Coversyl Plus 5 mg/1.25 mg

Who is this for?

This is a combination drug containing two blood pressure-lowering medicines — perindopril arginine (an ACE inhibitor) and indapamide (a water pill/diuretic). Perindopril relaxes your blood vessels while indapamide helps your body get rid of extra salt and water, and together they lower your blood pressure more effectively.

Inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), reducing formation of angiotensin II and causing vasodilation and decreased aldosterone secretion; concurrently blocks sodium reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule through thiazide-like diuretic action, promoting sodium and water excretion to reduce blood volume and arterial pressure.

Is Perindopril safe to take with another drug?

Take one tablet once a day, preferably in the morning before breakfast. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew it. Your doctor will usually start you on one tablet of Coversyl Plus (5 mg/1.25 mg) daily.

If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the usual time the next morning. Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you missed.

• Dry cough (very common with this type of drug)
• dizziness or feeling lightheaded especially when you stand up quickly
• headache
• feeling tired or weak
• passing urine more often than usual because of the water pill component

Avoid taking potassium supplements or potassium-rich salt substitutes without your doctor's advice, as this drug can affect potassium levels. NSAIDs like ibuprofen (commonly sold as Brufen in Nigeria) can reduce the effect of this drug and harm your kidneys if used together regularly. Avoid drinking alcohol as it can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect and make you feel very dizzy or faint.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat — Nigerian weather can be very hot, so do not leave it in your car or near a window. Keep the tablets in their original container and keep them far from the reach of children.