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This medication is a combination of two drugs, an ACE inhibitor (benazepril) and a "water pill"/diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide). It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Benazepril works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. The hydrochlorothiazide diuretic increases the amount of urine you make, therefore decreasing excess water and salt in your body. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.This medication may also be used to treat congestive heart failure and help protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes.
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Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide images:
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| Overview |
Photos |
How To Use |
Side Effects |
Precautions |
Missed Dose |
Drug Interactions |
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Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide
Uses
This medication is a combination of two drugs, an ACE inhibitor (benazepril) and a "water pill"/diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide). It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Benazepril works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. The hydrochlorothiazide diuretic increases the amount of urine you make, therefore decreasing excess water and salt in your body. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.This medication may also be used to treat congestive heart failure and help protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes.
Notes
- Do not share this medication with others.
- Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise and dietary changes may increase the effectiveness of this medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney function, potassium blood level) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
- Consult your doctor for more details.Check your blood pressure regularly while taking this medication, especially when you first start this drug or when your dose is changed.
- Learn how to monitor your own blood pressure at home, and share the results with your doctor.
Storage
- Store at room temperature below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
- Do not store in the bathroom.
- Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Overdose
- Symptoms of overdose may include: unusually fast or slow heartbeat, severe dizziness, or fainting.
How To Use
- Take this medication by mouth, usually once a day; or as directed by your doctor.
- You may take this drug with or without food.
- Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it.
- Remember to use it at the same time each day.Drink adequate fluids to prevent from becoming dehydrated.
- If you are on restricted fluid intake, consult your doctor for further instructions.Do not take potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first.
- This medicine can infrequently raise or lower your potassium blood levels, which rarely can cause serious side effects such as muscle weakness/cramping or very slow heartbeats.
- Tell your doctor immediately if these effects occur.The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.
- For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take 2 weeks before the full benefit of this drug occurs or several weeks to months when used for congestive heart failure.It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well.
- Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.If you are also taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take benazepril/hydrochlorothiazide at least 2 hours before either of those drugs.
Side Effects
- You may experience dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness, headache, fatigue, blurred vision, dry cough, or vomiting as your body adjusts to the medication.
- If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: unusual thirst, weakness, confusion, fast heartbeat, fainting, decreased sexual ability, tingling or numbness of the hands/feet, chest pain.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: unusual change in the amount of urine (not including the normal increase in urine when you first start this drug), seizures, signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat).This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems.
- If you notice any of the following highly unlikely but very serious side effects, seek immediate medical attention: yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, stomach/abdominal pain, persistent fatigue, persistent nausea.A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.
- Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling (especially of the face, lips, tongue, or throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
- Before taking benazepril with hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other ACE inhibitors (e.g., captopril, lisinopril); or if you have any other allergies (including allergies to sulfa drugs, or an allergic reaction after exposure to certain membranes used for blood filtering).This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
- Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: urinary problems (inability to make urine or anuria), history of an allergic reaction which included swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, heart problems, severe loss of body fluids (dehydration through excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea), mineral/electrolyte problems (e.g., imbalance of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium), diabetes, strokes, gout, high levels of fats in the blood (high cholesterol or triglycerides), asthma, blood vessel disease (e.g., collagen vascular diseases such as lupus, scleroderma).This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.To minimize dizziness and light-headedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.Hydrochlorothiazide may make you more sensitive to the sun.
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths or sunlamps.
- Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive its effects, especially dizziness.This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to an unborn baby.
- Consult your doctor for more details.
- (See also Warning section.)A very small amount of this drug passes into breast milk.
- While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Missed Dose
- If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember.
- If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
- Do not double the dose to catch up.
Drug Interactions
- Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
- Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: dofetilide.If you are currently using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting benazepril/hydrochlorothiazide.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: cisapride, amiloride, antidiabetic drugs (e.g., insulin, glipizide), cholestyramine, colestipol, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), diazoxide, drugs that suppress the immune system (e.g., azathioprine), drugs which can increase dizziness (e.g., phenobarbital, narcotic analgesics), drugs which are affected by the acid level in the urine (e.g., amphetamine, methenamine, quinidine), other heart drugs (e.g., digoxin), other high blood pressure medications, lithium, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, indomethacin), potassium supplements (e.g., potassium chloride) or salt substitutes, probenecid, trimethoprim-containing medications (e.g., sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim).A very serious reaction may occur if you are getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy (desensitization) and are also taking benazepril with hydrochlorothiazide.
- Make sure all your doctors know which medicines you are using.Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure.
- Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
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