From the Guidelines
The brand name of benazepril is Lotensin. This medication is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor primarily used to treat high blood pressure and certain types of heart failure. According to the study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 1, benazepril works by preventing the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor, thereby relaxing blood vessels and reducing blood pressure.
Key Points
- The typical starting dose for hypertension is 10 mg once daily, which may be adjusted based on blood pressure response, usually to 20-40 mg daily, taken as a single dose or divided into two doses, as indicated in Table 28 of the study 1.
- Patients with renal impairment generally require lower doses.
- Common side effects include dizziness, headache, and dry cough.
- As with other ACE inhibitors, benazepril can cause angioedema and should not be used during pregnancy as it may cause fetal harm. It's essential to take this medication consistently, even when feeling well, as hypertension is often asymptomatic but requires ongoing management.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Brand Name of Benazepril
- The brand name of benazepril is Lotensin 2
- Benazepril is a nonsulfhydryl ACE inhibitor prodrug, which is converted in vivo to its active form, benazeprilat 3
- It is used to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure, and has been shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure and improving cardiac function 3, 4
- Benazepril is available in various dosages, including 5 to 80 mg, and is typically administered as a single daily dose 3
- The pharmacokinetics of benazepril have been studied in healthy subjects, hypertensive patients, and patients with renal or hepatic impairment, and have been shown to be stable over a wide range of conditions 4
Key Characteristics
- Benazepril can be taken any time of day, with or without food 2
- It has no clinically important pharmacologic interactions with many other medications, including digoxin, warfarin, and naproxen 2
- Benazepril has been shown to confer substantial renal benefits in patients with advanced renal insufficiency 5
- It is generally well-tolerated, with an incidence of adverse effects similar to that of placebo 3