BENAZEPRIL

(ben AY ze pril) Brand: Lotensin

What is the most significant information I must know about benazepril?

• Do not use benazepril if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Stop using this medicine and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

• Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may magnify determined side effects of benazepril.

• Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking benazepril, unless your doctor has told you to.

• Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged diseases that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

What is benazepril?

• Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme.

• Benazepril is used to treat tall blood pressure (hypertension).

• Benazepril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking benazepril?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to benazepril or to any another ACE inhibitor, such as captopril, fosinopril, enalapril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, or trandolapril.

• If you have diabetes or kidney disease, you may not be able to take benazepril if you are also taking a blood pressure medicine that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, or Valturna).

• To create certain benazepril is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis);

· liver disease;

· diabetes; or

· heart malady or congestive heart failure.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Benazepril can reason injury or death to the unborn child if you take the medication during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control.

• Benazepril can pass into breast milk. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Do not give this medication to a baby younger than 6 years old without medical advice.

How must I take benazepril?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• You may take benazepril with or without food.

• Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• 'Vomiting, diarrhea, or hard sweating can reason you to become dehydrated. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking benazepril. Drink plenty of water every day while you are taking this medication.

• Hold using this medication as directed, even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be checked.

• If you need surgery, speak the surgeon onward of time that you are using benazepril. You may need to stop using the medication for a short time.

• Store benazepril tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

• Store the liquid medication in the refrigerator, do not freeze. Throw away any unused liquid after 30 days.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking benazepril?

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

• Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may magnify determined side effects of benazepril.

• Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking benazepril, unless your doctor has told you to.

What are the possible side effects of benazepril?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; severe stomach pain; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• You may be more likely to have an allergic reaction to benazepril if you are African-American.

• Call your doctor at once if you have:

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

· few or no urinating;

· swelling or rapid weight gain;

· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

· pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;

· light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· tall potassium (slow heart course, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling); or

· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• General side effects may include:

· cough;

· headache;

· dizziness, drowsiness, weary feeling;

· anxiety, sleep problems (insomnia);

· flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

· nausea, vomiting, constipation; or

· mild skin itching or rash.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect benazepril?

• Speak your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with benazepril, especially:

· any another blood pressure medications;

· gold injections to treat arthritis;

· insulin or oral diabetes medication;

· lithium;

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

· a salt substitute that contains potassium; or

· a diuretic or "water pill."

• This list is not complete. Another drugs may interact with benazepril, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medicine manual.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about benazepril.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each 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 external 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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help 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.