moexipril
Moexipril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that's used to treat high blood pressure in adults. It's taken by mouth once or twice per day. This medication is available as a lower-cost generic. Moexipril side effects include cough, dizziness, and diarrhea.
What is Moexipril?
What is Moexipril used for?
- High blood pressure in adults
How Moexipril works
Moexipril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It works by blocking a protein in your body called ACE from squeezing your blood vessels. Blocking ACE helps relax your blood vessels and lower your blood pressure.
Drug facts
Side effects of Moexipril
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Cough (6%)
- Dizziness (4%)
- Diarrhea (3%)
- Flu-like symptoms (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Tiredness
- Sore throat
- Rash
- Flushing
- Muscle pain
Moexipril serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Angioedema (severe swelling): swelling (in the face, arms or legs, lips, tongue, or throat); trouble breathing; wheezing; nausea; vomiting; severe stomach pain
- Dangerously low blood pressure: dizziness, lightheadedness, pale skin, feeling faint
- Serious kidney problems: urinating less often than usual; swelling in your feet, ankles, or hands; unexplained weight gain
- High blood potassium levels: nausea, muscle weakness, abnormal heartbeat
- Severe allergic reaction: swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face; trouble breathing; rash
More on Moexipril side effects
The following Moexipril side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Blurred vision
chills
confusion
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
headache
joint pain
loss of appetite
muscle aches and pains
shivering
sweating
trouble sleeping
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Less common
Body aches or pain
congestion
difficulty moving
dizziness
feeling of warmth
hoarseness
muscle cramping
muscle stiffness
rash
redness of the face, neck, arms, and upper chest
swollen joints
tender, swollen glands in the neck
trouble swallowing
voice changes
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Moexipril
Pros
- A first-choice medication for lowering blood pressure for many people
- Taken once or twice per day
- Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
- Must take 1 hour before meals
- Might not work as well for lowering high blood pressure in Black adults
- Can cause a cough that might not go away until you stop the medication
- Hasn't been studied in children
Pharmacist tips for Moexipril
- Take moexipril 1 hour before food. You should take it on an empty stomach because food can lower how much of the medication gets absorbed into your body.
- Moexipril can make you feel dizzy, especially when you first start taking the medication and when your dose is raised. This should get better as your body gets used to your new blood pressure. To lower your risk of falls, make sure to stand up slowly and carefully from a sitting or lying down position.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated while you're taking moexipril, especially on hot days or after exercising. Your blood pressure might drop too much if you don't have enough fluids in your body. This can worsen dizziness and raise your risk of falls. Ask your provider about how you can stay hydrated in a safe way if you have heart failure or kidney problems.
- Check your blood pressure at home and write down your readings. Bring your log to your office visits so you can talk with your provider about how well moexipril is working for you and whether your dose needs to be changed.
- Mark your appointments on your calendar for any blood work you need while you're taking moexipril. These blood tests help your provider check for side effects, like changes in your potassium levels or kidney health. Your dose might need to be adjusted based on your lab results.
- Make sure to tell your providers about all the medications you're taking or planning to take. Moexipril can interact with other medications. These interactions can affect how well your medications work or raise your risk for side effects. Your providers and pharmacists can check that your medications are safe to take together.
- Don't use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil), with moexipril unless your provider says it's okay. Taking these medications with moexipril can raise your risk for kidney problems.
- Make sure to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, follow a low-salt diet, and get regular exercise while you're taking moexipril. This helps lower your blood pressure. You might be able to stop taking the medication if your blood pressure is well-controlled with these lifestyle changes.
- Stop taking moexipril and tell your provider right away if you're pregnant. This medication isn't safe to take during pregnancy because it can harm your unborn baby. Your provider might recommend a different medication that's safer during pregnancy and lifestyle changes you can make to help lower your blood pressure.
More on Moexipril tips
Common questions about Moexipril
Moexipril can start lowering your blood pressure within 1 hour and can take up to 6 hours for the medication's maximum effect. But it can take up to 2 to 4 weeks to see noticeable changes in your blood pressure. For this reason, you'll typically take the medication at the prescribed dose for a few weeks before your provider considers any dose adjustments. Check your blood pressure at home as instructed by your provider. Write down your blood pressure readings and bring them to your appointments. Your provider will talk with you about how well moexipril is working for you based on your readings. It can take a little time and a few dose adjustments before your provider finds a dose that works best for you.
Yes. Moexipril isn't known to interact with grapefruit, so it's safe to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you're taking moexipril. If you're taking other medications in addition to moexipril, it's important to ask your provider or pharmacist whether it's safe to eat grapefruit first. Although grapefruit doesn't affect how moexipril works and doesn't raise your risk for side effects, it might affect your other medications.
Though rare, it's possible to have edema (swelling) from having too much fluid in the body while you're taking moexipril. This type of edema might look like swelling in the arms, legs, ankles, or feet. ACE inhibitors like moexipril can also potentially cause a different, life-threatening, but also rare type of edema called angioedema. This can look like swelling of the face, neck, mouth, or even the stomach. Angioedema can happen at any time during treatment with moexipril. Call your provider if you notice swelling in your legs or ankles so your provider can check for other medical problems like heart failure. Go to the hospital right away if you have swelling in the face, neck, or mouth (angioedema) and if you're having trouble breathing; you need to get emergency treatment to reverse the swelling.
Moexipril isn't known to lower heart rate. But a few people have reported having a pounding or fluttering heart (heart palpitations) while taking this medication. It isn't clear whether these changes in heart rate are caused by moexipril. Ask your provider if you notice that your heart rate is lower than usual or if you feel your heart is pounding while you're taking moexipril.
Weight gain isn't a known side effect of moexipril. A few people did report having weight changes during treatment, but it isn't clear whether these changes were gains or losses and whether they were caused by the medication. Talk to your provider if you notice unexplained changes in your weight while you're taking moexipril.
Both moexipril and lisinopril (Zestril) are ACE inhibitors, so they have some similar characteristics. Both medications can help treat high blood pressure, but lisinopril (Zestril) can also be used for heart failure and for lowering the risk of death after a heart attack. Also, moexipril must be taken on an empty stomach, whereas lisinopril (Zestril) can be taken with or without food. Additionally, moexipril hasn't been studied in children, but lisinopril (Zestril) can be used for children as young as 6 years old who have high blood pressure. Finally, lisinopril (Zesteril) is a longer-acting medication and is taken once per day, whereas moexipril is taken either once or twice per day. Talk with your provider if you have any questions about moexipril and lisinopril (Zestril).
There are several other blood pressure medications available on the market today that you might be able to take instead of moexipril. Keep in mind that ACE inhibitors like moexipril are one of the first-choice medications for blood pressure, so your provider will pick another medication depending on why you want to stop taking moexipril. For example, if you're having a cough from moexipril that isn't going away, your provider might consider switching you to an ARB like losartan (Cozaar).
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Risks and warnings for Moexipril
Moexipril can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Not safe during pregnancy
Moexipril can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening harm to unborn babies. For this reason, avoid using this medication during pregnancy. Before you start moexipril, discuss with your provider about safer options to treat your blood pressure if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. If you become pregnant while you're taking moexipril, stop the medication and let your provider know right away.
Angioedema (swelling)
- Risk factors: Black people | History of angioedema in the past
People who take ACE inhibitors like moexipril can experience a rare, but serious side effect called angioedema. This involves swelling in different parts of the body, including the face, throat, tongue, and stomach. Swelling of the tongue or throat area can be potentially life-threatening since it can make it difficult to breathe. Angioedema can happen at any time during treatment. You might be more likely to experience angioedema if you're Black, an older adult, or of female sex. Get medical attention immediately if you notice any unusual swelling, stomach pain, or difficulty breathing. You'll have to stop taking moexipril if this happens.
Low blood pressure
- Risk factors: Not enough fluid in your body | Having diarrhea or vomiting for a long time | Low salt levels in your body | Taking higher doses of diuretic medications | Dialysis | Heart failure
Taking moexipril can sometimes cause your blood pressure to drop too much. This can make you feel dizzy, tired, or lightheaded. This side effect is more common when you first start moexipril or when your provider raises your dose. Make sure to stay well-hydrated during treatment. Sit or lie down slowly while holding onto something if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, faint, or tired. And get medical help right away if you accidentally fall and hit your head.
Worsening kidney problems
- Risk factors: Severe heart failure | Kidney problems or renal artery stenosis | Not enough fluid in your body | Taking other medications that can cause kidney damage
Moexipril is usually good for the kidneys. But in some cases, it can make kidney problems worse. The risk is higher for people who have certain types of kidney problems, such as renal artery stenosis or kidney damage from severe heart failure. Your provider might order lab tests every so often to make sure your kidneys are healthy and working properly. Tell your provider if you're urinating less often than usual, as this could be a sign that your kidneys aren't working as well.
High potassium levels
- Risk factors: Diabetes | Kidney problems | Taking other medications that also raise potassium
Moexipril can raise the amount of potassium in your body, which can sometimes be dangerous. Your risk of having high potassium levels is greater if you have diabetes or kidney problems or if you're taking other medications that also raise potassium levels. For this reason, make sure your provider knows your full medical history and what medications you're taking before you start treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of high potassium levels, such as nausea, muscle weakness, or abnormal heartbeat.
Liver problems
In some rare cases, people who took ACE inhibitors like moexipril developed a blocked bile duct. This condition can lead to liver problems or liver failure. Your provider might order blood tests to check your liver health from time to time. Let your provider know right away if you notice symptoms of liver problems, such as tiredness, stomach pain, or yellowing of your skin.
Moexipril dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5mg | 90 tablets | $40.38 | $0.45 |
| 15mg | 90 tablets | $41.29 | $0.46 |
Typical dosage for Moexipril
The typical dose is 7.5 mg to 30 mg per day taken by mouth an hour before meals. It can be taken as a single dose or split into two equal doses during the day.
Your provider will adjust your dose depending on your kidney function, how well the medication helps lower your blood pressure, and whether you're having side effects.
Interactions between Moexipril and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Aliskiren
- Sacubitril
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alteplase, Recombinant
- Amiloride
- Azathioprine
- Azilsartan
- Azilsartan Medoxomil
- Candesartan Cilexetil
- Canrenoate
- Eplerenone
- Eprosartan
- Everolimus
- Irbesartan
- Lithium
- Losartan
- Mercaptopurine
- Olmesartan Medoxomil
- Potassium
- Potassium Phosphate
- Sirolimus
- Spironolactone
- Telmisartan
- Triamterene
- Trimethoprim
- Valsartan
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Azosemide
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Bumetanide
- Bupivacaine
- Bupivacaine Liposome
- Capsaicin
- Celecoxib
- Choline Salicylate
- Clonixin
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Droxicam
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flurbiprofen
- Furosemide
- Gold Sodium Thiomalate
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Morniflumate
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Nesiritide
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piretanide
- Piroxicam
- Proglumetacin
- Propionic Acid
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Rofecoxib
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sulindac
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Torsemide
- Valdecoxib
How much does Moexipril cost?
$40.38
Moexipril contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Moexipril will not be safe for you to take.
- History of angioedema
- Taking at the same time as aliskiren (Tekturna) for people with high blood sugar (diabetes)
What are alternatives to Moexipril?
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