What is hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. Benazepril lowers blood pressure and also relieves symptoms of fluid retention.
The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).
Hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril?
Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Vaseretic, Zestoretic) or benazepril (Lotensin), or if you have ever had angioedema (hives or severe swelling of deep skin tissues sometimes caused by allergic reaction).
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to any other ACE inhibitor, such as captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).
Before taking hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease (or are on dialysis), liver disease, glaucoma, congestive heart failure, lupus, diabetes, or an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.
Avoid the regular use of salt substitutes in your diet, and do not take potassium supplements while taking hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril, unless your doctor has told you to.
Some things can cause your blood pressure to get too low. This includes vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, heart disease, dialysis, a low-salt diet, or taking other diuretics (water pills). Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink while taking hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril. Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Vaseretic, Zestoretic) or benazepril (Lotensin), or if you have ever had angioedema (hives or severe swelling of deep skin tissues sometimes caused by allergic reaction).
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to other ACE inhibitor, such as captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).
To make sure you can safely take hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
liver disease;
glaucoma;
congestive heart failure;
lupus;
diabetes; or
an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.
Hydrochlorothiazide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril.
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking hydrochlorothiazide and benazepril.