Ramipril

Ramipril (marketed as Tritace® or Altace®) is an Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. ACE inhibitors lower the production of Angiotensin II, therefore relaxing arterial muscles while at the same time enlarging the arteries, allowing the heart to pump blood easier, while at the same time increasing blood flow due to more blood being pumped into and through bigger passageways.

Ramipril is a prodrug and is converted to the active metabolite ramiprilat by liver esterase enzymes. Ramiprilat is mostly excreted by the kidneys. The half-life of ramiprilat is variable (3 – 16 hours), and is prolonged by heart failure and liver failure, as well as kidney failure.