Virtual Medical Centre

Drugs

Coversyl

Generic Name: Perindopril erbumine
Product Name: Coversyl

• Indication of Coversyl
• Action of Coversyl
• Dose Advice of Coversyl
• Schedule of Coversyl
• Common side effects of Coversyl
• Uncommon side effects of Coversyl

Indication of Coversyl:

Coversyl belongs to a class of drugs known as angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors), and it is used to lower blood pressure. Coversyl is also used with other drugs in the treatment in patients with heart failure.

^ top

Action of Coversyl:

Perindopril belongs to a group of medicines called ACE inhibitors which block the action of a chemical in the body called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Normally ACE produces another chemical, angiotensin. Thus perindopril reduces the amount of angiotensin in the blood.

Angiotensin has two actions:

• Firstly it acts on blood vessels to make them narrow
• Secondly it acts on the kidney to produce less urine

As perindopril stops the production of angiotensin, these actions are reversed. Therefore more urine is produced by the kidneys, which results in less fluid in the blood vessels. The blood vessels also widen. The overall effect of this is a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in the workload of the heart.

^ top

Dose Advice of Coversyl:

It is highly recommended that Coversyl is taken before meals.

Hypertension: The starting dose of Coversyl to treat hypertension is 2mg. It should be taken once daily in the morning. Optimum control of blood pressure is achieved by increasing the dose, titrating it against the blood pressure. Dosage should be adjusted according to each patient's needs and may be increased from 2 to 4mg, and then to a maximum of 8mg once daily.

(Note: recommended dosages are different from the above for patients who have renal impairment, are elderly and have hypertension, and are using Coversyl in combination with a diuretic. )

Congestive heart failure: Treatment of congestive heart failure with Coversyl should be initiated under close medical supervision. 2mg is the recommended starting dose, which should be given with a diuretic and/or digoxin. This can be increased to 4mg daily for maintenance.

^ top