Lotensin Side Effects
Serious Adverse Side Effects
Lotensin | Benazepril has many serious adverse side effects associated with it, such as:
- Dermatological side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening skin disorder resulting from an allergic reaction
- Gastrointestinal side effects such as intestinal swelling
- Hematological side effects such as agranulocytosis and neutropenia, two conditions where there’s a lack of white blood cells
- Hepatic side effects such as acute liver failure, increased liver enzymes and jaundice
- Immunological side effects such as anaphylaxis, a deadly allergic reaction
- Renal side effects such as kidney impairment
- Other side effects such as swelling of the neck and head
Common Adverse Side Effects
More common and less severe adverse side effects associated with
Lotensin | Benazepril are:
- Neurological side effects such as dizziness and headache
- Respiratory side effects such as cough
- Other side effects such as fatigue
Warnings & Recalls for Lotensin
Black Box Warning
Lotensin | Benazepril has a “black box” warning associated with it whenever a female patient who has been prescribed the drug has become pregnant. Discontinue
Lotensin | Benazepril as soon as possible whenever pregnancy is detected as this drug leads to possible injury or death to the fetus.
Contraindications
The following contraindications hinder a patient’s ability to take
Lotensin | Benazepril:
- Hypersensitivity to benazepril, other ACE inhibitors or any other component of the drug
- History of angioedema
Who Should Not Take This Drug
- African-American patients are at an increased risk of angioedema
- Patients who have renal insufficiency
- Pediatric patients
- Patients who have just undergone surgery
Lotensin Treatment and Use
Lotensin | Benazepril is a drug that’s used either alone or in combination with other drugs to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure. The classification of this drug is that of an angiotensin-converting enzyme or ACE inhibitor. This drug is manufactured and marketed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Lotensin | Benazepril has non-FDA labeled indications for treating diabetic neuropathy, congestive heart failure, kidney disease and left ventricular hypertrophy.
Look to the “warning and recalls” tab to get further information of Lotensin | Benazepril and its “black box” warning.
How This Drug Works
The mechanism of action for Lotensin | Benazepril is that it is cleaved to a form of the drug benazeprilat, a more potent non-sulfhydryl ACE inhibitor. Benazeprilat competes with angiotensin I for the binding of ACE inhibition, which in turn blocks the conversion of angiotensin I and II. This inhibition results in lowering blood pressure rates and causes the blood flow to flow more smoothly.
Dosage Information
Lotensin | Benazepril comes available as an oral tablet in dosages of 5, 10, 20 and 40mg.
