Clinical pharmacology of ramipril

Ramipril is a long-acting non-sulphydryl converting enzyme inhibitor that requires cleavage of its ester group to form the active diacid metabolite, ramiprilat. Renal excretion largely determines the drug's duration of action and the dosage should be reduced in patients with renal impairment. Oral ramipril given daily at dosages of 5 mg or more can control blood pressure over a 24-hour period; lower doses may be effective in patients with heart failure inadequately controlled by diuretics alone. No serious idiosyncratic adverse reactions have been reported. Ramipril is one of the most potent long-acting converting enzyme inhibitors developed; it is effective given once daily in the treatment of all grades of hypertension and of heart failure.