Renitec Side Effects

The World Health Organization estimates that 600 million people worldwide suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. Left untreated, hypertension causes a number of complications, including damage to the heart and cardiovascular system, loss of memory and aneurysms. Doctors rely upon a number of prescription medications to lower blood-pressure levels, including a combination drug containing enalapril maleate and hydrochlorothiazide. In Australia, enalapril maleate and hydrochlorothiazide is available under the brand name Renitec. Despite its effectiveness, Renitec is not for everyone as it presents several risks for side effects and complications in some patients.

Significant Side Effects

• The most significant or common side effects of Renitec usually pose no long-term dangers. Approximately 9 percent of Renitec users report dizziness, making this the most common side effect of the drug. Headache, fatigue and coughing are also common, occurring in at least 3 percent of users. Around 2 percent of patients who take Renitec experience muscle cramps, nausea, weakness and diarrhea. Additionally, 2.2 percent of men who take Renitec suffer from impotence.

Other Side Effects

• Renitec also has the potential to cause a number of other less common, but not dangerous, side effects. Gastrointestinal effects of the drug include diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, dry mouth, constipation and flatulence. Patients also report neurological side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, tingling in the extremities, drowsiness and vertigo. It is also possible to notice dermatological side effects such as rashes, increased sweating and itching. Additionally, patients occasionally experience a decreased interest in sex or urinary tract infections while taking Renitec.

Drug Interactions

• There are some medications which produce unwanted side effects when used in conjunction with Renitec. For example, use of Indomethacin with Renitec has the potential to cause low blood pressure, while using the drug with digitalis glycosides sometimes leads to arrhythmia. Renitec is generally not safe to take with lithium, as the combination causes an increased risk of severe side effects from both drugs. When combined with some diuretics or medications that contain potassium, Renitec causes an increase in potassium levels in your blood stream. Over time, this may lead to a condition called hyperkalemia, which damages or interferes with your heart and cardiovascular system. In addition, the combination of Renitec and cholestyramine causes increases in blood-sugar levels.

Risks

• In addition to minor side effects and the risk of interactions, Renitec has the potential to cause serious medical complications. Some patients develop a dangerous hypersensitivity to Renitec called angioedema, which results in severe swelling of the face, throat, hands or feet. Infrequently, Renitec causes a shortage of white blood cells known as neutropenia, making patients susceptible to infections or disease. Inflammation or damage to your liver is also possible while taking Renitec.

Considerations

• Renitec can cause low birth weights and typically is avoided during pregnancy. In addition, Renitec is not used in children. If you have a history of kidney or liver disease, diabetes, lupus or diseases that affect your bone marrow, your doctor is not likely to prescribe Renitec due to its possible side effects. Since it has the potential to cause dizziness and drowsiness, you should not operate a motor vehicle or heavy machinery until you know how Renitec will affect you. You may also notice lightheadedness when you rise from a lying to standing position. Use caution to avoid falls. Alcohol may also exacerbate these effects and should be avoided whenever possible.