Generic name: benazepril (ben AY ze pril)
Brand name: Lotensin
Dosage forms: oral tablet (10 mg; 20 mg; 40 mg; 5 mg)
Drug class: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Benazepril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking benazepril and tell your doctor right away.
You should not use this medicine if you have ever had angioedema. Do not take benazepril within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubitril (such as Entresto).
If you have diabetes, do not use benazepril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).
Before taking this medicine
You should not use benazepril if you are allergic to it, or if:
- you have hereditary angioedema;
- you recently took a heart medicine called sacubitril; or
- you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any ACE inhibitor (captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril).
Do not take benazepril within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubitril (such as Entresto).
If you have diabetes, do not use benazepril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).
You may also need to avoid taking benazepril with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- liver disease;
- heart disease; or
- an organ transplant.
Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Benazepril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.
You should not breast-feed while you are using benazepril.
Benazepril is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.
How should I take benazepril?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
You may take benazepril with or without food.
Drink plenty of water each day while you are taking benazepril.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medicine. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking benazepril.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using benazepril.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking benazepril?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise, in hot weather, or by not drinking enough fluids. Benazepril can decrease sweating and you may be more prone to heat stroke.
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of benazepril.
Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes, unless your doctor has told you to.
Benazepril side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, severe stomach pain, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- little or no urinating;
- high potassium--nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement; or
- liver problems--stomach pain (upper right side), loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common side effects may include:
- headache; or
- cough.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Benazepril dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:
Initial dose: With a diuretic: 5 mg orally once a day; without a diuretic: 10 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 20 to 40 mg/day orally as a single dose or in two equally divided doses
Maximum dose: 80 mg/day
Comments:
-The divided dose regimen was more effective in controlling pre-dosing blood pressure.
-If discontinuing a diuretic prior to initiating this drug to reduce the likelihood of hypotension, conclude diuretic therapy 2 to 3 days prior to starting this drug.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:
6 YEARS OR OLDER:
Initial dose: 0.2 mg/kg orally once a day as monotherapy
Maximum dose: 0.6 mg/kg; 40 mg/day
Comments:
-Doses between 0.1 and 0.6 mg/kg once a day have been studied; doses greater than 0.1 mg/kg were shown to reduce blood pressure; doses above 0.6 mg/kg or 40 mg/day have not been studied in pediatric patients.
-Prepare a suspension for pediatric patients who cannot swallow tablets or for whom the calculated dosage does not correspond to available tablet strengths.
Detailed Benazepril dosage information
What other drugs will affect benazepril?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect benazepril, especially:
- a diuretic ("water pill"), or any other blood pressure medications;
- lithium;
- gold injections to treat arthritis;
- insulin or oral diabetes medicine; or
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.
This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect benazepril. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.