Coveram (Perindopril Arginine And Amlodipine Besilate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Coveram Used For?
Coveram is a combination medication that contains two active ingredients: perindopril arginine (an ACE inhibitor) and amlodipine besilate (a calcium channel blocker). It’s designed to replace taking separate tablets of these two medications.
Primary Uses
Coveram is prescribed for high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary heart disease. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but if left untreated can lead to serious health problems including stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. Coronary heart disease involves narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart.
How It Works
Coveram works by widening your blood vessels, which reduces pressure in the vessels and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. This helps increase oxygen supply to your heart, so when you place extra demands on your heart (like during exercise), your heart may cope better and you may not get short of breath as easily.
Good to know: There is no evidence that Coveram is addictive.
How to Take Coveram
Your doctor will select the right dose for you when prescribing Coveram. It’s important to take it exactly as prescribed to get the full benefits of treatment.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is one tablet once daily. Swallow your tablet with a glass of water. Take Coveram at about the same time each day, preferably in the morning before a meal. Taking it at the same time each day will help you remember and will have the best effect.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to taking it as you normally would.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice as they can increase blood levels of amlodipine and cause unpredictable effects.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Feeling sick
- Weakness
- Tiredness
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Swelling of limbs, hands, feet, lips, face, mouth, tongue, or throat (angioedema)
- Purple spots with blisters on arms, legs, neck, or ears (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome)
- Painful red areas with large blisters and peeling skin layers with fever and chills
- Red, itchy spots similar to measles rash
- Difficulty breathing
- Fast and irregular heartbeat
- Severe skin rash, itching, or allergic reactions
Important Warnings
There are certain people who should not take Coveram and important conditions to discuss with your doctor before starting treatment.
Who Should Not Take Coveram
Do not take Coveram if you: are allergic to perindopril, amlodipine, other ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers; are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding; are undergoing certain blood treatments outside the body; are taking aliskiren and have diabetes or kidney problems; are being treated with sacubitril/valsartan; have renal artery stenosis, aortic stenosis, severe low blood pressure, unstable angina, cardiogenic shock, or heart failure within 28 days after a heart attack; have previously experienced swelling of face, tongue, lips or throat (angioedema).
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: kidney or liver disease; high or low potassium levels or other salt balance problems; diabetes; heart disease or severe blood pressure increases; systemic lupus erythematous or scleroderma; abnormally high aldosterone levels; if you’re on a salt-restricted diet or use potassium-containing salt substitutes; if you have lactose intolerance; or if you’re undergoing desensitization treatment, surgery, or have recently had diarrhea or vomiting.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Coveram if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Coveram may affect your developing baby during pregnancy and passes into breast milk, potentially affecting the breastfed baby. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Coveram.
Elderly Patients: Coveram can generally be used safely by elderly people, but reduced kidney function is often found in elderly patients. In this case, the starting dose should be lower doses of the separate components.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interact with Coveram and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you’re taking.
Grapefruit interaction: Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice as they can increase blood levels of amlodipine, causing unpredictable increases in blood pressure lowering effects.
- Blood treatments outside the body (extracorporeal treatments)
- Antibiotics like erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin
- Antifungal medicines like ketoconazole, itraconazole
- Anti-inflammatory drugs including high-dose aspirin, ibuprofen
- Mood and depression medications (lithium, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics)
- Potassium-sparing medicines and potassium supplements
- Blood pressure medications including ARBs, beta-blockers, alpha-blockers, aliskiren, diuretics
- Diabetes medications (tablets and insulin)
- Muscle relaxants like baclofen, dantrolene
- Epilepsy medications like carbamazepine, phenytoin
- St. John’s Wort
- Immune system suppressants
- Cholesterol-lowering medicines like simvastatin
- HIV medications like protease inhibitors
- Sacubitril/valsartan for heart failure
- Diabetes medications called gliptins
Alcohol & Driving
Coveram may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, and your doctor may advise limiting alcohol intake.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake while taking Coveram.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Coveram affects you. If the tablets make you feel sick, dizzy, weak, tired, or give you a headache, do not drive or use machines and contact your doctor immediately.
Storage
Keep your Coveram tablets in the bottle until it’s time to take them, as they won’t keep as well outside their packaging. Store in a cool, dry place away from light where the temperature stays below 25°C. Don’t store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills, as heat and dampness can destroy the medicine. Keep where children cannot reach them – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above ground is ideal.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Coveram, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coveram helps control your blood pressure and treat coronary heart disease, but it does not cure these conditions. You should continue taking it for as long as your doctor tells you to maintain its beneficial effects.
Coveram should be taken in the morning before a meal. Take it at about the same time each day for the best effect and to help you remember.
No, there is no evidence that Coveram is addictive.
Do not stop taking Coveram or change the dosage without checking with your doctor. Don’t stop taking your tablets just because you’re feeling better, unless advised by your doctor. Coveram helps control your condition but doesn’t cure it.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake while taking Coveram.
Coveram can generally be used safely by elderly people. However, reduced kidney function is often found in elderly patients, and in this case, the starting dose should be lower doses of the separate tablet components.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.