Benazepril oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

This article describes possible side effects of benazepril oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about benazepril, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.

Benazepril oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Lotensin.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm and death

Benazepril oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of fetal harm and death. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Warnings for benazepril” section below.

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More common side effects of benazepril

Benazepril oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of benazepril oral tablet include:

• headache
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dizziness when standing or sitting up
• cough*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of benazepril in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of benazepril

Benazepril may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of benazepril oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• constipation
• cough*
• decreased sex drive
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• fatigue
• feeling nervous or anxious
• headache
• insomnia
• nausea and vomiting
• numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
• shortness of breath
• skin flushing
• weakness
• mild allergic reaction*

Benazepril oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of benazepril in detail” section below.

Serious side effects of benazepril

Benazepril may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from benazepril oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with benazepril.

Serious side effects of benazepril oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• hyperkalemia (high blood potassium)
• kidney damage*
• liver damage*
• low blood pressure
• risk of fetal harm and death†
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of benazepril in detail” section below.
† Benazepril oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Warnings for benazepril” section below.

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Common questions about side effects of benazepril

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of benazepril oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How do side effects of benazepril compare with those seen with amlodipine?

Benazepril and amlodipine are both prescribed to treat high blood pressure. These drugs can cause some similar side effects, as well as some different ones.

Some shared side effects include:

• fatigue
• drowsiness
• low blood pressure

There also are differences in side effects between benazepril and amlodipine. For example, cough is a common side effect of benazepril, but this isn’t expected with amlodipine. Amlodipine commonly causes edema (fluid retention and bloating), which isn’t expected with benazepril.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about how benazepril and amlodipine compare.

Does benazepril cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases benazepril oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time, or they may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with benazepril oral tablet include:

• kidney damage*
• liver damage*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of benazepril in detail” section below.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of benazepril may last.

Side effects of benazepril in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of benazepril oral tablet.

Cough

In studies, cough was common in people taking benazepril oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild. This is a known side effect of all ACE inhibitors, including benazepril.

This side effect may go away on its own as you continue treatment with benazepril. But in some cases, ending treatment with benazepril is the best way to treat cough.

Ways to manage

If you experience a bothersome cough while taking benazepril, tell your doctor. They can recommend whether you should continue treatment or stop taking benazepril and try a different treatment for high blood pressure.

Kidney damage

In studies, kidney damage was rare in people using benazepril oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

Benazepril and other ACE inhibitors can cause a decline in kidney function. This can result in kidney damage, including sudden kidney failure. Symptoms can include weakness, urinating less frequently, and swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs. More severe cases can cause more serious symptoms, including seizures and coma.

Certain factors can increase the risk of kidney damage with benazepril oral tablet. These include having:

• chronic kidney disease
• heart failure
• a recent heart attack
• dehydration
• renal artery stenosis (narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the kidneys)

Ways to manage

If you experience mild symptoms that could be caused by kidney damage, immediately tell your doctor. They can recommend what your next steps should be. It’s important to receive treatment as soon as possible if you’re experiencing kidney damage. Your doctor may suggest you go to a nearby urgent care center or emergency room.

If your symptoms feel serious, immediately seek medical help. Call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.

Liver damage

Liver damage wasn’t reported in studies of benazepril. But it’s a known rare side effect that ACE inhibitors can cause. (Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor drug.) This side effect may be serious.

Liver damage caused by ACE inhibitors begins with a condition called cholestatic jaundice. This is a yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice) caused by blockage of bile flow from the liver (cholestasis).

This condition can then progress to direct liver damage. In extreme cases, liver damage caused by ACE inhibitors can be life threatening.

Symptoms of liver damage from benazepril can include:

• yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
• dark-colored urine
• abdominal pain
• excessive itching

Ways to manage

If you experience mild symptoms of liver damage, tell your doctor right away. They can recommend what your next steps should be. Depending on your symptoms, they may have you stop taking benazepril while they investigate possible causes.

They’ll likely want to order blood tests to check the levels of your liver enzymes. Elevated liver enzyme levels can be a sign of liver damage. If your liver enzymes are elevated, your doctor will likely stop treatment with benazepril.

If your symptoms feel serious, immediately seek medical help. Call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.

Allergic reaction

For some people, benazepril oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to benazepril oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for benazepril

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking benazepril oral tablet.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm and death

Benazepril has a boxed warning for the risk of fetal harm and death. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

For details, see the “Benazepril and pregnancy” section below.

Other warnings

It may not be safe for you to take benazepril oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether benazepril oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking benazepril oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and any medications you take. Things to consider include:

• angioedema after taking any medication in the past
• heart failure
• hyperkalemia (high blood potassium)
• kidney conditions, such as chronic kidney disease
• liver problems, such as cirrhosis
• recent heart attack
• past allergic reaction to benazepril

Benazepril and pregnancy

Benazepril oral tablet should not be taken during pregnancy due to the risk of fetal harm and death.

Risk of fetal harm and death

Benazepril has a boxed warning for the risk of fetal harm and death. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

Benazepril and other drugs that work like it or in a similar way are known to cause harm if used during pregnancy. This includes a risk of causing fetal harm and death. These risks are due to how the drugs work to lower blood pressure.

Treatment with benazepril should be stopped as soon as pregnancy is detected. Immediately stop taking benazepril and contact your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Your doctor can suggest other medications for lowering blood pressure that are safer for you to take during pregnancy.

If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with benazepril.

Benazepril and breastfeeding

In general, benazepril oral tablet is considered safe to take while breastfeeding. That said, check with your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you specifically.

Benazepril and alcohol

Benazepril oral tablet isn’t known to interact with alcohol.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with benazepril oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of benazepril oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Are the side effects of benazepril similar to those of other ACE inhibitor drugs such as lisinopril?
• How do side effects of benazepril compare with those of angiotensin II receptor blockers, such as losartan?
• Is my risk of cough higher when I first start taking benazepril?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.