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| Pronunciation |
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 (am
LOE di peen & ben AY ze
pril) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Lotrel® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antihypertensive Agent, Combination |
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to treat high blood
pressure.
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| How does it work? |
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- Amlodipine relaxes blood vessels. This results in a lowering of blood
pressure.
- Benazepril lowers blood pressure by decreasing production of a strong
chemical in the body that increases blood
pressure.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Take at a similar time every
day.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- There should be an interval of 24 hours between doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Wear disease medical alert identification for high blood pressure.
- Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can increase
blood pressure.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that increase blood pressure.
These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Avoid potassium-containing salt substitutes and potassium supplements.
Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Feeling lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing
diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.
- Abnormal taste (metallic, salty, or none). This is usually reversible.
- Fluid accumulation, usually as ankle swelling.
- Dry cough.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood pressure regularly.
- Follow diet plan (low salt) and exercise program as recommended by
healthcare provider.
- Check blood work (potassium and kidney function). Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe headache.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.
Protect from moisture.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins,
over-the-counter) medicines with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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