Coversyl: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Serious warnings and precautions box

What COVERSYL is used for:

COVERSYL is used in adults (≥ 18 years of age) to:

• Treat mild to moderate High Blood Pressure.
• Treat mild to moderate Heart Failure along with other medications.
• Lower the risk of heart attacks in patients with high blood pressure and/or those who have suffered a heart attack and have a certain type of heart disease (coronary artery disease).

How COVERSYL works:

COVERSYL belongs to a class of medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. You can recognize ACE inhibitors because their medicinal ingredient ends in ‘-PRIL’. COVERSYL works by relaxing the blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. This helps to lower blood pressure. This medicine does not cure your disease. It is important to continue taking COVERSYL regularly even if you feel fine. Do not stop taking your medicine without the advice of your healthcare professional.

The ingredients in COVERSYL are:

Medicinal ingredients: Perindopril erbumine

Non-medicinal ingredients: Hydrophobic colloidal silica, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose. The 4 and 8 mg tablets also contain chlorophyllin Aluminium Lake as a colorant.

COVERSYL comes in the following dosage form(s):

Tablets: 2 mg, 4 mg (breakable) or 8 mg.

Do not use COVERSYL if:

• you are allergic to perindopril erbumine or to any non-medicinal ingredient in COVERSYL (see the ingredients in COVERSYL are.)

• you ever had an allergic reaction (angioedema) with swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, tongue and throat or sudden difficulty breathing or swallowing:

  • to any other ACE inhibitor (used to lower blood pressure);
  • where the reason is not known (idiopathic angioedema).
• you have been diagnosed with hereditary angioedema (an increased risk of getting an allergic reaction that is passed down through your family).
• you are taking a medicine for heart failure containing sacubitril/ valsartan. Taking COVERSYL with sacubitril/ valsartan increases the risk of serious allergic reaction (angioedema). You must wait at least 36 hours after your last dose of sacubitril/valsartan before starting COVERSYL.
• you have diabetes or kidney disease and are already taking a blood pressure lowering medicine that contains aliskiren.

• you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

• you are breastfeeding. COVERSYL passes into breast milk.

• you are lactose intolerant or have one of the following rare hereditary diseases:

  • Galactose intolerance
  • Lapp lactase deficiency
  • Glucose-galactose malabsorption

Because COVERSYL contains lactose.

• you are on dialysis or receive other type of blood filtration. Depending on the treatment that is used, COVERSYL may not be suitable for you.
• you have a narrowing of the blood vessels to one or both kidneys (renal artery stenosis).

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take COVERSYL. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have a history of allergic reactions (angioedema).
• are of African origin. You may have a higher risk of experiencing serious allergic reactions (angioedema) while taking COVERSYL.
• have recently received or are planning to get allergy shots for bee or wasp stings.

• have any of the following health problems:

  • narrowing of an artery or a heart valve
  • liver problems
  • diabetes or any kidney problems
  • low blood pressure
  • systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of the body
  • have an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation to your skin, joints and/or blood vessels.
  • a skin condition known as scleroderma or “hard skin” (thickening of the skin).
  • a condition in which your body releases too much of the hormone aldosterone in your blood (primary aldosteronism).
• have, or have had a condition, that causes a decrease in blood flow to your heart or brain (e.g., ischemic heart or cerebrovascular disease, angina, coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke).
• have had a heart attack or stroke.

• are taking any of the following medicines:

  • medicines used to lower blood pressure:

    • aliskiren
    • angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). You can recognize an ARB because its medicinal ingredient ends in "-SARTAN"
    • other ACE inhibitors.
  • medicines containing a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor (e.g., sacubitril) to treat heart failure.
  • certain anti-cancer or medicines (e.g., temsirolimus, everolimus and sirolimus). These medicines may increase the risk of having an allergic reaction (angioedema).
  • medicines used to manage diabetes (dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors). You can recognize a DPP-IV inhibitor because its medicinal ingredient ends in “-GLIPTIN”.

  • medicines which may affect the blood cells, such as:

    • allopurinol - used to treat gout (a type of arthritis)
    • procainamide - used to treat irregular heartbeats
• are on a low-salt diet.
• are on dialysis.
• are dehydrated or suffer from excessive vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating.

• are at risk for developing high levels of potassium in your blood. This can be serious and can happen if you are taking:

  • a salt substitute that contains potassium.
  • potassium supplements.
  • a kind of “water pill” (potassium-sparing diuretic) that makes your body hold onto potassium such as spironolactone, eplerenone, triamterene or amiloride).
  • other medicines that may increase potassium in your blood such as trimethoprim, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
• are receiving gold salts (sodium aurothiomalate) given by injection.
• are on a treatment to lower cholesterol in the blood (LDL Apheresis).
• have been told by a healthcare professional that your blood is too acidic (metabolic acidosis).
• are going to have surgery with anesthesia, including dental procedures.
• are 65 years of age or older. You may be more at risk of experiencing side effects.

Other warnings you should know about:

COVERSYL can cause serious side effects, including:

• Allergic reaction and Angioedema: Allergic reactions and angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, digestive tract, genitals and/or difficulty breathing or swallowing) have happened in people taking COVERSYL. These side effects may happen at any time during treatment with COVERSYL, even if you have been taking it for a long period without problems. Very rarely, cases have been fatal. If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction or angioedema, stop taking COVERSYL and get immediate medical help.

• Hypotension (low blood pressure): You may feel dizzy or light-headed:

  • in the first few days after you start taking COVERSYL or when your dose is increased;
  • when you exercise;
  • when the weather is hot;

You should lie down if this happens. If you faint, stop taking COVERSYL and talk to your healthcare professional.

• Blood disorders: ACE inhibitors, such as COVERSYL, may cause:

  • neutropenia / Agranulocytosis (decrease in white blood cells)
  • thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets)
  • anemia (low red blood cells)

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): COVERSYL may cause low blood sugar in patients with:

  • diabetes who are taking oral antidiabetic medicines or insulin.
  • kidney problems

You should closely monitor your blood sugar level, especially during the first month of your treatment with COVERSYL.

See the Serious side effects and what to do about them table, below, for more information on these and other serious side effects.

Cough: You may develop a dry and persistent cough while taking COVERSYL. This usually goes away once you stop taking COVERSYL or when the dose is lowered. Tell your healthcare professional if you experience this symptom.

Increased sensitivity of the skin to sun: Your skin may become sensitive to the sun while taking COVERSYL. Limit your exposure to the sun and to indoor tanning. Always use sunscreen (SPF-30 or higher) and wear protective clothing when going outside.

Surgery: Before surgery or general anaesthesia (even at the dentist’s office), tell your healthcare professional that you are taking COVERSYL. You may experience a sudden fall in blood pressure when you are under general anesthesia.

Testing and check-ups: Your healthcare professional may do tests, including blood tests, before you take COVERSYL and/or during treatment. These tests will check:

• your blood pressure.
• the level of red and white blood cells and platelets in your body.
• that your liver or kidneys are working properly.
• the potassium and sodium levels in your blood.

Driving and using machines: Before you perform tasks, which may require special attention, wait until you know how you respond to COVERSYL. Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting can especially occur after the first dose and when the dose is increased.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with COVERSYL:

• medicines used to lower your blood pressure. These include:

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • diuretics (“water pills”)
  • aliskiren-containing medicines
  • Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
  • calcium channel blockers
  • beta blockers

• medicines that can increase the levels of potassium in your blood. These include:

  • potassium-sparing medicines (such as spironolactone, eplerenone, triamterene or amiloride)
  • potassium supplements
  • salt substitutes that contain potassium
  • heparin - used to thin blood to prevent blood clots
  • cyclosporine, tacrolimus - medicines affecting the immune system
  • other medicines that may increase serum potassium (e.g., trimethoprim containing medicines)
• allopurinol, used to treat gout

• medicines used to treat diabetes. These include:

  • DPP-IV inhibitors, such as sitagliptin, linagliptin and saxagliptin
  • insulin
  • other oral antidiabetic medicines
• gold salts (sodium aurothiomalate) given by injection – used to treat arthritis
• baclofen, used to help relax certain muscles in the body
• estramustine, used to treat prostate cancer
• a class of medicine called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to treat pain, swelling, fever and inflammation. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib
• a class of medicine called vasodilators including nitrates (medicines such as nitroglycerin used to treat chest pain)
• digoxin, a medicine for the heart

• treatments where a machine removes blood from your body, filters it and returns the cleaned blood to your body (known as extracorporeal treatments). These include:

  • dialysis or haemofiltration, a process that removes wastes from your body in place of your kidneys using polyacrylonitrile membranes
  • low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis, a treatment that removes the cholesterol from your blood using dextran sulphate
• gentamicin, an antibiotic

• medicines used to treat mood swings and other type of mental problems including schizophrenia, and depression. These include:

  • lithium
  • a class of medicine called tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline
  • a class of medicine called antipsychotics such as clozapine, risperidone, pimozide, amisulpride, haloperidol
• anaesthetics, medicines to prevent pain during surgery
• medicines containing a neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitor (e.g., sacubitril), available in combination with valsartan, used to treat heart failure
• sirolimus, everolimus, temsirolimus and other drugs belonging to the class of medicines called mTOR inhibitors (used to avoid rejection of transplanted organs and to treat certain types of cancer)

• certain medicines that you can buy without a prescription are known to cause your blood pressure to go up. These include medicines:

  • to control your hunger
  • for asthma
  • to treat colds and coughs
  • to treat allergies (such as hay fever)
  • to treat sinus problems

How to take COVERSYL:

• Take COVERSYL:

  • exactly as prescribed.

  • once daily at the same time every day preferably in the morning before a meal with a glass of water.

  • Swallow the tablet whole. You may break the 4 mg tablet as recommended by your healthcare professional.

Usual dose:

You and your healthcare professional will decide the best dose for you based on your needs.

Overdose:

Symptoms of on overdosage with COVERSYL may include:

• lightheaded
• dizzy
• low blood pressure
• hypothermia (your body looses heat faster than it can make it)

Missed dose:

If you miss a dose of your medication, skip your missed dose and take the next dose at your usual scheduled time. Do not double your dose to make up for a missed dose.

Possible side effects from using COVERSYL:

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking COVERSYL. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

• dizziness
• drowsiness, fatigue, weakness
• cough (often described as dry and irritating, usually is worse at night or when lying down)
• upper respiratory infection (common cold symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, fever)
• rash, itching
• headache, ringing in the ears
• stomach pain, indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, upset stomach, diarrhoea, changes in the sense of taste, dry mouth
• back pain
• loss of taste or metallic taste in your mouth
• joint pain or swelling
• sleep problems (difficulty sleeping, feeling sleepy or drowsy)
• photosensitivity (sensitivity to sunlight - sensitivity to light): itchy, red skin when exposed to sunlight
• vision disturbance (double vision, blurred vision etc.)
• dry mouth
• fever
• excessive sweating
• falls
• tingling of the skin “pins and needles” sensation of the skin
• flushing

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

Reporting side effects

Storage:

• Keep out of reach and sight of children.
• Store at room temperature (15-30°C).
• Protect from elevated humidity.
• Do not use after the expiry date stated on the carton, blister or bottle.

If you want more information about COVERSYL:

• Talk to your healthcare professional
• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes the Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada Drug Product Database website (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/); the manufacturer’s website www.servier.ca; or by calling 1-800-363-6093.

Date of Authorization: 2026-08-27