amlodipine and benazepril

Generic Name: amlodipine and benazepril (am LOE di peen and ben AY ze pril)Brand Names: Lotrel

What is amlodipine and benazepril?

Amlodipine is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Amlodipine relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Benazepril is in a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. Benazepril also widens blood vessels and also prevents the body from retaining water.

Amlodipine and benazepril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is usually given after other blood pressure medications have been tried without successful treatment.

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

What is the most important information I should know about amlodipine and benazepril?You should not use this medication if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or benazepril (Lotensin), or if you have ever had angioedema (hives or severe swelling of deep skin tissues sometimes caused by allergic reaction).

You should not use amlodipine and benazepril if you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor, such as captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).

Do not take amlodipine and benazepril if you are pregnant. Amlodipine and benazepril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Amlodipine and benazepril may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Some side effects of amlodipine and benazepril may not occur until after you have been using the medication for several months.

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 medication, which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amlodipine and benazepril?You should not use this medication if:

• you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or benazepril (Lotensin);

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

• you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor, such as captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need an amlodipine and benazepril dose adjustment or special tests:

• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

• liver disease;

• heart disease or congestive heart failure;

• diabetes; or

• if you are on a low-salt diet.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not take this medication if you are pregnant. Amlodipine and benazepril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Amlodipine and benazepril can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take amlodipine and benazepril?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Amlodipine and benazepril can be taken with or without food. Space your doses evenly by taking the medication at the same times each day.

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 medication, which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using amlodipine and benazepril. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

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.

See also: Amlodipine and benazepril dosage in more detail

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are more than 12 hours late, skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include feeling extremely dizzy or light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking amlodipine and benazepril?

Amlodipine and benazepril may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can further lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of amlodipine and benazepril. Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking amlodipine and benazepril, unless your doctor has told you to.

Amlodipine and benazepril side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these 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 of amlodipine and benazepril may not occur until after you have been using the medication for several months.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• trouble swallowing;

• chest pain;

• feeling like you might pass out;

• urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;

• swelling, rapid weight gain;

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

• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• cough;

• dizziness, headache;

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingling under your skin);

• diarrhea, constipation;

• muscle pain; or

• loss of interest in sex.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Amlodipine and benazepril Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 1 capsule (amlodipine 2.5 mg-benazepril 10 mg) orally once a day.Maintenance dose: May increase every week up to a dose of amlodipine 10 mg-benazepril 40 mg orally once a day.

What other drugs will affect amlodipine and benazepril?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• gold injections to treat arthritis;

• a shot for bee-sting allergy;

• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith);

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

• salt substitutes that contain potassium; or

• a diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), torsemide (Demadex).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with amlodipine and benazepril. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over the counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about amlodipine and benazepril.

• 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.
• 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.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision Date: 01/29/2010 1:07:25 PM.