A common health problem for many people in our country is high blood pressure, or "pressure" as we all call it. So if you have been prescribed medicine for your blood pressure by your doctor, you are probably familiar with the name 'Benazepril'. You may have this medicine in your medicine cabinet under the brand name 'Lotensin'. So today, let's simply talk about what exactly this medicine is, what it does, and what we need to be careful about while using it.
What is Benazepril? How does it work?
Simply put, Benazepril is a medicine that is used to control high blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors . Okay, now let's see how this works. Think of the blood vessels in your body as pipes that carry water. When these pipes narrow, the motor has to work harder to pump the water, right? That's how it is, when our blood vessels constrict and become narrow, the heart has to work harder to pump blood. That's when the pressure increases.
Benazepril works by relaxing the narrowed blood vessels. This means that the blood vessels widen slightly. Then the heart can pump blood more easily and without any difficulty. This medicine controls your blood pressure by reducing the workload on the heart.
Things you should tell your doctor before taking medication
This is very important. Before starting Benazepril, it is essential to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Especially if you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell them about it.
| Situation you need to report | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant | This is very important. Benazepril can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. So be sure to tell your doctor about this. |
| If a mother is breastfeeding her child | Since parts of the medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk, it is important to inform the doctor about this as well. |
| Kidney or liver conditions | Because these organs are involved in the process of removing drugs from the body, the doctor should be aware of their function. |
| Heart disease or blood vessel disease | Depending on your heart condition, you may need to change your medication dosage or prescribe a different medication. |
| Immune system diseases (e.g., lupus) | Some medications can cause problems in these situations. |
| Previous experience of swelling of the face, lips, or tongue | This could be a sign of a serious allergic reaction called angioedema. If you have had this before, this medicine may not be suitable for you. |
| Special dietary restrictions (e.g., low-salt diet) | Tell your doctor about your diet, as it can affect the effectiveness of the medication. |
| Allergies to other medications, insect bites, or foods | It is important to tell us about any allergies you have. |
How to use the medicine correctly?
- Follow medical advice: Take the medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor, in the prescribed dosage.
- At the same time every day: Try to take your medicine at the same time every day as much as possible. This will help keep the medicine working at the same level.
- Before or after food?: This medicine can be taken before or after food. However, if you feel an upset stomach, it is best to take it with a meal.
- Don't stop taking it: Even if you feel better, continue taking your medication until your doctor tells you to stop. Blood pressure is a condition that needs to be controlled.
- For children: This medicine may be prescribed to children over 6 years of age in some special cases. However, this is a decision that only your doctor can make.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
We sometimes forget to take our medicine, don't we? If that happens, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next pill at the scheduled time. Never take two pills at once for any reason.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you suddenly think you have taken too much medicine, go to the nearest ETU (Emergency Treatment Unit) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital .
The most important thing is that this medicine is prescribed for you only. Do not give this medicine to anyone else who has the same symptoms as you.
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
Other medications you take may interact with benazepril. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications you take (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements) .
- Do not take with: Sacubitril; Medicines containing valsartan.
- Be careful with these:
- Diuretics are what we call water pills.
- Lithium.
- Other medications for blood pressure.
- Painkillers, especially NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen).
- Potassium supplements or salt substitutes.
- Medicines such as Sirolimus, Temsirolimus, and Everolimus.
Things you should be careful about when taking medication
- Regular check-ups: Go to your doctor's scheduled check-ups. If you're told to check your blood pressure at home, do so regularly.
- Headache and dizziness: You may feel dizzy or drowsy when you first start taking this medicine. Therefore, avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. Especially if you are elderly, do not stand up suddenly when getting up from a sitting position or out of bed. Stand up slowly. This will reduce the risk of dizziness and falling.
- Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can make dizziness and drowsiness worse. So avoid alcohol.
- Vomiting, diarrhea: If you are vomiting or having diarrhea a lot, or if you are sweating a lot, you may lose a lot of water from your body and become dehydrated. It can be dangerous to take this medicine at this time, so talk to your doctor for advice.
- Cough, cold: If you have a cough or cold, don't go to the pharmacy and buy medicine on your own. Some cough medicines contain ingredients that can increase your blood pressure. Therefore, ask your doctor before taking any medicine.
What are the possible side effects of Benazepril?
Like any medicine, benazepril can cause side effects in some people. Some of these are serious, some are not so serious.
| Side effect | Description and what you need to do |
|---|---|
| If you experience these symptoms, see a doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. | |
| Severe allergic reactions (Angioedema) | Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, hands or feet, difficulty breathing or swallowing, skin rash or itching. This is an emergency. |
| Increased potassium levels in the blood | Muscle weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeat. |
| Kidney damage | Decreased urine output, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet. |
| Liver damage | Pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark yellow/brown urine, unusual tiredness. |
| Excessive drop in blood pressure | Severe dizziness, fainting, blurred vision. |
| These are usually not serious, but if they persist, tell your doctor. | |
| Dry cough | This is a common side effect of ACE inhibitor medications. If this bothers you, tell your doctor. |
| Headache | It usually subsides within a few days. |
| Dizziness and drowsiness | This often goes away as the body gets used to the medication. |
How should you store your medicine?
To maintain the quality of medicines, it is important to store them correctly.
- Keep away from children: Keep in a safe place out of reach of children and pets.
- Temperature: Store at room temperature, below 30 degrees Celsius. Protect from excessive heat and moisture.
- After expiration: Throw away any medication that has passed its expiration date.
Take-Home Message
- Benacipril is an important medication for controlling high blood pressure. Take it as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time every day.
- Even if you feel better, do not stop taking the medication without medical advice.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you take and any illnesses you have.
- If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, be sure to inform your doctor before taking this medicine.
- If you experience serious allergic symptoms such as swelling of the face, lips, or difficulty breathing, seek medical advice immediately.
- To avoid dizziness, get up slowly when getting up from sitting or lying down.
- If you have any questions about this medicine, don't be afraid to ask your doctor.
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