lotrel

INDICATIONS

Lotrel is used for treating high blood pressure. Lotrel is a combination of 2 blood pressure medicines, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker. It works by helping your blood vessels relax (dilate) and lower blood pressure.

INSTRUCTIONS 

Use Lotrel as directed by your doctor.

• Take Lotrel by mouth with or without food.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the risk of side effects from Lotrel. Talk with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.
• Do not take more than prescribed unless advised to do so by your doctor.
• If you miss a dose of Lotrel, 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 Lotrel.

STORAGE

Store Lotrel 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 Lotrel out of the reach of children and away from pets.

MORE INFO:

Active Ingredients: Amlodipine besylate and Benazepril hydrochloride.

SAFETY INFORMATION

Do NOT use Lotrel if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Lotrel 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.

Some medical conditions may interact with Lotrel. 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 if you are dehydrated
• if you are scheduled to have surgery or are to receive anesthesia or kidney dialysis.

Some medicines may interact with Lotrel. Tell your health care provider if you are taking other medicines, especially any of the following:

• 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
• Lithium, sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide), thiazide diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), thiopurines (eg, azathioprine), or vasopressin receptor antagonists (eg, conivaptan) because they may increase the risk of Lotrel's side effects
• Insulin or oral diabetes medicine (eg, glyburide) because the risk of side effects, including low blood sugar levels (eg, hunger, shakiness or weakness, dizziness, headache, sweating), may be increased by Lotrel.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Lotrel 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.

Important safety information:

• Lotrel may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Lotrel with caution. Do not drive or perform other possible unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Lotrel 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 Lotrel. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Lotrel should not be used in children; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Lotrel 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. Lotrel is found in breast milk. Do not breastfeed while taking Lotrel.

SIDE EFFECTS

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.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

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 the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider.