benazepril (Lotensin) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage

What is benazepril, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?

• Benazepril is an ACE (angiotensin converting
  enzyme) inhibitor used for
  treating high blood pressure. Other
  ACE inhibitors
  include enalapril (Vasotec), quinapril (Accupril), captopril (Capoten),
  fosinopril (Monopril), ramipril (Altace), moexipril (Univasc) and trandolapril (Mavik).
  ACE is an enzyme in the body that causes the formation of angiotensin II.
  Angiotensin II causes contraction of the muscles surrounding arteries and
  constriction of arteries in the body, thereby elevating blood pressure. ACE
  inhibitors such as benazepril lower blood pressure by inhibiting the formation
  of angiotensin II, thus relaxing the arteries. Relaxing the arteries not only
  lowers blood pressure, but also improves the pumping efficiency of a failing
  heart and thereby benefits patients with heart failure.
• The FDA approved
  benazepril in June 1991.

What brand names are available for benazepril?

Lotensin HTC

Is benazepril available as a generic drug?

Yes

Do I need a prescription for benazepril?

Yes

What are the uses for benazepril?

• Benazepril can be used alone or in combination with
  hydrochlorothiazide for treating high blood pressure.
• Like other ACE inhibitors
  it also is used for treating heart failure or
  diabetic nephropathy (kidney
  disease) although these are not FDA approved uses for benazepril.

What are the side effects of benazepril?

Benazepril is generally well tolerated and side effects
are usually mild and transient. Side effects include:

• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Loss of taste
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe dizziness
• Fainting
• Fever
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Rash
• Impotence
• A sore or swollen throat

A dry,
persistent cough has been reported with the use of benazepril and other ACE
inhibitors. Coughing resolves after discontinuing the medication.

In rare
instances,
liver dysfunction and skin yellowing (jaundice) have been reported
with ACE inhibitors. Benazepril should not be taken by people with a known
allergy to ACE inhibitors. Swelling of the facial tissues and even the upper
airways has been reported with ACE inhibitors on very rare occasions, and can
lead to serious breathing difficulties. In rare instances, low white blood cell
counts have been reported with the use of one ACE inhibitor. Low white blood
cells increase the patient's risk of infections.

Salt and sodium are the same.
See Answer

What is the dosage for benazepril?

• The usual starting dose of benazepril is 10 mg daily. If
  patients are taking a diuretic (water pill) the starting dose is 5 mg daily.
• Doses may be increased to 20-40 mg once daily or divided and administered twice
  daily.

Which drugs or supplements interact with benazepril?

• Combining benazepril with potassium supplements,
  potassium containing salt substitutes, and potassium conserving diuretics such
  as amiloride (Moduretic), spironolactone (Aldactone), and triamterene (Dyazide,
  Maxzide), can lead to dangerously high blood levels of potassium.
• Combining benazepril or other ACE inhibitors with
  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  in patients who are elderly, fluid-depleted (including those on diuretic
  therapy), or with poor kidney function may result in reduced kidney function,
  including kidney failure. These effects usually are reversible.
• There have been
  reports that aspirin and other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Children's
  Advil/Motrin, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, PediaCare Fever, and many others),
  indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin-SR), and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn,
  Aleve) may reduce the effects of ACE inhibitors. When taken with lithium
  (Eskalith, Lithobid),
  benazepril can increase lithium to toxic levels in the blood.
• Nitritoid
  reactions (symptoms include facial flushing, nausea, vomiting and
  hypotension)
  may occur when injectable gold (sodium aurothiomalate), used in the treatment of
  rheumatoid arthritis, is combined with ACE inhibitors, including benazepril.

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Is benazepril safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

• ACE inhibitors, including benazepril, can be harmful to the
  fetus and should not be taken by
  pregnant women.
• A small amount
  of benazepril is excreted into
  breast milk. A newborn exclusively breastfed may
  ingest less than 0.1% of the maternal dose of benazepril.

What else should I know about benazepril?

What preparations of benazepril are available?

Tablets: 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg.

How should I keep benazepril stored?

Tablets should be stored at room temperature at or below 30 C
(86 F) and protected from moisture.