benazepril

(beh NAY zah pril)
Lotensin

What is the most important information I should know about benazepril?

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Do not take benazepril if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, benazepril can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. Notify your doctor immediately if you think you might be pregnant.

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Benazepril may increase the risk of dangerous allergic reactions. Before taking benazepril, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction that involved swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat or difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms while taking benazepril.

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Benazepril may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities and notify your doctor. Also use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position.

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Heavy sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, or other causes of fluid loss may lead to very low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting during therapy with benazepril. Maintain proper fluid intake to prevent dehydration and related side effects.

What is benazepril?

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Benazepril is in a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors).

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Benazepril is used to lower high blood pressure.

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Benazepril may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take benazepril?

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Before taking benazepril, tell your doctor if you

have kidney disease;

are on a salt-restricted diet or have high levels of potassium in your blood;

are taking salt substitutes, potassium supplements (e.g., K-Dur, Klor-Con), or potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride (Midamor), triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide), or spironolactone (Aldactone); or

have scleroderma or lupus.

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You may not be able to take benazepril, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Benazepril is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that benazepril is known to harm an unborn baby. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, benazepril can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. Do not take benazepril if you are pregnant.

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It is not known whether benazepril passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take benazepril?

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Take benazepril exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take each dose with a full glass of water.

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Benazepril can be taken with or without food.

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Do not stop taking benazepril suddenly without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly could make your condition worse.

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Store benazepril at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical treatment or consult your doctor immediately.

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Symptoms of a benazepril overdose include extreme dizziness, weakness, fainting, and fatigue.

What should I avoid while taking benazepril?

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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking benazepril.

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Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking benazepril except under the supervision of your doctor.

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What are the possible side effects of this drug?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking benazepril and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

chest pain;

an irregular heartbeat or changes in your heartbeat;

severe dizziness or fainting; or

signs of an infection including a sore throat or a fever.

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If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue taking benazepril and call your doctor:

headache;

mild dizziness or lightheadedness;

fatigue;

dry, tickling cough;

anxiety or depression;

numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, arms, or legs;

nausea or constipation;

taste disturbances; or

itching, rash, or increased sweating.

What other drugs will affect benazepril?

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Before taking benazepril, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others;

salt substitutes that contain potassium;

any of the diuretics (water pills) triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), spironolactone (Aldactone), or amiloride (Midamor);

any other diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, others), furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), indapamide (Lozol), and others; or

lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others).

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You may not be able to take benazepril, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with benazepril or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about benazepril written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others and use this medication only for the condition prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.