Coversyl (perindopril)

Use with caution in

.

- Elderly people.
- Decreased liver function.
- Decreased kidney function.
- Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys (renal artery stenosis).
- High blood pressure caused by compression or blockage of the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys (renovascular hypertension).
- People with low fluid volume or salt levels in the body, eg due to diuretic therapy, low-sodium diet, diarrhoea or vomiting.
- People taking other medicines for high blood pressure, particularly diuretics (see end of factsheet).
- People with hardening of the arteries in the heart (cardiovascular disease), brain (cerebrovascular disease) or legs (peripheral vascular disease).
- Narrowing of the main artery of the body (aortic stenosis).
- Heart valve disease (mitral valve stenosis).
- Heart disease characterised by thickening of the internal heart muscle and a blockage inside the heart (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy).
- Diseases affecting connective tissue, eg scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus (collagen vascular diseases).
- Diabetes.
- People with kidney failure requiring a certain type of haemodialysis (high-flux membrane).
- People undergoing therapy to decrease allergy to bee or wasp stings (desensitisation).
- People receiving therapy to remove certain types of fat from the blood using a machine (LDL apheresis).

Not to be used in

- Allergy to other ACE inhibitor medicines.
- History of swelling of the lips, face or tongue (angioedema) with no known cause, or caused by previous use of an ACE inhibitor medicine.
- Hereditary angioedema.
- Pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding.
- The safety and efficacy of this medicine in children have not been studied. It is not recommended for children.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- This medicine must not be used during pregnancy, particularly during the second and third trimesters, as it may be harmful to the unborn baby. Seek further medical advice from your doctor. If you get pregnant while taking this medicine, stop taking it and consult your doctor immediately.
- This medicine passes into breast milk.

Side effects

. Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Headache.
- Dry cough.
- Drop in blood pressure (hypotension).
- Dizziness.
- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
- Alteration in taste.
- Rash or itching.
- Muscle cramps.
- Pins and needles sensations.
- Sensation of ringing or other noise in the ears (tinnitus).
- Visual disturbances.
- Feeling of weakness.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Changes in mood.
- Impotence.
- Sweating.
- Severe swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat (angioedema - see warning above).
- Disorders of the kidney, liver or blood.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.