Allina Health

Amlodipine (am-LOE-di-peen), Benazepril (ben-AZ-e-pril)

Treats high blood pressure. A lower blood pressure can reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. This medicine is a combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker (CCB).

Brand Name(s):

Lotrel

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Capsule

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Take this medicine at the same time each day.
• Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If more than 12 hours have passed since you missed your last dose, then skip the missed dose and take the next dose when you normally would.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a diuretic (water pill, such as amiloride, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, triamterene, Aldactone®, Dyazide®, Dyrenium®, Lasix®, Maxzide®, or Midamor®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), simvastatin (Zocor®), injectable gold, other medicine for high blood pressure, or NSAID pain or arthritis medicine (aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Voltaren®).
• Ask your doctor before you use any medicine, supplement, or salt substitute that contains potassium.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, congestive heart failure, heart disease, low blood pressure, or a mineral imbalance (such as high potassium or low sodium in the blood). Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, lupus, or an autoimmune disorder (such as collagen vascular disease or scleroderma). Tell your doctor if you are on dialysis.
• Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain (with or without vomiting). This could be a symptom of intestinal angioedema.
• Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain that is worse than usual, trouble breathing, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in your arms, jaw, back, or neck, feel faint, or are sweating. This medicine may worsen the symptoms of an existing heart problem.
• This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much and cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Stand or sit up slowly if you are dizzy. This is more likely to happen when you begin to use the medicine or if you become dehydrated.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine could affect surgery or other procedures that involve anesthetics.
• Check with your doctor right away if you have upper stomach pain, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
• Even if you feel well, do not stop using this medicine without asking your doctor. This medicine will not cure your high blood pressure, but it will help keep it in the normal range. You may have to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Change in how much or how often you urinate
• Chest pain (may be related to your disease and not a side effect)
• Chest pain that spreads to your arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, nausea, unusual sweating, or faintness
• Confusion, weakness, shortness of breath, or numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or lips
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Rapid weight gain
• Severe stomach pain (with or without nausea or vomiting)
• Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Dark-colored urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach, yellow skin or eyes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry cough

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088