| (a) Summary of the safety profile The most frequent drug-attributable adverse events observed in patients taking ACE inhibitors are cough, skin rash and renal dysfunction. Cough is more common in women and non-smokers. Where the patient can tolerate the cough, it may be reasonable to continue treatment. In some cases, reducing the dose may help. Treatment-related adverse events severe enough to stop treatment occur in less than 5% of patients receiving ACE inhibitors.(b) Tabulated list of adverse reactions The following list of adverse reactions is derived from clinical trials and post-marketing data in association with cilazapril and/or other ACE inhibitors. Estimates of frequency are based on the proportion of patients reporting each adverse reaction during cilazapril clinical trials that included a total combined population of 7171 patients. Adverse reactions that were not observed during cilazapril clinical trials but have been reported in association with other ACE inhibitors or derived from post-marketing case reports are classified as 'rare'.Frequency categories are as follows:Very common | 1/10
| Common | 1/100 and < 1/10
| Uncommon | 1/1,000 and < 1/100
| Rare | < 1/1,000 |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders Rare Neutropenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, anaemiaImmune system disorders Uncommon Angioedema (may involve the face, lips, tongue, larynx or gastrointestinal tract) (see section 4.4)Rare Anaphylaxis (see section 4.4)Lupus-like syndrome (symptoms may include vasculitis, myalgia, arthralgia/arthritis, positive antinuclear antibodies, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophilia and leukocytosis)Nervous system disorders Common HeadacheUncommon DysgeusiaRare Cerebral ischaemia, transient ischaemic attack, ischaemic stroke Peripheral neuropathy Cardiac disorders Uncommon Myocardial ischaemia, angina pectoris, tachycardia, palpitationsRare Myocardial infarction, arrhythmiaVascular disorders Common DizzinessUncommon Hypotension, postural hypotension (see section 4.4). Symptoms of hypotension may include syncope, weakness, dizziness and visual impairment.Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders Common CoughUncommon Dyspnoea, bronchospasm, rhinitisRare Interstitial lung disease, bronchitis, sinusitisGastrointestinal disorders Common NauseaUncommon Dry mouth, aphthous stomatitis, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, vomiting Rare Glossitis, pancreatitisHepatobiliary disorders Rare Abnormal liver function test (including transaminases, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma GT)Cholestatic hepatitis with or without necrosisSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Uncommon Rash, maculopapular rashRare Psoriaform dermatitis, psoriasis (exacerbation), lichen planus, exfoliative dermatitis, urticaria, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, Karposi's sarcoma, vasculitis/purpura, photosensitivity reactions, alopecia, onycholysisMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Uncommon Muscle cramps, myalgia, arthralgiaRenal and urinary disorders Rare Renal impairment, acute renal failure (see section 4.4), blood creatinine increased, blood urea increasedHyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, nephritisReproductive and breast disorders Uncommon ImpotenceRare GynaecomastiaGeneral disorders and administration site conditions Common FatigueUncommon Excess sweating, flushing, asthenia, sleep disorder(c) Description of selected adverse events Hypotension and postural hypotension may occur when starting treatment or increasing dose, especially in at-risk patients (see section 4.4). Renal impairment and acute renal failure are more likely in patients with severe heart failure, renal artery stenosis, pre-existing renal disorders or volume depletion (see section 4.4).Hyperkalaemia is most likely to occur in patients with renal impairment and those taking potassium sparing diuretics or potassium supplements.The events of cerebral ischaemia, transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke reported rarely in association with ACE inhibitors may be related to hypotension in patients with underlying cerebrovascular disease. Similarly, myocardial ischaemia may be related to hypotension in patients with underlying ischaemic heart disease.Headache is a commonly reported adverse event, although the incidence of headache is greater in patients receiving placebo than in those receiving ACE inhibitors. | |