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|Amlodipine/Benazepril

Amlodipine/Benazepril

Amlodipine/Benazepril is used for:

Treating high blood pressure.

Amlodipine/Benazepril is a combination of 2 blood pressure medicines, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker. These medicines help your blood vessels relax (dilate) and lower blood pressure.

Do NOT use Amlodipine/Benazepril if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Amlodipine/Benazepril or similar medicines (eg, any other ACE inhibitor)
• you are using iron dextran by injection
• you are in your second or third trimester of pregnancy

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Amlodipine/Benazepril :

Some medical conditions may interact with Amlodipine/Benazepril . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement, especially extra potassium or a salt substitute
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have or ever had heart failure, any heart disease, aortic stenosis (an abnormal narrowing of the opening of the aortic valve in the heart), liver or kidney problems, a kidney transplant, or diabetes
• if you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), hardening of skin disease (scleroderma), bone marrow suppression, low blood counts, low blood pressure, low blood sodium, high blood potassium, or narrowing or hardening of the arteries of the brain, or you are dehydrated
• if you are scheduled to have surgery or are to receive anesthesia or kidney dialysis

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Amlodipine/Benazepril . Tell your health care provider if you are taking other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Lithium, sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide), thiazide diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), thiopurines (eg, azathioprine), or vasopressin receptor antagonists (eg, conivaptan) because they may increase the risk of Amlodipine/Benazepril "s side effects
• Dextran or sildenafil because the risk of serious side effects, including low blood pressure or severe allergic reactions, may be increased
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, amiloride) or potassium supplements because the risk of side effects, including high potassium levels resulting in possible irregular heartbeat and stopping of the heart, may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Amlodipine/Benazepril may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Amlodipine/Benazepril :

Use Amlodipine/Benazepril as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Amlodipine/Benazepril by mouth with or without food.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the risk of side effects from Amlodipine/Benazepril . Talk with you doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.
• Do not take more medicine than prescribed unless advised to do so by your doctor.
• If you miss a dose of Amlodipine/Benazepril , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Amlodipine/Benazepril .

Important safety information:

• Amlodipine/Benazepril may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Amlodipine/Benazepril with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Amlodipine/Benazepril may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
• Check with your doctor before you use a salt substitute or a product that has potassium in it.
• A persistent, unproductive cough may occur. Tell your doctor if this occurs. Recovery is rapid when the medicine is stopped.
• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
• Lab tests, including blood pressure, may be performed while you use Amlodipine/Benazepril . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Amlodipine/Benazepril should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Amlodipine/Benazepril may cause fetal and newborn death if you take it while you are pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Amlodipine/Benazepril is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Amlodipine/Benazepril .

Possible side effects of Amlodipine/Benazepril :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness or lightheadedness when sitting or standing; headache; persistent, dry cough; swelling of the hands or feet.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; infection (fever, sore throat); irregular or slow heartbeat; yellowing of skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include dizziness; fast heartbeat; lightheadedness; loss of consciousness.

Store Amlodipine/Benazepril at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Amlodipine/Benazepril out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Amlodipine/Benazepril , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Amlodipine/Benazepril is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Amlodipine/Benazepril . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.