Benazepril is a medicine indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure or chronic kidney failure, as it works by inhibiting the production of angiotensin, which is a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow and increases blood pressure, thus normalizing blood pressure.
This medicine can be found in the form of 5 mg or 10 mg tablets as the generic “benazepril hydrochloride” or under the trade name Bhena. In addition, it can also be found associated with amlodipine, under the trade name Press plus.
Benazepril should only be used under the advice of a cardiologist or nephrologist, with individualized doses and regular medical monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and the emergence of side effects.
What is it for
Benazepril is indicated for the treatment of:
- High pressure;
- Progressive chronic renal failure.
This medicine belongs to the class of angiotensin conversion inhibitors, promoting relaxation of blood vessels and normalizing blood pressure. Additionally, benazepril slows the progression of chronic kidney failure in people with or without high blood pressure.
Benazepril should be used under the advice of a cardiologist or nephrologist, with regular medical consultations to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and the emergence of side effects, and if necessary, change doses or combine it with other blood pressure medications. Check out the main remedies for high blood pressure.
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How to drink
Benazepril should be taken orally, with a glass of water, before or after a meal.
1. Benazepril 5 mg or 10 mg tablets
Benazepril in the form of 5 mg or 10 mg tablets should be used by adults or children over 6 years of age and doses vary according to the condition being treated.
The normally recommended dosage of benazepril for adults is:
- High pressure: the normally recommended starting dose is 10 mg, once a day. This dose can be increased by the doctor to 20 mg per day, at intervals of 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the response to treatment. The maximum dose should not exceed 40 mg per day, taken once a day or divided into 2 equal doses;
- Progressive chronic renal failure: the normally recommended dose is 10 mg, once a day.
Benazepril can be used in combination with other antihypertensive medications, as recommended by a cardiologist or nephrologist.
For children over 6 years of age, benazepril doses must be calculated by the doctor according to body weight.
2. Benazepril + amlodipine capsules
Benazepril + amlodipine capsules can be found in different doses, containing 2.5 mg or 5 mg of amlodipine and 10 mg or 20 mg of benazepril, and are only indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure in adults.
The doses of benazepril + amlodipine must be guided by the cardiologist, as they can vary from 10 to 80 mg of benazepril and 2.5 to 10 mg of amlodipine.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects of benazepril are cough, headache, dizziness, flushing, lumps or blisters on the skin, itching, increased sensitivity to sunlight, the urge to urinate very frequently, or fatigue.
Additionally, other common side effects are heart palpitations or orthostatic symptoms, such as feeling dizzy as if you are going to faint.
Although it is rarer, benazepril can cause hepatitis, liver failure or cholestatic jaundice, with symptoms such as tiredness, itchy body, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stools or yellowing skin and eyes. In these cases, you must go to the hospital immediately.
Who shouldn’t use
Benazepril should not be used by children under 6 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women or by people who are allergic to the components of the formula.
Furthermore, this medicine should not be used by people who have had angioedema with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or who use aliskiren or neprilysin inhibitors, such as sacubitril, for example.
Benazepril should also not be used in children who have renal artery damage or kidney stenosis.
Benazepril + amlodipine should not be used by people who have kidney or liver disease, congestive heart failure or high levels of potassium in the blood.
