If you are pregnant, avoid taking benazepril. Benazepril can cause pregnancy, so call your doctor right once if it does. The foetus could be harmed by benazepril.

Benazepril is used to treat high blood pressure either alone or in conjunction with other drugs. Benazepril belongs to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors drug class. It functions by lowering specific molecules that stiffen blood arteries, allowing blood to flow more freely.

High blood pressure is a common illness that, if left untreated, can harm the kidneys, brain, heart, blood vessels, and other organs. Heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, a stroke, renal failure, eyesight loss, and other issues may result from damage to these organs. Making lifestyle modifications will help you control your blood pressure in addition to taking medication. These adjustments include quitting smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating a diet low in fat and salt, keeping a healthy weight, and exercising for at least 30 minutes most days.

Benazepril is available as a tablet to be swallowed. With or without food, it is often taken once or twice day. Benazepril should be taken at roughly the same time(s) each day to aid in memory. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Benazepril should be used as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Initially prescribed at a low dose, benazepril is likely to be progressively increased by your doctor.

High blood pressure is not cured by benazepril, rather it is controlled. Even if you feel good, keep taking benazepril. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking benazepril.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking benazepril,

• Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know if you have any drug allergies or if you have any questions about benazepril, other ACE inhibitors like captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (in Prinzide, in Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindo Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• If you are currently using valsartan with sacubitril (Entresto), or if you have stopped taking it within the last 36 hours, let your doctor or pharmacist know. If you are also on sacubitril and valsartan, your doctor probably won’t recommend that you take benazepril. If you have diabetes and are taking aliskiren, you should also let your doctor know (Tekturna, in Amturnide, Tekamlo, Tekturna HCT). If you are on aliskiren and have diabetes, your doctor will probably advise you to avoid using benazepril.
• Inform your physician and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Mention any of the following: potassium supplements, lithium (Lithobid), and diuretics (often known as “water pills”). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you have diabetes, heart failure, kidney illness, lupus, or scleroderma, let your doctor know as well as if you have lately experienced severe diarrhoea or vomiting (a condition in which extra tissue grows on the skin and some organs).
• Inform your doctor if you are nursing a child.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking benazepril if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that blood pressure might drop as a result of diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, excessive perspiration, and not drinking enough water, which can result in dizziness and fainting.

Before using potassium-containing salt replacements, consult your doctor. If your doctor advises a low-salt or low-sodium diet, strictly follow the instructions.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Benazepril’s negative effects could occur. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Cough
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:

• Swelling of the lower legs, hands, feet, ankles, or face, neck, tongue, lips, eyes, or mouth
• Hoarseness
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Rash
• Skin or eyes turning yellow
• Fever, chills, a sore throat, and other symptoms of infection

Other negative effects of benazepril are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Dizziness
• Fainting

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. Regular blood pressure checks are necessary to monitor how benazepril affects you. To monitor how your body is responding to benazepril, your doctor may request specific lab tests.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.