Enalapril is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. The spelling of this word follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. "Enalapril" is spelled as ih-NAH-luh-pril. The "eh" sound at the beginning is represented by the IPA symbol "ɪ", while the "pril" ending is represented by the sound "prɪl." This standardized phonetic transcription helps ensure that people around the world understand the correct spelling and pronunciation of medical terms like enalapril.
Enalapril is a medication classified as an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, primarily used for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, and certain kidney conditions. It is sold under the brand name Vasotec, among others.
As an ACE inhibitor, enalapril works by inhibiting the action of the angiotensin-converting enzyme, thereby reducing the production of angiotensin II in the body. Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor that causes blood vessels to narrow, leading to increased blood pressure. By decreasing the levels of angiotensin II, enalapril helps to relax and widen blood vessels, resulting in reduced blood pressure.
Enalapril is typically administered orally, usually once or twice daily, in the form of tablets or liquid solution. The dosage may vary depending on the specific condition being treated and individual response to the medication. It is important to follow the prescribed dosage and directions given by a healthcare professional.
Enalapril is well-tolerated by most patients; however, potential side effects may include dizziness, fatigue, cough, headache, diarrhea, and low blood potassium levels. Rare but severe side effects can include angioedema (rapid swelling of the deep layers of the skin) and kidney problems.
Overall, enalapril is an effective medication for managing hypertension, heart failure, and certain kidney conditions, and its use should be under the supervision of a healthcare professional who can monitor its efficacy and potential side effects.
The word "enalapril" is derived from a combination of two parts.
The first part, "enal", is derived from "enal", which refers to the unsaturated aldehyde group (-HC=CHO) in organic chemistry.
The second part, "april", is derived from "april", which is a common suffix in the names of many pharmaceutical drugs. It is believed to have been derived from the "-pril" ending used in the name of the first angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, called "captopril".
Therefore, "enalapril" is a combination of the "enal" part and the "april" part, indicating its chemical structure and class as an ACE inhibitor drug.