what level the O.P,s BP is residing? If it is borderline, then I can see some advantage to taking the tablet at night to avoid a significant drop in BP. If the OP is hypertensive then taking it in the morning would be an advantage.

What must a patient think and who should a patient believe when two opinions differ so markedly and causing concern?

Certainly not a satisfactory state of affairs.

[EdmundD]

I started with Amlodipine a year ago and had a number of unpleasant side effects. My GP switched me to Ramipril. GP's advice was to take the Ramipril in the evening. Apart from the odd day when my lower legs seem to ache, the only other side effect I notice is vivid dreams.

[Mamyalynne]

I get the dreams too.