Amlodipine and benazepril

Generic name: Amlodipine And Benazepril
Brand names: Lotrel
Dosage form: oral capsule (10 mg-20 mg; 10 mg-40 mg; 2.5 mg-10 mg; 5 mg-10 mg; 5 mg-20 mg; 5 mg-40 mg)
Drug class: ACE inhibitors with calcium channel blocking agents

Usage of Amlodipine and benazepril

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. Amlodipine relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. Benazepril also widens blood vessels and also prevents the body from retaining water.

Amlodipine and benazepril is a combination medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Amlodipine and benazepril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Amlodipine and benazepril side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; severe stomach pain; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. You may be more likely to have an allergic reaction if you are African-American.

Some side effects may not occur until after you have used the medicine for several months.

Amlodipine and benazepril may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

swelling in your hands or feet, rapid weight gain;

new or worsened chest pain;

fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, flu symptoms;

high potassium--nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement; or

liver problems--nausea, stomach pain (upper right side), itching, unusual tiredness, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of amlodipine and benazepril may include:

cough;

dizziness; or

swelling in your hands or feet.

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.

Before taking Amlodipine and benazepril

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to amlodipine or benazepril, or if:

you have had angioedema (hives or severe swelling of deep skin tissues sometimes caused by allergic reaction);

you recently took a heart medicine called sacubitril; or

you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor, such as captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, moexipril, benazepril, quinapril, ramipril, Accupril, Prinivil, Mavik, Vasotec, and many others.

Do not take amlodipine and benazepril within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubitril (such as Entresto).

If you have diabetes, do not use amlodipine and benazepril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

You may also need to avoid taking amlodipine and benazepril with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart disease or congestive heart failure;

high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia);

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

liver disease; or

if you are on a low-salt diet.

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 this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Amlodipine and benazepril

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: Amlodipine 2.5 mg-Benazepril 10 mg orally once a dayMaintenance dose: Amlodipine 2.5 to 10 mg-Benazepril 10 to 40 mg orally once a dayMaximum dose: Amlodipine: 10 mg/day; Benazepril 80 mg/day Comments:-May increase dose after 2 weeks as needed to achieve blood pressure goal.-Adding benazepril to amlodipine should not be expected to provide additional blood pressure reduction in African Americans.

Warnings

Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking amlodipine and benazepril and tell your doctor right away.

You should not use this medicine if you have ever had angioedema. Do not take this medicine within 36 hours before or after taking medicine that contains sacubitril (such as Entresto).

If you have diabetes, do not use amlodipine and benazepril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

What other drugs will affect Amlodipine and benazepril

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect amlodipine and benazepril, especially:

lithium;

probenecid;

simvastatin;

a diuretic or "water pill";

gold injections to treat arthritis;

heart or blood pressure medication;

insulin or oral diabetes medicine;

an antibiotic--clarithromycin, telithromycin;

antifungal medicine--itraconazole, ketoconazole;

antiviral medicine to treat HIV/AIDS--indinavir, ritonavir, and others;

medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection--cyclosporine, everolimus, sirolimus, tacrolimus, temsirolimus; 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 amlodipine and benazepril. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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