Benazepril Hydrochlorothiazide

Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide is a combination medication used for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure).

• Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide is available under the following different brand names: Lotensin HCT

Common side effects of Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide include:

• dizziness
• light-headedness
• drowsiness
• headache
• fatigue
• feeling tired
• blurred vision
• dry cough
• skin rash
• increased sweating
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation as the body adjusts to the medication

Serious side effects of Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide include:

• hives
• severe stomach pain
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face or throat
• severe skin reactions (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, a red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling)
• a light-headed feeling
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• blurred vision
• tunnel vision
• eye pain or seeing halos around lights
• fever
• chills
• flu-like symptoms
• sore throat
• mouth sores

Rare side effects of Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, coordination loss, unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Tablet

• 5 mg/6.25 mg
• 10 mg/12.5 mg
• 20 mg/12.5 mg
• 20 mg/25 mg

Hypertension

Adult dosage

• Not for initial therapy
• If BP is not controlled with benazepril monotherapy: Initiate with 10 mg/12.5 mg OR 20 mg/12.5 mg orally once a day
• Increase either or both components based on clinical response
• Do not increase the hydrochlorothiazide component more often than every 2-3 weeks

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, 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 your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacist first.

• Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide has severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • aliskiren
  • sacubitril/valsartan
• Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide has serious interactions with at least 50 other drugs.
• Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide has moderate interactions with at least 298 other drugs.
• Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide has minor interactions with at least 178 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to either component or sulfonamides
• History of hereditary or angioedema associated with or without previous angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor treatment
• Coadministration of neprilysin inhibitors (eg, sacubitril) with ACE inhibitors may increase angioedema risk; do not administer ACE inhibitors within 36 hours of switching to or from sacubitril/valsartan
• Bilateral renal artery stenosis or anuria
• Do not coadminister aliskiren in patients with diabetes

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Benazepril-Hydrochlorothiazide?”

Cautions

• Excessive hypotension if used concomitantly with diuretics, hypovolemia, hyponatremia
• Risk for hyperkalemia, especially with renal impairment, DM, or those taking concomitant K+-elevating drugs
• Dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system with ARBs, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risk for hypotension, hyperkalemia, and renal function changes (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy
• Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis, and larynx has been reported in patients treated with ACE inhibitors
• If laryngeal stridor or angioedema of the face, tongue, or glottis occurs, treatment with Lotensin HCT should be discontinued and appropriate therapy should be instituted immediately
• Patients receiving coadministration of ACE inhibitor and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor (e.g., temsirolimus, sirolimus, everolimus) therapy may be at increased risk for angioedema
• Instruct patients to protect their skin from the sun and undergo regular skin cancer screening
• DM, fluid or electrolyte imbalance, hyperuricemia, gout, SLE, liver disease, renal disease
• May aggravate digitalis toxicity
• Sensitivity reactions may occur with or without a history of allergy or asthma
• Biliary cirrhosis or biliary obstruction
• Myelosuppression
• Renal impairment may occur
• Neutropenia/agranulocytosis reported
• Cough may occur within the first few months
• Cholestatic jaundice may occur
• Risk for male sexual dysfunction
• Avoid concomitant use with lithium
• Acute transient myopia and acute angle-closure glaucoma have been reported, particularly with a history of sulfonamide or penicillin allergy (hydrochlorothiazide is a sulfonamide)

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug is available
• Lactation
  • Excreted in breast milk; use caution