Details for: APO-CILAZAPRIL/HCTZ

BEFORE you use APO-CILAZAPRIL/HCTZ talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you:

• Are allergic to any drug used to lower blood pressure.
• Are allergic to penicillin.
• Have recently received or are planning to get allergy shots for bee or wasp stings.
• Have narrowing of an artery or a heart valve.
• Have had a heart attack or stroke.
• Have heart failure.
• Have diabetes, liver or kidney disease.
• Are on dialysis.
• Have lupus or gout.
• Have had skin cancer or have a family history of skin cancer.
• Have a greater chance of developing skin cancer because you have light-coloured skin, get sunburned easily, or are taking drugs to suppress your immune system.
• Have a collagen disease (skin disease) such as lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) or scleroderma (a skin condition leading to hardening or thickening of the skin).
• Are on LDL apheresis (a treatment to lower the LDL cholesterol in the blood).
• Are dehydrated or recently suffered from excessive vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating.
• Are taking a salt substitute that contains potassium, potassium supplements, or a potassium-sparing diuretic (a specific kind of “water pill”) or other drugs that may increase serum potassium (e.g., trimethoprimcontaining products).
• Are on a low-salt diet.
• Are receiving gold (sodium aurothiomalate) injections.
• Are less than 18 years old. APOCILAZAPRIL/HCTZ is not recommended for use in children.
• Are taking a medicine that contains aliskiren, such as RASILEZ, used to lower high blood pressure. The combination with APOCILAZAPRIL/HCTZ is not recommended.
• Are taking any of the following medicines, the risk of angioedema may be increased:
  • Medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection and for cancer (e.g. temsirolimus, sirolimus, everolimus).
  • DPP-IV inhibitors (e.g. alogliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin and sitagliptin, medicines used to treat diabetes).
• Are taking an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). You can recognize an ARB because its medicinal ingredient ends in “-SARTAN”.

Risk of skin cancer:

APO-CILAZAPRIL/HCTZ contains hydrochlorothiazide. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide may increase the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer. The risk is higher if you have been taking APOCILAZAPRIL/HCTZ for many years (more than 3) or at a high dose.

While taking APO-CILAZAPRIL/HCTZ:

• Make sure to regularly check your skin for any new lesions. Check areas that are most exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest and back.
• Limit your exposure to the sun and to indoor tanning. Always use sunscreen (SPF-30 or higher) and wear protective clothing when going outside.
• Talk to your doctor immediately if you get more sensitive to the sun or UV light or if you develop an unexpected skin lesion (such as a lump, bump, sore, or patch) during the treatment.

Hydrochlorothiazide in APOCILAZAPRIL/HCTZ can cause Sudden Eye Disorders:

• Myopia: sudden nearsightedness or blurred vision.
• Glaucoma: an increased pressure in your eyes, eye pain. Untreated, it may lead to permanent vision loss.

These eye disorders are related and can develop within hours to weeks of starting APOCILAZAPRIL/HCTZ.

You may become sensitive to the sun while taking APO-CILAZAPRIL/HCTZ. Exposure to sunlight should be minimized until you know how you respond.

If you are going to have surgery and will be given an anesthetic, be sure to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking APO-CILAZAPRIL/HCTZ.

Driving and using machines: Before you perform tasks, which may require special attention, wait until you know how you respond APO CILAZAPRIL/HCTZ. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting can especially occur after the first dose and when the dose is increased.