Ramipril is a prescription drug from the group of so-called ACE inhibitors, often prescribed for high blood pressure, heart failure and in the first phase after a heart attack. It is administered in tablet form in a dosage of usually 10 mg.
Mode of action
As the name suggests, ramipril blocks a specific enzyme in the body called ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme). This is an enzyme that is involved in one of the body’s own systems for regulating blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or RAAS for short. The end product of this cascade-like system is the messenger substance aldosterone, which is responsible for increasing blood pressure via various mechanisms.
Aldosterone leads to reduced excretion of water and a narrowing of the blood vessels. Both of these factors increase blood pressure. By interfering with the functioning of this system as an inhibitor and consequently producing less aldosterone, Ramipril causes a decrease in blood pressure due to this drug.
Application areas
Ramipril is often used as the drug of choice for high blood pressure. Ramipril’s efficacy, with relatively few side effects, offers a good treatment option for high blood pressure. The second major area of application is heart failure.
In this clinical picture, the pumping capacity of the heart is reduced and the heart is weakened, so that it is often no longer able to supply the body with sufficient blood and thus oxygen. The blood pressure-lowering effect of the preparation can be used in this case because the weakened heart pumps the blood through the body against a lower resistance and can thus better fulfil its tasks. In the first phase after a heart attack ramipril can be prescribed to inhibit the unfavorable structural changes of the heart that take place in this phase.
Ramipril has also been shown to be effective in preventing heart attacks. In certain cases, ramipril has a positive effect in kidney diseases such as diabetic nephropathy. To treat high blood pressure, ramipril can be taken alone or in combination with other medications. A combination therapy is often given with calcium channel blockers or diuretics.
