The invention relates to a method of treating cardiac insufficiency by using compounds of the formula I ##STR1## in which n is 1 or 2, R, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and each denote hydrogen or an organic radical and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, together with the atoms carrying them, form a mono-, bi- or tri-cyclic heterocyclic ring system. The invention furthermore relates to compounds of the formula I and agents containing these for use in the treatment of the abovementioned disease.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/445,543, filed May 22, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,016, which is a divisional application Ser. No. 08/359,860, filed Dec. 20, 1994, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/188,745, filed Jan. 31, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,856, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/920,173, filed Jul. 27, 1992, abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/636,001, filed Jan. 3, 1991, abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/313,491, filed Feb. 22, 1989, abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/721,705, filed Apr. 10, 1985, abandoned.
A stable pharmaceutical composition comprising about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of an ACE inhibitor or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, about 1 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of an alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate, and about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of hydroxypropyl cellulose, wherein the ACE inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of quinapril, enalapril, spirapril, ramipril, perindopril, indolapril, lisinopril, alacepril, trandolapril, benazapril, libenzapril, delapril, cilazapril and combinations thereof; wherein the formation of an internal cyclization product, and/or ester hydrolysis product, and/or oxidation product, has been reduced or eliminated, and the weight percents are based on the total weight of the pharmaceutical composition. The stabilized pharmaceutical compositions of the invention exhibit a number of advantages as follows: (i) the ACE inhibitor or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof present in the compositions is preserved from degradation; (ii) the compositions exhibit extended shelf-life under normal storage conditions; (iii) the effect of moisture on the compositions is minimized; (iv) the compositions exhibit minimal, if any, discoloration over a significant period of time; and (v) the compositions exhibit minimal, if any, instability when employed in the presence of colorants.
Use of an inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin system or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, optionally together with another antihypertensive, a cholesterol lowering agent, a diuretic or aspirin, in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention of cardiovascular events; a method of preventing cardiovascular events comprising administering to a patient in need of such prevention an effective amount of an inhibitor of the renin angiotensin system or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, optionally together with another antihypertensive, a cholesterol lowering agent, a diuretic or aspirin; and a combination product containing an an inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin system or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof and a cholesterol lowering agent.
