Some common side effects of Avapro include:
- diarrhea
- heartburn
- nausea
- vomiting
- feeling tired
If these do not clear up in the first few weeks of use, or get worse, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist. You can reduce the side-effects of dizziness and lightheadedness, by getting up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Avapro has been reported to sometimes cause more serious side effects including:
- unexplained muscle pain or swelling
- tenderness or weakness
- fever
- little or no urination, or dark colored urine
- confusion, lightheadedness, or unusual tiredness
- rapid weight gain
- loss of appetite
If you experience any of these side effects, consult with your healthcare physician immediately.
Avapro has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefits to you outweigh the risk of side effects. Most people using Avapro do not have serious side effects.
Avapro is usually not prescribed during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you’re trying to fall pregnant or are already pregnant.
If you experience feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness when you first start taking Avapro, you should try to refrain from driving a car, riding a bike, or using power tools or machinery.
Alcohol can accelerate the pressure-lowering effect of Avapro, which can also make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Don’t drink alcohol if you have felt dizzy before when drinking.
Avapro is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) medicine widely used to treat patients with symptoms of high blood pressure (hypertension).
It relaxes and widens blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. By regulating blood pressure, it can help to prevent strokes, heart attacks and diabetic kidney disease.
For patients who have kidney disease related to Type 2 diabetes, it can protect the kidneys and slow down the progress of the disease and the amount of protein lost through the kidneys.
Avapro starts to work quickly and will begin to reduce high blood pressure within two hours of taking it. It may take between four to six weeks to achieve the full desired effect.
Avapro is often prescribed in place of drugs based on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors because they caused patients to develop a dry, irritating cough.
Some people need to take a combination ARB, ACE and other different blood pressure-lowering medicines.