Safely Buy Lotrel ( Amlodipine/Benazepril ) from Canada Prescriptions Plus.

Indications

Lotrel is a combination blood pressure medication used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

This medication combines amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, and benazepril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Both drugs widen blood vessels to improve blood flow while benazepril also prevents water retention.

This antihypertensive medication offers effective control over blood pressure levels for over a 24-hour period, allowing convenient once daily dosing. Lotrel has also been found to have a lower incidence of adverse effects and has minimal effects if a dose is occasionally missed.

Uses and Dosage

The dose of Lotrel that is prescribed will vary depending on the person being treated. Always follow your doctor’s directives and read packaging labels carefully when taking new medication.

• Swallow capsules whole, do not open or chew
• Take with or without food at the same time each day
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
• Most adults take an initial dose of 2.5mg amlodipine and 10mg benazepril once daily
• After two weeks, the dose can increase up to 10mg amlodipine and 40mg benazepril once daily
• Your blood pressure will need to be monitored
• Tell a surgeon you use Lotrel before surgery, you may need to stop temporarily
• Use Lotrel as directed each day even if you feel well
• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat

Side Effects

Lotrel may cause side effects to develop while it lowers and maintains your blood pressure. Contact your doctor for more specific information regarding symptoms you may encounter when taking a combination of amlodipine and benazepril.

Common Lotrel side effects:

• Cough
• Dizziness
• Swelling in hands or feet

Serious Side Effects

Some more serious side effects may occur when taking Lotrel. Stop using this antihypertensive medication and call your doctor as soon as you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Light-headed feeling, like you might pass out
• Swelling in hands or feet, rapid weight gain
• New or worsened chest pain
• Flu symptoms (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches)
• High potassium levels (nausea, weakness, tingling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement)
• Liver problems (nausea, stomach pain on the upper right side, itching, unusual tiredness, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, jaundice)

Allergic Reactions

Do not use Lotrel if you are amlodipine or benazepril or any other ACE inhibitor such as captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, and others. If you develop signs of an allergic reaction, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor right away.

Lotrel allergy symptoms may include:

• Hives
• Severe stomach pain
• Trouble breathing
• Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat

Allergic reactions may be more likely to occur if you are African American.

Cautions

Do not use Lotrel if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication because it can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if used during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.

Avoid using this medication if you have ever had angioedema.

Wait at least 36 hours before or after taking medication containing sacubitril to take your dose of Lotrel.

If you have diabetes, Lotrel should not be used in combination with any medicine containing aliskiren. You should also avoid combining these medications if you have kidney disease.

Contact your doctor if you develop ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. These may be signs that you are dehydrated which can lead to dangerously low blood pressure levels or a serious electrolyte imbalance. Drink plenty of water when taking Lotrel.

To ensure the safety of taking Lotrel, tell your doctor if you have ever had any of the following:

• Heart disease or congestive heart failure
• High potassium levels in your blood
• Kidney disease or if you are on dialysis
• Liver disease
• If you follow a low-salt diet

Avoid alcohol while taking Lotrel because it can cause adverse side effects.

Avoid driving or performing any hazardous activity until you know how Lotrel will affect you because it could impair your reactions.

Do not use salt substitutes or take potassium supplements while taking Lotrel unless told to do so by your doctor.

Amlodipine and benazepril

Do not breastfeed while using Lotrel; amlodipine and benazepril can pass through breast milk and cause adverse effects in your nursing child.

Some medications may interact with Lotrel and cause adverse effects or make medications less effective. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including over the counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products, but especially the following:

• Lithium
• Probenecid
• Simvastatin
• Diuretic
• Gold injections for arthritis
• Heart or blood pressure medication
• Insulin or oral diabetes medicine
• Antibiotics
• Antifungal medication
• Medicine to treat HIV/AIDS
• Medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others)

Form and Strength

This antihypertensive medication is available in capsule form.

Lotrel Capsule Strengths:

• 5/10mg
• 5/20mg
• 10/20mg
• 10/40mg

The 5/10mg capsules are available in quantities of 100 while the other capsule strengths are all available in quantities of 90.

FAQ

How long does it take for Lotrel to lower blood pressure?

Amlodipine and benazepril in Lotrel are quickly absorbed and reach their peak concentrations within 6 to 12 hours after each dose. However, the drugs take some time to work into your system and for their effects to be seen. Your blood pressure may take up to 2 weeks to regulate.

When is the best time to take Lotrel?

Lotrel can be taken at any time of day with or without food without significantly changing the medication’s efficacy. This means that you can take Lotrel whenever works best for you but try to take your doses at the same time each day because the drug’s effects only last for 24 hours. Thankfully, however, no significant effects have been reported for occasional missed doses.

Resources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11336577/
2. https://www.drugs.com/lotrel.html
3. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=94ae6054-b7ae-4212-a567-4f803af8f2c7