08/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/21/2024 14:28
Key takeaways:
Ramipril (Altace) treats high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions. The usual ramipril dosage for high blood pressure is between 2.5 mg to 20 mg per day. To manage heart failure or help prevent heart-related problems after a heart attack, the recommended ramipril dosage is 10 mg per day.
You'll typically start taking 2.5 mg of ramipril daily and work your way up to the recommended dose. Your prescriber will let you know when and how to increase your ramipril dosage based on your response.
In some cases, your prescriber may recommend taking ramipril twice a day to help manage your symptoms around the clock. If you have trouble swallowing ramipril capsules, you can open them and mix the contents with applesauce, water, or apple juice.
There are ways to save on generic ramipril. GoodRx can help you save over 60% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
Ramipril (Altace) is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It treats high blood pressure (hypertension) and other heart-related conditions. Taking the right amount of ramipril can help you get the most from your medication and help limit unwanted side effects.
Below, we'll cover the recommended ramipril dosages for adults. Ramipril isn't approved for children, but it's sometimes prescribed off-label for certain conditions. In this case, your pediatrician will provide dosing instructions based on your child's needs and medical history.
Your ramipril dosage depends on what you're treating and your other medical conditions.
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For high blood pressure, the usual ramipril dosage is between 2.5 mg and 20 mg daily. In most cases, you'll start with 2.5 mg of ramipril once daily. Your prescriber will monitor your blood pressure and increase your dosage from there as needed.
If ramipril alone isn't enough to lower your blood pressure, your prescriber may add on a diuretic medication ("water pill") to help.
If you're at least 55 years of age and at a high risk for heart-related problems, ramipril can help lower your risk.
To reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, the recommended ramipril dosage is 10 mg once daily. In most cases, you'll start with 2.5 mg of ramipril once daily for 1 week. Then, your dosage will likely increase to 5 mg once daily for 3 weeks. From there, your prescriber will increase your dosage as tolerated up to 10 mg per day.
For adults who've had a recent heart attack and are showing signs of heart failure, the target ramipril dosage is 5 mg twice a day. In most cases, you'll start with 2.5 mg twice daily (5 mg per day) then slowly increase to the target dosage about every 3 weeks as tolerated. If this starting dosage causes low blood pressure (hypotension), your prescriber may lower it to 1.25 mg twice daily instead.
In most cases, if you're taking ramipril for reasons related to heart failure, your prescriber will have you take your first dose under medical supervision. This ensures you'll have help on hand if your blood pressure drops too low.
Ramipril comes as an oral capsule in the following doses:
1.25 mg
2.5 mg
5 mg
10 mg
If you're taking ramipril for high blood pressure, you can take it once a day. But some people's blood pressure may go up toward the end of the day as ramipril's effects wear off. In this case, your prescriber may have you divide your daily dose into two smaller doses and take it twice a day. This can help manage your blood pressure better around the clock. Talk to your prescriber about which dosing regimen is best for your needs.
If you have trouble swallowing pills, you can open the ramipril capsule and mix the contents with 4 oz of applesauce, water, or apple juice. Be sure to eat or drink the entire amount to ensure you get your full dose. You can also mix your dose ahead of time and store it for up to 24 hours at room temperature or up to 48 hours in the fridge.
If you're living with kidney problems, you may need a lower ramipril dosage than described above. It's recommended to start with a ramipril dosage of 1.25 mg once daily. Your prescriber will increase it from there as tolerated to a maximum of 5 mg per day.
If you accidentally miss a dose of ramipril, take it as soon as you remember. If it's close to your next dose, skip the one you missed and continue with your normal dosing schedule. Don't double up on your ramipril dosage because of a missed dose unless your prescriber tells you to. This can increase your risk of low blood pressure.
To help avoid missed doses, set an alarm on your phone or try a medication reminder app.
If you take an extra dose of ramipril by accident, it's not likely to cause a serious problem. You may experience more side effects, such as dizziness or low blood pressure. But these effects should go away as your dose wears off.
But large amounts of ramipril can make your blood pressure fall dangerously low. If you or a loved one takes more ramipril than recommended, talk with your healthcare team or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If you're feeling faint or feel your symptoms are life-threatening, call 911 or seek emergency care right away.
Ramipril is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 60% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic ramipril's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $4.00per month with a free GoodRx discount.
Ramipril (Altace) is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that treats high blood pressure (hypertension) and other heart-related conditions. The typical ramipril dosage for high blood pressure is between 2.5 mg and 20 mg daily. The recommended ramipril dosage for heart failure or to prevent heart-related events is 10 mg daily.
In most cases, you'll start taking 2.5 mg of ramipril once or twice a day and slowly increase your dose from there. If you're living with kidney problems, you may need a lower ramipril dosage than usual. Your prescriber will help you find the best ramipril dosages for your needs based on your medical history.
PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2024). Ramipril-ramipril capsule [package insert].
Siddiqi, N., et al. (2019). Antihypertensive agents: A long way to safe drug prescribing in children. Pediatric Nephrology.
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