I. Altace Fact File
Altace was first introduced by King Pharmaceuticals.
King Pharmaceuticals began operations in January 1994 after purchasing the Company's Bristol facility and assuming contracts to manufacture prescription pharmaceutical products for such prominent companies as SmithKline Beecham Corporation, predecessor to GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis. King has successfully acquired and integrated more than 60 branded prescription product lines and introduced product-line extensions, making King one of the most active and skillful acquirers of branded prescription products in the pharmaceutical industry.
II. Altace Medication
Altace medication is an "ACE inhibitor." ACE inhibitors help to reduce blood pressure by decreasing production of a protein produced in the human body that can cause the blood vessels to constrict.
- Altace medication is the only ACE inhibitor proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death in high-risk patients aged 55+.
- Generic Altace medication may help you
- reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death if you're an aged person
- And have had a previous heart attack
- And/or have had a previous stroke
- And/or have diabetes plus an additional cardiovascular risk factor, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or you are a smoker
- And/or have a history of coronary artery disease, such as angina, previous bypass surgery, or angioplasty (stenting or ballooning)
- And/or have peripheral vascular disease
Antihypertensives: Information
Antihypertensives include:
- Diuretics ("water pills")
- Beta Blockers
- Alpha Blockers
- Alpha-Beta Blockers
- Sympathetic Nerve Inhibitors
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (formal medical name angiotensin-2-receptor antagonists, known as "sartans" for short). These agents are sometimes prescribed together, for instance an ACE inhibitor along with a calcium channel blocker.
In general, antihypertensives work through one or more of the following mechanisms:
- By Decreasing Blood Volume
- By Opening Up Blood Vessels, either by
- Inhibiting Constriction (narrowing) or
- Stimulating Dilation (widening), to make it easier for blood to flow through the arteries
- By Decreasing Rate and/or Force of Contraction of the Heart, thus decreasing the amount of blood pumped through the arteries
ACE inhibitors block the body's production of angiotensin, a vasoconstrictor (chemical which stimulates constriction of blood vessels), thereby decreasing constriction of blood vessels.
Some common ACE inhibitors include:
- Benazepril (Lotensin)
- Captopril (Capoten)
- Enalapril (Vasotec)
- Fosinopril (Monopril)
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
- Quinapril (Accupril)
- Ramipril (Altace)
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Information
Around 50 million Americans aged 6 and older have elevated blood pressure (hypertension). In approximately 15% of these patients, a specific cause (i.e., Cushing's disease) can be identified: the remainder are said to have primary (essential) hypertension.
High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. It does not mean excess emotional stress, However doctors' believe that stress might contribute to high blood pressure over a longer period of time.
Our blood pressure rises and falls with each heartbeat, even normal blood pressure does this. These levels can change with everyday activity, for example, during exercise or when you are asleep and this is also normal. As we get older, these changes in blood pressure start to happen at higher pressure levels than normal and this is what high blood pressure means.
Side Effects of Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medications)
- Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medications) have in common that they can overcompensate for high blood pressure, leading to dangerously low blood pressure.
- Initial indication of inadequate blood pressure levels are Lightheadedness, Dizziness, or Fainting.
Note: Low blood pressure in a mother also has the potential to harm her developing baby.
Since blood volume determines the amount of blood filtered/urine processed by the kidneys, antihypertensives have effects on that organ as well.
In general blood-pressure-lowering medicines reduce strain on the kidney, some antihypertensives like sartans can nevertheless worsen kidney disease.
- Another major concern with hypertensives is that they can aggravate congestive heart failure.
As with most any medicine, blood-pressure-lowering medications can have milder side effects as well. While on an antihypertensive, report any changes in your condition to your health care provider.
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III. Useful links
Government
http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/
http://www.nih.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/
National Library of Medicine
World Health Organization
Health Sites
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm
MedicineNet.com
Drugdigest.org
Healthsquare.com
http://www.altace.com
www.kingpharm.com
http://www.altace.com/altace/index.asp
http://tjsamson.client.web-health.com/web-health/topics/GeneralHealth/generalhealthsub/generalhealth/cardiovascular/antihypertensives.html
http://lysine.pharm.utah.edu/netpharm/netpharm_00/notes/antihypertensives.html#Introduction
http://www.patienthealthinternational.com/article/501305.aspx
Pharmacy sites
http://www.roche.com/home/company/com_hist.htm
http://www.healthdigest.org/Bactrim-DS(Oral)_2006_PRO.php
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1509
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1504
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~urdesai/atc.htm#Process%20of%20clotting
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