4.1. Therapeutic indications

Hypertension: Captopril is indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension.

Heart Failure: Captopril is indicated for the treatment of chronic heart failure.

Myocardial Infarction:

• Short-term (4 weeks) treatment: Captopril is indicated in any clinically stable patient within the first 24 hours of an infraction.

• Long-term prevention of symptomatic heart failure: Captopril is indicated in clinically stable patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction.

Type I Diabetic Nephropathy: Captopril is indicated for the treatment of macroproteinuric diabetic nephropathy in patients with type I diabetes.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Dose should be individualised according to patient's profile (see section 4.4) and blood pressure response. The recommended maximum daily dose is 150mg.

Captopril may be taken before, during and after meals.

Hypertension:

The recommended starting dose is 25-50mg daily in two divided doses. The dose may be increased incrementally, with intervals of at least 2 weeks, to 100-150mg/day in two divided doses as needed to reach target blood pressure. Captopril may be used alone or with other antihypertensive agents, especially thiazide diuretics (see sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 5.1). A once-daily dosing regimen may be appropriate when concomitant antihypertensive medication such as thiazide diuretics is added.

In patients with a strongly active renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (hypovolaemia, renovascular hypertension, cardiac decompensation) it is preferable to commence with a single dose of 6.25mg or 12.5mg. The inauguration of this treatment should preferably take place under close medical supervision. These doses will then be administered at a rate of two per day. The dosage can be gradually increased to 50mg per day in one or two doses and if necessary to 100mg per day in one or two doses.

Heart failure:

Treatment with captopril for heart failure should be initiated under close medical supervision. The usual starting dose is 6.25mg - 12.5mg BID or TID. Titration to the maintenance dose (75 - 150mg per day) should be carried out based on patient's response, clinical status and tolerability, up to a maximum of 150mg per day in divided doses. The dose should be increased incrementally, with intervals of at least 2 weeks to evaluate patient's response.

Myocardial infarction:

• Short-term treatment: Captopril treatment should begin in hospital as soon as possible following the appearance of the signs and/or symptoms in patients with stable haemodynamics. A 6.25mg test dose should be administered, with a 12.5mg dose being administered 2 hours afterwards and a 25mg dose 12 hours later. From the following day, captopril should be administered in a 100mg/day dose, in two daily administrations, for 4 weeks, if warranted by the absence of adverse haemodynamic reactions. At the end of the 4 weeks of treatment, the patient's state should be reassessed before a decision is taken concerning treatment for the post-myocardial infarction stage.

• Chronic treatment: if captopril treatment has not begun during the first 24 hours of the acute myocardial infarction stage, it is suggested that treatment be instigated between the 3rd and 16th day post-infarction once the necessary treatment conditions have been attained (stable haemodynamics and management of any residual ischaemia). Treatment should be started in hospital under strict surveillance (particularly of blood pressure) until the 75mg dose is reached. The initial dose must be low (see section 4.4), particularly if the patient exhibits normal or low blood pressure at the initiation of therapy. Treatment should be initiated with a dose of 6.25mg followed by 12.5mg 3 times daily for 2 days and then 25mg 3 times daily if warranted by the absence of adverse haemodynamic reactions. The recommended dose for effective cardioprotection during long-term treatment is 75 to 150mg daily in two or three doses. In cases of symptomatic hypotension, as in heart failure, the dosage of diuretics and/or other concomitant vasodilators may be reduced in order to attain the steady state dose of captopril. Where necessary, the dose of captopril should be adjusted in accordance with the patient's clinical reactions. Captopril may be used in combination with other treatments for myocardial infarction such as thrombolytic agents, beta-blockers and acetylsalicylic acid.

Type I Diabetic nephropathy:

In patients with type I diabetic nephropathy, the recommended daily dose of captopril is 75‑100mg in divided doses. If additional lowering of blood pressure is desired, additional antihypertensive medications may be added.

Renal impairment:

Since captopril is excreted primarily via the kidneys, dosage should be reduced or the dosage interval should be increased in patients with impaired renal function. When concomitant diuretic therapy is required, a loop diuretic (e.g. furosemide), rather than a thiazide diuretic, is preferred in patients with severe renal impairment.

In patients with impaired renal function, the following daily dose may be recommended to avoid accumulation of captopril.

Creatinine clearance

(ml/min/1.73 m²)

Daily starting dose (mg)

Daily maximum dose (mg)

>40

25-50

150

21-40

25

100

10-20

12.5

75

<10

6.25

37.5

Elderly patients:

As with other antihypertensive agents, consideration should be given to initiating therapy with a lower starting dose (6.25mg BID) in elderly patients who may have reduced renal function and other organ dysfunctions.

Dosage should be titrated against the blood pressure response and kept as low as possible to achieve adequate control.

Paediatric population:

The efficacy and safety of captopril have not been fully established. The use of captopril in children and adolescents should be initiated under close medical supervision. The initial dose of captopril is about 0.3mg/kg body weight. For patients requiring special precautions (children with renal dysfunction, premature infants, new-borns and infants, because their renal function is not the same with older children and adults) the starting dose should be only 0.15mg captopril/kg weight. Generally, captopril is administered to children 3 times a day, but dose and interval of dose should be adapted individually according to patient's response.

Method of administration

For oral administration only.

Precautions to be taken before handling or administering the medicinal product.

If necessary, captopril solution can be administered via a Polyurethane nasogastric feeding tube. For further information see section 6.6.

4.3. Contraindications

• History of hypersensitivity to captopril, to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1 or any other ACE inhibitor.

• History of angioedema associated with previous ACE inhibitor therapy.

• Hereditary / idiopathic angioneurotic oedema.

• Second and third trimester of pregnancy (see sections 4.4 and 4.6)

• Lactation (see section 4.6).

• The concomitant use of Captopril with aliskiren-containing products is contraindicated in patients with diabetes mellitus or renal impairment (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) (see sections 4.5 and 5.1).

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Hypotension:

Rarely hypotension is observed in uncomplicated hypertensive patients. Symptomatic hypotension is more likely to occur in hypertensive patients who are volume and/or sodium depleted by vigorous diuretic therapy, dietary salt restriction, diarrhoea, vomiting or haemodialysis. Volume and/or sodium depletion should be corrected before the administration of an ACE inhibitor and a lower starting dose should be considered.

Patients with heart failure are at higher risk of hypotension and a lower starting dose is recommended when initiating therapy with an ACE inhibitor. The magnitude of the decrease is greatest early in the course of treatment; this effect stabilises within a week or two, and generally returns to pre-treatment levels, without a decrease in therapeutic efficacy, within two months. Caution should be used whenever the dose of captopril or diuretic is increased in patients with heart failure.

As with any antihypertensive agent, excessive blood pressure lowering in patients with ischaemic cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease may increase the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke. If hypotension develops, the patient should be placed in a supine position. Volume repletion with intravenous normal saline may be required.

Infants, especially new-borns, may be more susceptible to the adverse haemodynamic effects of captopril. Excessive, prolonged and unpredictable decreases in blood pressure and associated complications, including oliguria and seizures have been reported.

Renovascular hypertension:

There is an increased risk of hypotension and renal insufficiency when patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis or stenosis of the artery to a single functioning kidney are treated with ACE inhibitors. Loss of renal function may occur with only mild changes in serum creatinine. In these patients, therapy should be initiated under close medical supervision with low doses, careful titration and monitoring of renal function.

Renal impairment:

In cases of renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤ 40 ml/min), the initial dosage of captopril must be adjusted according to the patient's creatinine clearance (see section 4.2), and then as a function of the patient's response to treatment. Routine monitoring of potassium and creatinine are part of normal medical practice for these patients.

Angioedema:

Angioedema of the extremities, face, lips, mucous membranes, tongue, glottis or larynx may occur in patients treated with ACE inhibitors including captopril. This may occur anytime during treatment. However, in rare cases, severe angioedema may develop after long-term treatment with an ACE inhibitor. In such cases, captopril should be discontinued promptly and appropriate monitoring should be instituted to ensure complete resolution of symptoms prior to dismissing the patient. In those instances where swelling has been confined to the face and lips the condition generally resolved without treatment, although antihistamines have been useful in relieving symptoms. Angioedema involving the tongue, glottis or larynx may be fatal. Where there is involvement of the tongue, glottis or larynx, likely to cause airway obstruction, appropriate therapy, which may include subcutaneous epinephrine solution 1:1000 (0.3 ml to 0.5 ml) and/or measures to ensure a patent airway, should be administered promptly. The patient should be hospitalised and observed for at least 12 to 24 hours and should not be discharged until complete resolution of symptoms has occurred.

Black patients receiving ACE inhibitors have been reported to have a higher incidence of angioedema compared to non-blacks.

Patients with a history of angioedema unrelated to ACE inhibitor therapy may be at increased risk of angioedema while receiving an ACE inhibitor (see section 4.3).

Intestinal angioedema has also been reported rarely in patients treated with ACE inhibitors. These patients presented with abdominal pain (with or without nausea or vomiting); in some cases there was no prior facial angioedema and C-1 esterase levels were normal. The angioedema was diagnosed by procedures including abdominal CT scan, or ultrasound or at surgery and symptoms resolved after stopping the ACE inhibitor. Intestinal angioedema should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients on ACE inhibitors presenting with abdominal pain (see section 4.8).

Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome (IAS):

Cases of Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome (IAS), including severe hypoglycaemic events have been reported during the treatment with captopril (see section 4.8). If IAS is suspected, captopril should be discontinued, and appropriate treatment should be initiated.

Cough:

Cough has been reported with the use of ACE inhibitors. Characteristically, the cough is non-productive, persistent and resolves after discontinuation of therapy.

Hepatic failure:

Rarely, ACE inhibitors have been associated with a syndrome that starts with cholestatic jaundice and progresses to fulminant hepatic necrosis and (sometimes) death. The mechanism of this syndrome is not understood. Patients receiving ACE inhibitors who develop jaundice or marked elevations of hepatic enzymes should discontinue the ACE inhibitor and receive appropriate medical follow-up.

Hyperkalaemia:

Elevations in serum potassium have been observed in some patients treated with ACE inhibitors, including captopril. Patients at risk for the development of hyperkalaemia include those with renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, or those using concomitant potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes; or those patients taking other drugs associated with increases in serum potassium (e.g. heparin, co-trimoxazole also known as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole). If concomitant use of the above mentioned agents is deemed appropriate, regular monitoring of serum potassium is recommended.

Combination with lithium:

Captopril is not recommended in association with lithium due to the potentiation of lithium toxicity (see section 4.5).

Aortic and mitral valve stenosis/Obstructive hypertropic cardiomyopathy:

ACE inhibitors should be used with caution in patients with left ventricular valvular and outflow tract obstruction and avoided in cases of cardiogenic shock and haemodynamically significant obstruction.

Neutropenia/Agranulocytosis:

Neutropenia/agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia and anaemia have been reported in patients receiving ACE inhibitors, including captopril. In patients with normal renal function and no other complicating factors, neutropenia occurs rarely. Captopril should be used with extreme caution in patients with collagen vascular disease, immunosuppressant therapy, treatment with allopurinol or procainamide, or a combination of these complicating factors, especially if there is pre-existing impaired renal function. Some of these patients developed serious infections which in a few instances did not respond to intensive antibiotic therapy.

If captopril is used in such patients, it is advised that white blood cell count and differential counts should be performed prior to therapy, every 2 weeks during the first 3 months of captopril therapy, and periodically thereafter. During treatment all patients should be instructed to report any sign of infection (e.g. sore throat, fever) when a differential white blood cell count should be performed. Captopril and other concomitant medication (see section 4.5) should be withdrawn if neutropenia (neutrophils less than 1000/mm3) is detected or suspected.

In most patients neutrophil counts rapidly return to normal upon discontinuing captopril.

Proteinuria:

Proteinuria may occur particularly in patients with existing renal function impairment or on relatively high doses of ACE inhibitors.

Total urinary proteins greater than 1 g per day were seen in about 0.7% of patients receiving captopril. The majority of patients had evidence of prior renal disease or had received relatively high doses of captopril (in excess of 150mg/day), or both. Nephrotic syndrome occurred in about one-fifth of proteinuric patients. In most cases, proteinuria subsided or cleared within six months whether or not captopril was continued. Parameters of renal function, such as BUN and creatinine, were seldom altered in the patients with proteinuria.

Patients with prior renal disease should have urinary protein estimations (dip-stick on first morning urine) prior to treatment, and periodically thereafter.

Anaphylactoid reactions during desensitisation:

Sustained life-threatening anaphylactoid reactions have been rarely reported for patients undergoing desensitising treatment with hymenoptera venom while receiving another ACE inhibitor. In the same patients, these reactions were avoided when the ACE inhibitor was temporarily withheld, but they reappeared upon inadvertent rechallenge. Therefore, caution should be used in patients treated with ACE inhibitors undergoing such desensitisation procedures.

Anaphylactoid reactions during high-flux dialysis / lipoprotein apheresis membrane exposure:

Anaphylactoid reactions have been reported in patients haemodialysed with high-flux dialysis membranes or undergoing low-density lipoprotein apheresis with dextran sulphate absorption. In these patients, consideration should be given to using a different type of dialysis, membrane or a different class of medication.

Surgery/Anaesthesia:

Hypotension may occur in patients undergoing major surgery or during treatment with anaesthetic agents that are known to lower blood pressure. If hypotension occurs, it may be corrected by volume expansion.

Diabetic patients:

The glycaemia levels should be closely monitored in diabetic patients previously treated with oral antidiabetic drugs or insulin, namely during the first month of treatment with an ACE inhibitor.

Renal function in patients with Heart failure:

Some patients may develop stable elevations of BUN and serum creatinine >20% above normal or baseline upon long-term treatment with captopril. A few patients, generally those with severe pre-existing renal disease, required discontinuation of treatment due to progressively increasing creatinine.

Risk of hypokalaemia:

The combination of an ACE inhibitor with a thiazide diuretic does not rule out the occurrence of hypokalaemia. Regular monitoring of kalaemia should be performed

Ethnic differences:

As with other angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, captopril is apparently less effective in lowering blood pressure in black people than in non-blacks, possibly because of a higher prevalence of low-renin states in the black hypertensive population.

Pregnancy:

ACE inhibitors should not be initiated during pregnancy. Unless continued ACE inhibitor therapy is considered essential, patients planning pregnancy should be changed to alternative antihypertensive treatments which have an established safety profile for use in pregnancy. When pregnancy is diagnosed, treatment with ACE inhibitors should be stopped immediately, and, if appropriate, alternative therapy should be started (see section 4.3 and 4.6).

Dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS):

There is evidence that the concomitant use of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers or aliskiren increases the risk of hypotension, hyperkalaemia and decreased renal function (including acute renal failure). Dual blockade of RAAS through the combined use of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers or aliskiren is therefore not recommended (see sections 4.5 and 5.1).

If dual blockade therapy is considered absolutely necessary, this should only occur under specialist supervision and subject to frequent close monitoring of renal function, electrolytes and blood pressure.

ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers should not be used concomitantly in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Hypersensitivity/angioedema:

Concomitant use of mTOR inhibitors (e.g. sirolimus, everolimus, temsirolimus):

Patients taking concomitant mTOR inhibitors (e.g. sirolimus, everolimus, temsirolimus) therapy may be at increased risk for angioedema (e.g. swelling of the airways or tongue, with or without respiratory impairment) (see section 4.5).

Angioneurotic oedema of the extremities, face, lips, mucous membranes, tongue, glottis and/or larynx may occur in patients treated with ACE inhibitors particularly during the first week of treatment. However, in rare cases, severe angioedema may develop after months or years of long-term treatment with an ACE inhibitor. Treatment should be discontinued promptly. Angioedema involving the tongue, glottis or larynx may be fatal. Emergency therapy should be instituted.

Excipient warning:

Sodium benzoate (E211): This medicinal product contains 1.25mg Sodium benzoate in each 5ml dose, which is equivalent to 0.25mg/ml. Sodium benzoate may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old).

Sodium: This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5ml dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Potassium sparing diuretics or potassium supplements:

ACE inhibitors attenuate diuretic induced potassium loss. Potassium sparing diuretics (e.g. spironolactone, triamterene or amiloride), potassium supplements, or potassium containing salt substitutes may lead to significant increases in serum potassium. If concomitant use is indicated because of demonstrated hypokalaemia they should be used with caution and with frequent monitoring of serum potassium (see section 4.4).

Diuretics (thiazide or loop diuretics):

Prior treatment with high dose diuretics may result in volume depletion and a risk of hypotension when initiating therapy with captopril (see section 4.4). The hypotensive effects can be reduced by discontinuation of the diuretic, by increasing volume or salt intake or by initiating therapy with a low dose of captopril. However, no clinically significant drug interactions have been found in specific studies with hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide.

Other antihypertensive agents:

Captopril has been safely co-administered with other commonly used anti-hypertensive agents (e.g. beta-blockers and long-acting calcium channel blockers). Concomitant use of these agents may increase the hypotensive effects of captopril. Treatment with nitroglycerine and other nitrates, or other vasodilators, should be used with caution.

Alpha blocking agents:

Concomitant use of alpha blocking agents may increase the antihypertensive effects of captopril and increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension.

Treatments of acute myocardial infarction:

Captopril may be used concomitantly with acetylsalicylic acid (at cardiologic doses), thrombolytics, beta-blockers and/or nitrates in patients with myocardial infarction.

Lithium:

Reversible increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity have been reported during concomitant administration of lithium with ACE inhibitors. Concomitant use of thiazide diuretics may increase the risk of lithium toxicity and enhance the already increased risk of lithium toxicity with ACE inhibitors. Use of captopril with lithium is not recommended, but if the combination proves necessary, careful monitoring of serum lithium levels should be performed (see section 4.4)

Tricyclic antidepressants / Antipsychotics:

ACE inhibitors may enhance the hypotensive effects of certain tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotics (see section 4.4). Postural hypotension may occur.

Allopurinol, procainamide, cytostatic or immunosuppressive agents:

Concomitant administration with ACE inhibitors may lead to an increased risk for leucopenia especially when the latter are used at higher than currently recommended doses.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicinal products:

It has been described that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicinal products (NSAIDs) and ACE inhibitors exert an additive effect on the increase in serum potassium whereas renal function may decrease. These effects are, in principle, reversible. Rarely, acute renal failure may occur, particularly in patients with compromised renal function such as the elderly or dehydrated. Chronic administration of NSAIDs may reduce the antihypertensive effect of an ACE inhibitor.

Sympathomimetics:

May reduce the antihypertensive effects of ACE inhibitors; patients should be carefully monitored.

Antidiabetics:

Pharmacological studies have shown that ACE inhibitors, including captopril, can potentiate the blood glucose-reducing effects of insulin and oral antidiabetics such as sulphonylurea in diabetics. Should this very rare interaction occur, it may be necessary to reduce the dose of the antidiabetic during simultaneous treatment with ACE inhibitors.

mTOR inhibitors (e.g. sirolimus, everolimus, temsirolimus)

Patients taking concomitant mTOR inhibitors therapy may be at increased risk for angioedema (see section 4.4).

Co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole)

Patients taking concomitant co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) may be at increased risk for hyperkalaemia (see section 4.4).

Clinical Chemistry:

Captopril may cause a false-positive urine test for acetone.

Clinical trial data has shown that dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) through the combined use of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers or aliskiren is associated with a higher frequency of adverse events such as hypotension, hyperkalaemia and decreased renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to the use of a single RAAS-acting agent (see sections 4.3, 4.4 and 5.1).

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy:

The use of ACE inhibitors is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy (see section 4.4). The use of ACE inhibitors is contraindicated during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (see section 4.3 and 4.4).

Epidemiological evidence regarding the risk of teratogenicity following exposure to ACE inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy has not been conclusive; however a small increase in risk cannot be excluded. Unless continued ACE inhibitor therapy is considered essential, patients planning pregnancy should be changed to alternative antihypertensive treatments which have an established safety profile for use in pregnancy. When pregnancy is diagnosed, treatment with ACE inhibitors should be stopped immediately, and, if appropriate, alternative therapy should be started. Exposure to ACE inhibitor therapy during the second and third trimesters is known to induce human feototoxicity (decreased renal function, oligohydramnios, skull ossification retardation) and neonatal toxicity (renal failure, hypotension, hyperkalaemia) (see section 5.3). Should exposure to ACE inhibitors have occurred from the second trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound check of renal function and skull is recommended. Infants whose mothers have taken ACE inhibitors should be closely observed for hypotension (see section 4.3 and 4.4).

Breast-feeding:

Limited pharmacokinetic data demonstrate very low concentrations in breast milk (see section 5.2). Although these concentrations seem to be clinically irrelevant, the use of captopril in breastfeeding is not recommended for preterm infants and for the first few weeks after delivery, because of the hypothetical risk of cardiovascular and renal effects and because there is not enough clinical experience.

In the case of an older infant, the use of Captopril in a breast-feeding mother may be considered if this treatment is necessary for the mother and the child is observed for any adverse effect.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

As with other antihypertensives, the ability to drive and use machines may be reduced, namely at the start of the treatment, or when posology is modified, and also when used in combination with alcohol, but these effects depend on the individual's susceptibility.

4.8. Undesirable effects

Frequency is defined using the following convention: common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100), rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000) and very rare (< 1/10,000).

Undesirable effects reported for captopril and/or ACE inhibitor therapy include:

Immune system disorders:

Frequency not known: Insulin autoimmune syndrome

Blood and lymphatic system disorders:

Very rare: neutropenia/agranulocytosis (see section 4.4), pancytopenia particularly in patients with renal dysfunction (see section 4.4), anaemia (including aplastic and haemolytic), thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, auto-immune disorder.

Metabolism and nutrition disorders:

Uncommon: decreased appetite

Very rare: hyperkalaemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycaemia (see section 4.4)

Psychiatric disorders:

Common: insomnia

Very rare: confusional state, depression

Nervous system disorders:

Common: dysgeusia dizziness

Uncommon: headache, paraesthesia

Rare: somnolence

Very rare: cerebrovascular accident, cerebrovascular insufficiencysyncope

Eye disorders:

Very rare: vision blurred

Cardiac disorders:

Uncommon: tachycardia, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, palpitations.

Very rare: cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock

Vascular disorders:

Uncommon: hypotension (see section 4.4), Raynaud'sphenomenon, flushing, pallor, orthostatic hypotension

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:

Common: dry, irritating (non-productive) cough (see section 4.4) and dyspnoea

Very rare: bronchospasm, rhinitis, alveolitis allergic / eosinophilic pneumonia

Gastrointestinal disorders:

Common: nausea, vomiting, epigastric discomfort, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, dry mouth, peptic ulcer, dyspepsia

Rare: stomatitis/aphthous stomatitis, small bowel angioedema (see section 4.4).

Very rare: glossitis, pancreatitis

Hepatobiliary disorders:

Very rare: hepatic function abnormal, cholestasis, jaundice, hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, hepatic enzyme increased, blood bilirubin increased, transaminase increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Common: pruritus with or without a rash, rash, and alopecia

Uncommon: angioedema (see section 4.4)

Very rare: urticaria, Stevens Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, photosensitivity reaction, pemphigoid, dermatitis exfoliative.

Musculoskeletal, connective tissue disorders:

Very rare: myalgia, arthralgia

Renal and urinary disorders:

Rare: renal impairment, renal failure, polyuria, oliguria, pollakiuria.

Very rare: nephrotic syndrome

Reproductive system and breast disorders:

Very rare: erectile dysfunction, gynaecomastia

General disorders and administration site conditions:

Uncommon: chest pain, fatigue, malaise, asthenia

Very rare: pyrexia

Investigations:

Very rare: proteinuria, eosinophilia, blood potassium increased, blood sodium decreased, blood urea increased, blood creatinine increased, blood bilirubin increased, haemoglobin decreased, haematocrit decreased, white blood cell count decreased, platelet count decreased, antinuclear antibody positive, red blood cell sedimentation rate increased.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions:

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Symptoms of overdosage are severe hypotension, shock, stupor, bradycardia, electrolyte disturbances and renal failure.

Measures to prevent absorption (e.g. gastric lavage, administration of adsorbents and sodium sulphate within 30 minutes after intake) and hasten elimination should be applied if ingestion is recent. If hypotension occurs, the patient should be placed in the shock position and salt and volume supplementations should be given rapidly. Treatment with angiotensin-II should be considered. Bradycardia or extensive vagal reactions should be treated by administering atropine. The use of a pacemaker may be considered.

Captopril may be removed from adult circulation by haemodialysis. Captopril is not adequately cleared by peritoneal dialysis.