Accuretic 20/12.5mg (Quinapril/HCTZ)

Accuretic general information

What is Accuretic used for?

Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg are a fixed dose combination medication used to treat hypertension, in people whose blood pressure cannot be controlled by a single medication.  Although there are usually no other symptoms, essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest with usually no obvious and identifiable cause, increases risk of cardiovascular disease and if uncontrolled can cause kidney damage, stroke, heart attack and heart failure.  Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg lower blood pressure to normal resting levels, which helps the heart to cope better and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and end organ damage.  

How does Accuretic work?

Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg contain a fixed dose combination of two medications that work together to reduce blood pressure, in a way that is more effective that if each drug is used alone.  Quinapril is an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that prevents the formation of angiotensin II, a hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, which is the force needed to pump blood around the body.  Angiotensin II causes salt and water retention by the kidneys, and causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow); this increases blood volume while at the same time reducing blood vessel volume, which increases blood pressure.  Quinapril in Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg inhibits the conversion of angiotensin II from angiotensin I, which allows blood vessels to relax and widen, reducing the force needed by the heart to pump blood around the body, reducing its workload and lowering blood pressure.  Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic and acts directly on the distal convoluted tubule of the kidneys to promote the removal of salts and water from the blood.  It works by inhibiting reabsorption of salts (sodium and chloride ions) back into the blood in the kidney tubules, and this action promotes excretion of salt along with water, which increases urine volume and decreases blood volume.  The combined action of quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide in Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg provides a significant and additive reduction in blood pressure, which is maintained for as long as you take your Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg

What does Accuretic contain?

Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg contain the active ingredients quinapril hydrochloride 20mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg that are used in combination to treat hypertension.  They also contain crospovidone, lactose, magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, povidone, candelilla wax, opadry pink OY-S-6937.

Treating hypertension (high blood pressure) with Accuretic

Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg contain a fixed dose combination of two medications that are used to treat hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest, in people whose blood pressure cannot be controlled by a single medication.  Blood pressure is the force needed to pump blood around the body and if too high can increase risk of cardiovascular disease, resulting in kidney damage, stroke, heart attack and heart failure.  The two antihypertensive drugs work together to reduce blood pressure, by causing relaxing and widening of blood vessels (vasodilation) and by increasing the removal water and salt from the blood, in a way that is more effective than if each drug is used alone.  Quinapril is an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that prevents the formation of angiotensin II, a hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure.  Angiotensin II causes salt and water retention by the kidneys, and causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow); this increases blood volume while at the same time reducing blood vessel volume, which increases blood pressure.  Quinapril in Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg inhibits the conversion of angiotensin II from angiotensin I, which allows blood vessels to relax and widen lowering blood pressure.  Hydrochlorothiazide in Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg is a diuretic and acts directly on the kidneys and also promotes the removal of salts and water from the blood, which increases urine volume and decreases blood volume.  The combined action of quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide in Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg lowers blood pressure to normal resting levels, which helps the heart to cope better and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and end organ damage.  

What are the side effects of Accuretic?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg include:(quinapril) dizziness, headache, tiredness, dyspnoea (shortness of breath), persistent dry cough, altered taste, nausea, diarrhoea abdominal pain, skin rash, hypotension (low blood pressure); (hydrochlorothiazide ) hypokalaemia (potassium depletion), hyperuricaemia (high levels of uric acid in the blood), hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), glycosuria (excretion of sugar in the urine), transient blurred vision, gastric irritation (stomach cramps or pain).

When should Accuretic not be used?

You should not use Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg if you:

• are allergic to quinapril or hydrochlorothiazide or any ingredients in Accuretic
• are allergic to sulphonamides
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have diabetes, the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or gout
• have had angioedema (rapid swelling under the skin)
• have kidney or liver disease
• renal artery stenosis (blockage) or have trouble passing urine
• are taking medicines that interact with Accuretic, including, other antihypertensives, diuretics like furosemide, potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, potassium tablets or potassium-containing salt substitutes, digoxin for heart failure, insulin and some diabetic medication like glyburide, lithium for mood disorders, non-steroidal antiinflammatories (NSAID) like diclofenac and aspirin, corticosteroids
• are taking Co-trimoxazole (Sulphamexthoxazole/Trimethoprim) [Trusul/Bactrim DS]

What medications interact with Accuretic?

Several medications interact with Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Accuretic or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Accuretic: other antihypertensive medications can cause blood pressure to fall too low (hypotension), potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone narcotic analgesics like codeine, corticosteroids, lithium for mood swings
• Drugs that affect Accuretic: non-steroidal antiinflammatories (NSAID) like diclofenac and aspirin
• Drugs that are affected by Accuretic: insulin and some diabetic medication like glyburide, lithium for mood disorders, digoxin for heart failure, lithium for mood swings

How should Accuretic be taken?

You should take your Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg swallowed whole with a glass of water with or without food once a day, at the same time each day.  Your doctor may increase your dose depending on how well you respond.  Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg will help control your blood pressure but will not cure it, so you should continue to take your Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg for as long as your doctor recommends, to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

How long should you take Accuretic?

You should continue to take your Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg  for as long as your doctor recommends, to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

Missed dose of Accuretic

If you miss a dose of Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg   take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Accuretic be stored?

You should store your Accuretic tablets 20/12.5mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.