Amlodipine/benazepril explained

Amlodipine/benazepril, sold under the brand name Lotrel among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication used to treat high blood pressure. It is a combination of amlodipine, as the besilate, a calcium channel blocker, and benazepril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. It may be used if a single agent is not sufficient. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include cough, dizziness, and swelling. Serious side effects may include angioedema, myocardial infarction, high blood potassium, liver problems, and low blood pressure. Use in pregnancy is not recommended. Amlodipine works by increasing the size of arteries while benazepril works by decreasing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity.

The combination was approved for medical use in the United States in 1995.[1] It is available as a generic medication.[2] In 2021, it was the 150th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 3million prescriptions.[3] [4]

Medical uses

It is used to treat high blood pressure. It is not a first-line treatment.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cerner Multum . Amlodipine and benazepril Uses, Side Effects & Warnings . Drugs.com . 10 March 2019 . en.
  2. Book: Bope ET, Kellerman RD . Conn's Current Therapy 2017 E-Book . 2016 . Elsevier Health Sciences . 978-0-323-44335-7 . 124 .
  3. Web site: The Top 300 of 2021 . ClinCalc . 14 January 2024 . 15 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115223848/https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx . live .
  4. Web site: Amlodipine; Benazepril - Drug Usage Statistics . ClinCalc . 14 January 2024 .
  5. Faulkner MA, Hilleman DE . Amlodipine/benazepril: fixed dose combination therapy for hypertension . Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy . 2 . 1 . 165–178 . January 2001 . 11336577 . 10.1517/14656566.2.1.165 . 23021242 .