Univasc Description

Univasc may be prescribed alone or in combination with thiazide diuretics to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure is. Univasc belongs to a group of medications called ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors that work by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen.

How Univasc Works to Restore Proper Blood Flow

Moexipril is the active ingredient in Univasc which works by reducing the activity of the angiotensin converting enzyme that is in charge of your blood vessels narrowing. By doing so, the amount of the angiotensin chemical is lower so your blood vessels will not contract and your body will have a better blood flow. A healthy diet, exercise, reducing stress, and being smoke-free can greatly improve your blood pressure but Univasc will not cure hypertension.

Conditions Treated by Univasc

Your blood pressure reading consists of two numbers; systolic and diastolic. Systolic BP measures the pressure of your blood against the artery walls just as your heart has finished pumping and diastolic BP measures the pressure of your blood against the artery walls between heartbeats. Blood pressure that is measured at 140 over 90 is a “high normal “reading and should be monitored by your physician, and a healthy reading would be in the range of 120 over 80.

You can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues and can cause dire consequences because hypertension adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues untreated for a long time, it can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. Lowering blood pressure makes it easier for the heart to pump blood to other organs and tissues in your body and reduces other health risks.

Before Univasc is Prescribed

In order to be sure that you can safely take Univasc, discuss other medical problems you are experiencing, especially: angioedema, collagen vascular disease, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease or low sodium in the blood.

Univasc Precautions

You should not take Univasc if you are pregnant. You should stop using Univasc right away and inform your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this medication. Keep all meds out of children’s reach and away from pets and never share them with anyone else.

Possible Side Effects of Univasc

• Flushing
• Dizziness
• Dry cough
• Muscle aches
• Blurred vision

Drugs Similar to Univasc

• Mavik
• Zestril
• Capoten