BENAZEPRIL

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Lotensin

GENERIC NAME(S): BENAZEPRIL HCL

Description: Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor that decreases the plasma angiotensin II, which leads to decreased vasopressor activity and decreased aldosterone secretion. This lowers the blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow easily.

Uses

Indications

Benazepril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

Other uses

This medication may also be used to treat heart failure or to help protect the kidneys from harm due to diabetes.

How to use benazepril

Dosage: Adults with Hypertension- initial dose of 10 mg once a day, then a maintenance dose of 20-40 mg per day administered as a single dose or two equally divided doses.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily.
If you are using the suspension form of this medication, shake the bottle well before each dose.
Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it.
It may take 1 to 2 weeks before you get the full benefit of this medication.

Warnings

This drug can cause serious harm (possibly fatal) to an unborn baby if used during pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to prevent pregnancy while taking this medication.

Side Effects

Common side effects:

dizziness,
lightheadedness
drowsiness
headache
dry cough

Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

fainting
symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat)
signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat)
change in the amount of urine

This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, extreme tiredness, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

Precautions

Precautions

Allergy: Before taking benazepril, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril); or if you have any other allergies.
Medical History: Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you had: history of an allergic reaction which included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema), blood filtering procedures (such as LDL apheresis, dialysis), high level of potassium in the blood, collagen vascular disease (such as lupus, scleroderma).
Too much sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause loss of too much body water (dehydration) and increase your risk of lightheadedness. Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor. Be sure to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration unless your doctor directs you otherwise.
Hyperkalemia: This product may increase your potassium levels. Before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy Risk: Category D. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details.

Breastfeeding: This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Some products that may interact with this drug include: aliskiren, certain drugs that weaken the immune system/increase the risk of infection (such as everolimus, sirolimus), lithium, drugs that may increase the level of potassium in the blood (such as ARBs including losartan/valsartan, birth control pills containing drospirenone).
A very serious reaction may occur if you are getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy (desensitization) and are also taking benazepril. Make sure all your doctors know which medicines you are using.

Overdose & Brands

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Notes: Do not share this medication with others.

Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise and dietary changes may increase the effectiveness of this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as kidney function, potassium levels) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Check your blood pressure regularly while taking this medication. Learn how to monitor your own blood pressure at home, and share the results with your doctor.

Missed Dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage: Store tablets at room temperature away from light and moisture. Store the suspension in the refrigerator. Discard any unused suspension after 30 days. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Brands:

Also marketed as

Cibacen [ Novartis Healthcare ]