1. Name Of The Medicinal Product
COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg film-coated tablets
2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition
One film-coated tablet contains 3.395 mg perindopril corresponding to 5 mg perindopril arginine and 1.25 mg indapamide.
Excipient : 71.33 mg lactose monohydrate
For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3. Pharmaceutical Form
Film-coated tablet.
White, rod-shaped film-coated tablet.
4. Clinical Particulars
4.1 Therapeutic Indications
Treatment of essential hypertension, COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg film-coated tablet is indicated in patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on perindopril alone.
4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration
Oral route
One COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg film-coated tablet per day as a single dose, preferably to be taken in the morning, and before a meal.
When possible individual dose titration with the components is recommended. COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg film-coated tablet should be used when blood pressure is not adequately controlled on COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 2.5mg/0.625mg film-coated tablet (where available). When clinically appropriate, direct change from monotherapy to COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg film-coated tablet may be considered.
Elderly (see section 4.4)
Treatment should be initiated after considering blood pressure response and renal function.
Patients with renal impairment (see section 4.4)
In severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min), treatment is contra-indicated.
In patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance 30-60 ml/min), it is recommended to start treatment with the adequate dosage of the free combination.
In patients with creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 ml/min, no dose modification is required. Usual medical follow-up will include frequent monitoring of creatinine and potassium.
Patients with hepatic impairment (see sections 4.3, 4.4 and 5.2)
In severe hepatic impairment, treatment is contra-indicated.
In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, no dose modification is required.
Children and adolescents
COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg should not be used in children and adolescents as the efficacy and tolerability of perindopril in children and adolescents, alone or in combination, have not been established.
4.3 Contraindications
Linked to perindopril:
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Hypersensitivity to perindopril or any other ACE inhibitor
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History of angioedema (Quincke's oedema) associated with previous ACE inhibitor therapy
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Hereditary/idiopathic angioedema
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Second and third trimesters of pregnancy (see sections 4.4 and 4.6)
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Linked to indapamide:
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Hypersensitivity to indapamide or to any other sulphonamides
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Severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min)
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Hepatic encephalopathy
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Severe hepatic impairment
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Hypokalaemia
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As a general rule, this medicine is inadvisable in combination with non antiarrhythmic agents causing torsades de pointes (see section 4.5)
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Lactation (see section 4.6).
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Linked to COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg:
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Hypersensitivity to any of the excipients
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Due to the lack of sufficient therapeutic experience, COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg should not be used in:
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Dialysis patients
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Patients with untreated decompensated heart failure.
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4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use
Special warnings
Common to perindopril and indapamide:
Lithium:
The combination of lithium and the combination of perindopril and indapamide is usually not recommended (see section 4.5).
Linked to perindopril:
Neutropenia/agranulocytosis:
Neutropenia/agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia and anaemia have been reported in patients receiving ACE inhibitors. In patients with normal renal function and no other complicating factors, neutropenia occurs rarely. Perindopril should be used with extreme caution in patients with collagen vascular disease, immunosuppressant therapy, treatment with allopurinol or procainamide, or a combination of these complicating factors, especially if there is pre-existing impaired renal function. Some of these patients developed serious infections which in a few instances did not respond to intensive antibiotic therapy. If perindopril is used in such patients, periodical monitoring of white blood cell counts is advised and patients should be instructed to report any sign of infection (e.g. sore throat, fever).
Hypersensitivity/angioedema:
Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis and/or larynx has been reported rarely in patients treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, including perindopril. This may occur at any time during treatment. In such cases perindopril should be discontinued promptly and appropriate monitoring should be instituted to ensure complete resolution of symptoms prior to dismissing the patient. In those instances where swelling has been confined to the face and lips the condition generally resolved without treatment, although antihistamines have been useful in relieving symptoms.
Angioedema associated with laryngeal oedema may be fatal. Where there is involvement of the tongue, glottis or larynx, likely to cause airway obstruction, appropriate therapy, which may include subcutaneous epinephrine solution 1:1000 (0.3 ml to 0.5 ml) and/or measures to ensure a patent airway, should be administered promptly.
Black patients receiving ACE inhibitors have been reported to have a higher incidence of angioedema compared to non-blacks.
Patients with a history of angioedema unrelated to ACE inhibitor therapy may be at increased risk of angioedema while receiving an ACE inhibitor (see section 4.3).
Intestinal angioedema has been reported rarely in patients treated with ACE inhibitors. These patients presented with abdominal pain (with or without nausea or vomiting); in some cases there was no prior facial angioedema and C-1 esterase levels were normal. The angioedema was diagnosed by procedures including abdominal CT scan, or ultrasound or at surgery and symptoms resolved after stopping the ACE inhibitor. Intestinal angioedema should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients on ACE inhibitors presenting with abdominal pain.
Anaphylactoid reactions during desensitisation:
There have been isolated reports of patients experiencing sustained, life-threatening anaphylactoid reactions while receiving ACE inhibitors during desensitisation treatment with hymenoptera (bees, wasps) venom. ACE inhibitors should be used with caution in allergic patients treated with desensitisation, and avoided in those undergoing venom immunotherapy. However these reactions could be prevented by temporary withdrawal of ACE inhibitor for at least 24 hours before treatment in patients who require both ACE inhibitors and desensitisation.
Anaphylactoid reactions during LDL apheresis:
Rarely, patients receiving ACE inhibitors during low density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis with dextran sulphate have experienced life-threatening anaphylactoid reactions. These reactions were avoided by temporarily withholding ACE-inhibitor therapy prior to each apheresis.
Haemodialysis patients:
Anaphylactoid reactions have been reported in patients dialysed with high-flux membranes (e.g., AN 69®) and treated concomitantly with an ACE inhibitor. In these patients consideration should be given to using a different type of dialysis membrane or a different class of antihypertensive agent.
Potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium salts:
The combination of perindopril and potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium salts is usually not recommended (see section 4.5).
Pregnancy and lactation:
ACE inhibitors should not be initiated during pregnancy. Unless continued ACE inhibitor therapy is considered essential, patients planning pregnancy should be changed to alternative anti-hypertensive treatments which have an established safety profile for use in pregnancy. When pregnancy is diagnosed, treatment with ACE inhibitors should be stopped immediately, and, if appropriate, alternative therapy should be started (see sections 4.3 and 4.6).
Use of perindopril is not recommended during breast-feeding.
Linked to indapamide:
When liver function is impaired, thiazide diuretics and thiazide-related diuretics may cause hepatic encephalopathy. Administration of the diuretic should be stopped immediately if this occurs.
Photosensitivity:
Cases of photosensitivity reactions have been reported with thiazides and related thiazides diuretics (see section 4.8). If photosensitivity reaction occurs during treatment, it is recommended to stop the treatment. If a re-administration of the diuretic is deemed necessary, it is recommended to protect exposed areas to the sun or to artificial UVA.
Precautions for use
Common to perindopril and indapamide:
Renal impairment:
In cases of severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min), treatment is contra-indicated.
In certain hypertensive patients without pre-existing apparent renal lesions and for whom renal blood tests show functional renal insufficiency, treatment should be stopped and possibly restarted either at a low dose or with one constituent only.
In these patients usual medical follow-up will include frequent monitoring of potassium and creatinine, after two weeks of treatment and then every two months during therapeutic stability period. Renal failure has been reported mainly in patients with severe heart failure or underlying renal failure including renal artery stenosis.
The drug is usually not recommended in case of bilateral renal artery stenosis or a single functioning kidney.
Hypotension and water and electrolyte depletion:
There is a risk of sudden hypotension in the presence of pre-existing sodium depletion (in particular in individuals with renal artery stenosis). Therefore systematic testing should be carried out for clinical signs of water and electrolyte depletion, which may occur with an inter-current episode of diarrhoea or vomiting. Regular monitoring of plasma electrolytes should be carried out in such patients.
Marked hypotension may require the implementation of an intravenous infusion of isotonic saline.
Transient hypotension is not a contra-indication to continuation of treatment. After re-establishment of a satisfactory blood volume and blood pressure, treatment can be started again either at a reduced dose or with only one of the constituents.
Potassium levels:
The combination of perindopril and indapamide does not prevent the onset of hypokalaemia particularly in diabetic patients or in patients with renal failure. As with any antihypertensive agent containing a diuretic, regular monitoring of plasma potassium levels should be carried out.
Excipients:
COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg should not be administered to patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Linked to perindopril:
Cough:
A dry cough has been reported with the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. It is characterised by its persistence and by its disappearance when treatment is withdrawn. An iatrogenic aetiology should be considered in the event of this symptom. If the prescription of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor is still preferred, continuation of treatment may be considered.
Children and adolescents:
The efficacy and tolerability of perindopril in children and adolescents, alone or in combination, have not been established.
Risk of arterial hypotension and/or renal insufficiency (in cases of cardiac insufficiency, water and electrolyte depletion, etc...):
Marked stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been observed particularly during marked water and electrolyte depletions (strict sodium-free diet or prolonged diuretic treatment), in patients whose blood pressure was initially low, in cases of renal artery stenosis, congestive heart failure or cirrhosis with oedema and ascites.
The blocking of this system with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor may therefore cause, particularly at the time of the first administration and during the first two weeks of treatment, a sudden drop in blood pressure and/or an increase in plasma levels of creatinine, showing a functional renal insufficiency. Occasionally this can be acute in onset, although rare, and with a variable time to onset.
In such cases, the treatment should then be initiated at a lower dose and increased progressively.
Elderly:
Renal function and potassium levels should be tested before the start of treatment. The initial dose is subsequently adjusted according to blood pressure response, especially in cases of water and electrolyte depletion, in order to avoid sudden onset of hypotension.
Patients with known atherosclerosis:
The risk of hypotension exists in all patients but particular care should be taken in patients with ischaemic heart disease or cerebral circulatory insufficiency, with treatment being started at a low dose.
Renovascular hypertension:
The treatment for renovascular hypertension is revascularisation. Nonetheless, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors can be beneficial in patients presenting with renovascular hypertension who are awaiting corrective surgery or when such a surgery is not possible.
If COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg is prescribed to patients with known or suspected renal artery stenosis, treatment should be started in a hospital setting at a low dose and renal function and potassium levels should be monitored, since some patients have developed a functional renal insufficiency which was reversed when treatment was stopped.
Other populations at risk:
In patients with severe cardiac insufficiency (grade IV) or in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (spontaneous tendency to increased levels of potassium), treatment should be started under medical supervision with a reduced initial dose. Treatment with beta-blockers in hypertensive patients with coronary insufficiency should not be stopped: the ACE inhibitor should be added to the beta-blocker.
Diabetic patients:
The glycaemia levels should be closely monitored in diabetic patients previously treated with oral antidiabetic drugs or insulin, namely during the first month of treatment with an ACE inhibitor.
Ethnic differences:
As with other angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, perindopril is apparently less effective in lowering blood pressure in black people than in non-blacks, possibly because of a higher prevalence of low-renin states in the black hypertensive population.
Surgery / anaesthesia:
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors can cause hypotension in cases of anaesthesia, especially when the anaesthetic administered is an agent with hypotensive potential.
It is therefore recommended that treatment with long-acting angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors such as perindopril should be discontinued where possible one day before surgery.
Aortic or mitral valve stenosis / hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:
ACE inhibitors should be used with caution in patients with an obstruction in the outflow tract of the left ventricle.
Hepatic failure:
Rarely, ACE inhibitors have been associated with a syndrome that starts with cholestatic jaundice and progresses to fulminant hepatic necrosis and (sometimes) death. The mechanism of this syndrome is not understood. Patients receiving ACE inhibitors who develop jaundice or marked elevations of hepatic enzymes should discontinue the ACE inhibitor and receive appropriate medical follow-up (see section 4.8).
Hyperkalaemia:
Elevations in serum potassium have been observed in some patients treated with ACE inhibitors, including perindopril. Risk factors for the development of hyperkalaemia include those with renal insufficiency, worsening of renal function, age (> 70 years), diabetes mellitus, inter-current events, in particular dehydration, acute cardiac decompensation, metabolic acidosis and concomitant use of potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, eplerenone, triamterene, or amiloride), potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes; or those patients taking other drugs associated with increases in serum potassium (e.g. heparin). The use of potassium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretics, or potassium-containing salt substitutes particularly in patients with impaired renal function may lead to a significant increase in serum potassium. Hyperkalaemia can cause serious, sometimes fatal arrhythmias. If concomitant use of the above-mentioned agents is deemed appropriate, they should be used with caution and with frequent monitoring of serum potassium (see section 4.5).
Linked to indapamide:
Water and electrolyte balance:
Sodium levels:
These should be tested before treatment is started, then at regular intervals. All diuretic treatment can cause a reduction in sodium levels, which may have serious consequences. Reduction in sodium levels can be initially asymptomatic and regular testing is therefore essential. Testing should be more frequent in elderly and cirrhotic patients (see sections 4.8 and 4.9).
Potassium levels:
Potassium depletion with hypokalaemia is a major risk with thiazide diuretics and thiazide-related diuretics. The risk of onset of lowered potassium levels (< 3.4 mmol/l) should be prevented in some high risk populations such as elderly and/or malnourished subjects, whether or not they are taking multiple medications, cirrhotic patients with oedema and ascites, coronary patients and patients with heart failure.
In such cases hypokalaemia increases the cardiac toxicity of cardiac glycosides and the risk of rhythm disorders.
Subjects presenting with a long QT interval are also at risk, whether the origin is congenital or iatrogenic. Hypokalaemia, as with bradycardia, acts as a factor which favours the onset of severe rhythm disorders, in particular torsades de pointes, which may be fatal.
In all cases more frequent testing of potassium levels is necessary. The first measurement of plasma potassium levels should be carried out during the first week following the start of treatment.
If low potassium levels are detected, correction is required.
Calcium levels:
Thiazide diuretics and thiazide-related diuretics may reduce urinary excretion of calcium and cause a mild and transient increase in plasma calcium levels. Markedly raised levels of calcium may be related to undiagnosed hyperparathyroidism. In such cases the treatment should be stopped before investigating the parathyroid function.
Blood glucose:
Monitoring of blood glucose is important in diabetic patients, particularly when potassium levels are low.
Uric acid:
Tendency to gout attacks may be increased in hyperuricaemic patients.
Renal function and diuretics:
Thiazide diuretics and thiazide-related diuretics are only fully effective when renal function is normal or only slightly impaired (creatinine levels lower than approximately 25 mg/l, i.e. 220 µmol/l for an adult).
In the elderly the value of plasma creatinine levels should be adjusted to take account of the age, weight and sex of the patient, according to the Cockroft formula:
clcr = (140 - age) x body weight / 0.814 x plasma creatinine level
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with:
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age expressed in years
body weight in kg
plasma creatinine level in micromol/l
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This formula is suitable for an elderly male and should be adapted for women by multiplying the result by 0.85.
Hypovolaemia, resulting from the loss of water and sodium caused by the diuretic at the start of treatment, causes a reduction in glomerular filtration. It may result in an increase in blood urea and creatinine levels. This transitory functional renal insufficiency is of no adverse consequence in patients with normal renal function but may however worsen a pre-existing renal impairment.
Athletes:
Athletes should note that this product contains an active substance which may cause a positive reaction in doping tests.
4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction
Common to perindopril and indapamide:
Concomitant use not recommended:
Lithium: reversible increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity have been reported during concomitant administration of lithium with ACE inhibitors. Concomitant use of thiazide diuretics may further increase lithium levels and enhance the risk of lithium toxicity with ACE inhibitors. Use of perindopril combined with indapamide with lithium is not recommended, but if the combination proves necessary, careful monitoring of serum lithium levels should be performed (see section 4.4).
Concomitant use which requires special care:
- Baclofen: Potentiation of antihypertensive effect. Monitoring of blood pressure and renal function, and dose adaptation of the antihypertensive if necessary.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicinal products (included acetylsalicylic acid at high doses): when ACE-inhibitors are administered simultaneously with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. acetylsalicylic acid at anti-inflammatory dosage regimens, COX-2 inhibitors and non-selective NSAIDs), attenuation of the antihypertensive effect may occur. Concomitant use of ACE-inhibitors and NSAIDs may lead to an increased risk of worsening of renal function, including possible acute renal failure, and an increase in serum potassium, especially in patients with poor pre-existing renal function. The combination should be administered with caution, especially in the elderly. Patients should be adequately hydrated and consideration should be given to monitoring renal function after initiation of concomitant therapy, and periodically thereafter.
Concomitant use which requires some care:
- Imipramine-like antidepressants (tricyclics), neuroleptics: Increased antihypertensive effect and increased risk of orthostatic hypotension (additive effect).
- Corticosteroids, tetracosactide: Reduction in antihypertensive effect (salt and water retention due to corticosteroids).
- other antihypertensive agents: use of other antihypertensive medicinal products with perindopril/indapamide could result in additional blood pressure lowering effect.
Linked to perindopril:
Concomitant use not recommended:
- Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, triamterene, alone or in combination), potassium (salts): ACE inhibitors attenuate diuretic induced potassium loss. Potassium sparing diuretics e.g. spironolactone, triamterene, or amiloride, potassium supplements, or potassium-containing salt substitutes may lead to significant increases in serum potassium (potentially lethal). If concomitant use is indicated because of documented hypokalaemia they should be used with caution and with frequent monitoring of serum potassium and by ECG.
Concomitant use which requires special care:
- Antidiabetic agents (insulin, hypoglycaemic sulphonamides): Reported with captopril and enalapril.
The use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors may increase the hypoglycaemic effect in diabetics receiving treatment with insulin or with hypoglycaemic sulphonamides. The onset of hypoglycaemic episodes is very rare (improvement in glucose tolerance with a resulting reduction in insulin requirements).
Concomitant use which requires some care:
- Allopurinol, cytostatic or immunosuppressive agents, systemic corticosteroids or procainamide: Concomitant administration with ACE inhibitors may lead to an increased risk for leucopenia.
- Anaesthetic drugs: ACE inhibitors may enhance the hypotensive effects of certain anaesthetic drugs.
- Diuretics (thiazide or loop diuretics): Prior treatment with high dose diuretics may result in volume depletion and in a risk of hypotension when initiating therapy with perindopril.
- Gold: Nitritoid reactions (symptoms include facial flushing, nausea, vomiting and hypotension) have been reported rarely in patients on therapy with injectable gold (sodium aurothiomalate) and concomitant ACE inhibitor therapy including perindopril.
Linked to indapamide:
Concomitant use which requires special care:
- Torsades de pointes inducing drugs: Due to the risk of hypokalaemia, indapamide should be administered with caution when associated with medicinal products that induced torsades de pointes such as class IA antiarrhythmic agents (quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide); class III antiarrhythmic agents (amiodarone, dofetilide, ibutilide, bretylium, sotalol); some neuroleptics (chlorpromazine, cyamemazine, levomepromazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine), benzamides (amisulpride, sulpiride, sultopride, tiapride), butyrophenones (droperidol, haloperidol), other neuroleptics (pimozide); other substances such as bepridil, cisapride, diphemanil, IV erythromycin, halofantrine, mizolastine, moxifloxacin, pentamidine, sparfloxacin, IV vincamine, methadone, astemizole, terfenadine. Prevention of low potassium levels and correction if necessary: monitoring of the QT interval.
- Potassium-lowering drugs: amphotericin B (IV route), glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids (systemic route), tetracosactide, stimulant laxatives: Increased risk of low potassium levels (additive effect). Monitoring of potassium levels, and correction if necessary; particular consideration required in cases of treatment with cardiac glycosides. Non stimulant laxatives should be used.
- Cardiac glycosides: Low potassium levels favour the toxic effects of cardiac glycosides. Potassium levels and ECG should be monitored and treatment reconsidered if necessary.
Concomitant use which requires some care:
- Metformin: Lactic acidosis due to metformin caused by possible functional renal insufficiency linked to diuretics and in particular to loop diuretics. Do not use metformin when plasma creatinine levels exceed 15 mg/l (135 micromol/l) in men and 12 mg/l (110 micromol/l) in women.
- Iodinated contrast media: In cases of dehydration caused by diuretics, there is an increased risk of acute renal insufficiency, particularly when high doses of iodinated contrast media are used. Rehydration should be carried out before the iodinated compound is administered.
- Calcium (salts): Risk of increased levels of calcium due to reduced elimination of calcium in the urine.
- Ciclosporin: Risk of increased creatinine levels with no change in circulating levels of ciclosporin, even when there is no salt and water depletion.
4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation
Pregnancy:
Linked to perindopril:
The use of ACE inhibitors is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy (see section 4.4). The use of ACE inhibitors is contra-indicated during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).
Epidemiological evidence regarding the risk of teratogenicity following exposure to ACE inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy has not been conclusive; however a small increase in risk cannot be excluded. Unless continued ACE inhibitor therapy is considered essential, patients planning pregnancy should be changed to alternative anti-hypertensive treatments which have an established safety profile for use in pregnancy. When pregnancy is diagnosed, treatment with ACE inhibitors should be stopped immediately, and, if appropriate, alternative therapy should be started.
Exposure to ACE inhibitor therapy during the second and third trimesters is known to induce human foetotoxicity (decreased renal function, oligohydramnios, skull ossification retardation) and neonatal toxicity (renal failure, hypotension, hyperkalaemia) (see section 5.3).
Should exposure to ACE inhibitors have occurred from the second trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound check of renal function and skull is recommended.
Infants whose mothers have taken ACE inhibitors should be closely observed for hypotension (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).
Linked to indapamide:
Prolonged exposure to thiazide during the third trimester of pregnancy can reduce maternal plasma volume as well as uteroplacental blood flow, which may cause a foeto-placental ischaemia and growth retardation. Moreover, rare cases of hypoglycaemia and thrombocytopenia in neonates have been reported following exposure near term.
Lactation:
COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg is contra-indicated during lactation.
Use of perindopril is not recommended during breast-feeding.
Indapamide is excreted in human milk. Indapamide is closely related to thiazide diuretics which have been associated, during breast-feeding, with decrease or even suppression of milk lactation. Hypersensitivity to suphonamide-derived drugs, hypokalaemia and nuclear icterus might occur.
As, with both drugs, serious adverse reactions might occur in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue therapy taking account the importance of this therapy for the mother.
4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines
Linked to perindopril, indapamide and COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg:
Neither the two active substances nor COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg affect alertness but individual reactions related to low blood pressure may occur in some patients, particularly at the start of treatment or in combination with another antihypertensive medication.
As a result the ability to drive or operate machinery may be impaired.
4.8 Undesirable Effects
The administration of perindopril inhibits the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis and tends to reduce the potassium loss caused by indapamide. Four percent of the patients on treatment with COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg experience hypokalaemia (potassium level < 3.4 mmol/l).
The following undesirable effects could be observed during treatment and ranked under the following frequency:
Very common (
Blood and the lymphatic system disorders:
Very rare:
- Thrombocytopenia, leucopenia/neutropenia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia, haemolytic anaemia.
- Anaemia (see section 4.4) has been reported with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in specific circumstances (patients who have had kidney transplants, patients undergoing haemodialysis).
Psychiatric disorders:
Uncommon: mood or sleep disturbances.
Nervous system disorders:
Common: Paraesthesia, headache, asthenia, feelings of dizziness, vertigo.
Very rare: Confusion.
Eye disorders:
Common: Vision disturbance.
Ear and labyrinth disorders:
Common: Tinnitus.
Vascular disorders:
Common: Hypotension whether orthostatic or not (see section 4.4).
Cardiac disorders:
Very rare: Arrhythmia including bradycardia, ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction possibly secondary to excessive hypotension in high-risk patients (see section 4.4).
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:
Common:
- A dry cough has been reported with the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. It is characterised by its persistence and by its disappearance when treatment is withdrawn. An iatrogenic aetiology should be considered in the presence of this symptom. Dyspnoea.
Uncommon: Bronchospasm.
Very rare: Eosinophilic pneumonia, rhinitis.
Gastrointestinal disorders:
Common: Constipation, dry mouth, nausea, epigastric pain, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, taste disturbance, dyspepsia, diarrhoea.
Very rare: Pancreatitis.
Hepato-biliary disorders:
Very rare: Hepatitis either cytolytic or cholestatic (see section 4.4).
Not known: In case of hepatic insufficiency, there is a possibility of onset of hepatic encephalopathy (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Common: Rash, pruritus, maculopapular eruptions.
Uncommon:
- Angioedema of face, extremities, lips, mucous membranes, tongue, glottis and/or larynx, urticaria (see section 4.4).
- Hypersensitivity reactions, mainly dermatological, in subjects with a predisposition to allergic and asthmatic reactions.
- Purpura.
Possible aggravation of pre-existing acute disseminated lupus erythematosus.
Very rare: erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens Johnson syndrome.
Cases of photosensitivity reactions have been reported (see section 4.4).
Musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders:
Common: Cramps.
Renal and urinary disorders:
Uncommon: Renal insufficiency.
Very rare: Acute renal failure.
Reproductive system and breast disorders:
Uncommon: Impotence.
General disorders and administration site conditions:
Common: Asthenia.
Uncommon: Sweating.
Investigations:
- Potassium depletion with particularly serious reduction in levels of potassium in some at risk populations (see section 4.4).
- Reduced sodium levels with hypovolaemia causing dehydration and orthostatic hypotension.
- Increase in uric acid levels and in blood glucose levels during treatment.
- Slight increase in urea and in plasma creatinine levels, reversible when treatment is stopped. This increase is more frequent in cases of renal artery stenosis, arterial hypertension treated with diuretics, renal insufficiency.
- Increased levels of potassium, usually transitory.
Rare: Raised plasma calcium levels.
4.9 Overdose
The most likely adverse reaction in cases of overdose is hypotension, sometimes associated with nausea, vomiting, cramps, dizziness, sleepiness, mental confusion, oliguria which may progress to anuria (due to hypovolaemia). Salt and water disturbances (low sodium levels, low potassium levels) may occur.
The first measures to be taken consist of rapidly eliminating the product(s) ingested by gastric lavage and/or administration of activated charcoal, then restoring fluid and electrolyte balance in a specialised centre until they return to normal.
If marked hypotension occurs, this can be treated by placing the patient in a supine position with the head lowered. If necessary an intravenous infusion of isotonic saline may be given, or any other method of volaemic expansion may be used.
Perindoprilat, the active form of perindopril, can be dialysed (see section 5.2).
5. Pharmacological Properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: perindopril and diuretics, ATC code: C09BA04
COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg is a combination of perindopril arginine salt, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, and indapamide, a chlorosulphamoyl diuretic. Its pharmacological properties are derived from those of each of the components taken separately, in addition to those due to the additive synergic action of the two products when combined.
Pharmacological mechanism of action
Linked to COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg:
COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg produces an additive synergy of the antihypertensive effects of the two components.
Linked to perindopril:
Perindopril is an inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE inhibitor) which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a vasoconstricting substance; in addition the enzyme stimulates the secretion of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex and stimulates the degradation of bradykinin, a vasodilatory substance, into inactive heptapeptides.
This results in:
- a reduction in aldosterone secretion,
- an increase in plasma renin activity, since aldosterone no longer exercises negative feedback,
- a reduction in total peripheral resistance with a preferential action on the vascular bed in muscle and the kidney, with no accompanying salt and water retention or reflex tachycardia, with chronic treatment.
The antihypertensive action of perindopril also occurs in patients with low or normal renin concentrations.
Perindopril acts through its active metabolite, perindoprilat. The other metabolites are inactive.
Perindopril reduces the work of the heart:
- by a vasodilatory effect on veins, probably caused by changes in the metabolism of prostaglandins : reduction in pre-load,
- by reduction of the total peripheral resistance: reduction in afterload.
Studies carried out on patients with cardiac insufficiency have shown:
- a reduction in left and right ventricular filling pressures,
- a reduction in total peripheral vascular resistance,
- an increase in cardiac output and an improvement in the cardiac index,
- an increase in regional blood flow in muscle.
Exercise test results also showed improvement.
Linked to indapamide:
Indapamide is a sulphonamide derivative with an indole ring, pharmacologically related to the thiazide group of diuretics. Indapamide inhibits the reabsorption of sodium in the cortical dilution segment. It increases the urinary excretion of sodium and chlorides and, to a lesser extent, the excretion of potassium and magnesium, thereby increasing urine output and having an antihypertensive action.
Characteristics of antihypertensive action
Linked to COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg:
In hypertensive patients regardless of age, COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg exerts a dose-dependent antihypertensive effect on diastolic and systolic arterial pressure whilst supine or standing. This antihypertensive effect lasts for 24 hours. The reduction in blood pressure is obtained in less than one month without tachyphylaxis; stopping treatment has no rebound effect. During clinical trials, the concomitant administration of perindopril and indapamide produced antihypertensive effects of a synergic nature in relation to each of the products administered alone.
PICXEL, a multicentre, randomised, double blind active controlled study has assessed on echocardiography the effect of perindopril/indapamide combination on LVH versus enalapril monotherapy.
In PICXEL, hypertensive patients with LVH (defined as left ventricular mass index (LVMI) > 120 g/m2 in male and > 100 g/m2 in female) were randomised either to perindopril tert-butylamine 2 mg (equivalent to 2.5 mg perindopril arginine)/indapamide 0.625 mg or to enalapril 10 mg once a day for a one-year treatment. The dose was adapted according to blood pressure control, up to perindopril tert-butylamine 8 mg (equivalent to 10 mg perindopril arginine) and indapamide 2.5 mg or enalapril 40 mg once a day. Only 34% of the subjects remained treated with perindopril tert-butylamine 2 mg (equivalent to 2.5 mg perindopril arginine)/indapamide 0.625mg (versus 20% with Enalapril 10mg).
At the end of treatment, LVMI had decreased significantly more in the perindopril/indapamide group (-10.1 g/m²) than in the enalapril group (-1.1 g/m²) in the all randomised patients population. The between group difference in LVMI change was -8.3 (95% CI (-11.5,-5.0), p < 0.0001).
A better effect on LVMI was reached with higher perindopril/indapamide doses than those licensed for COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 2.5mg/0.625mg and COVERSYL ARGININE PLUS 5mg/1.25mg.
Regarding blood pressure, the estimated mean between-group differences in the randomised population were -5.8 mmHg (95% CI (-7.9, -3.7), p < 0.0001) for systolic blood pressure and -2.3 mmHg (95% CI (-3.6,-0.9), p = 0.0004) for diastolic blood pressure respectively, in favour of the perindopril/indapamide group.
Linked to perindopri
