Get Informed: Lotensin

32

Patient Comments About
Lotensin

Active Ingredient(s)

Benazepril

What does it do?

Lotensin

This product is used in the treatment of high blood pressure and Congestive Heart Failure. It is an ACE inhibitor.

Last Text Update:
 2010-Jul-31 12:06 AM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Jul-30 9:12 PM

Other Names

  • Benazepril
  • Lotensin
  • Benazepril HCl
  • Benazepril Hydrochloride

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
0:
Pregnancy Category
D

Black Box Warning

This product has a black box warning relating to its risk of fetal death.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
25 Jun 1991
Est US Patients*
485,500
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

0

< 21

3

21-39

36

40-59

61

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Lotensin or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Lotensin

There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Lotensin during the past year.

Lotensin Safety Report

0:

The iGuard risk rating for Lotensin is on hold. It means that we're waiting for more patients taking this medication to join iGuard before we can provide a more accurate safety assessment of this product.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Lotensin interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Lotensin used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 3,500 patients that use Lotensin (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
High Blood Pressure 95% mild 5 severe
Kidney Protection 7% mild 5 severe
Heart Disease/Stroke Prevention 5% mild 5 severe
Heart Failure/Edema 2% mild 5 severe

How well does Lotensin work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 3,500 users taking Lotensin (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

66 65
83%
of patients are confident that the good things about Lotensin outweigh the bad things.
10%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Lotensin.

Common Side Effects of Lotensin

iGuard regularly polls our more than 3,500 users taking Lotensin (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

24%

24% of patients experience side-effects on Lotensin

3%

3% of patients experience significant side-effects on Lotensin


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 10% Fatigue
  • 5% Dizziness
  • 5% Muscle Pain/Cramps
  • 5% Itch/Rash
  • 5% Loss of Libido
  • 5% Vision Changes
  • 5% Drowsiness
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Breathlessness, Cough, Dryness, Electrolyte Problems, Swelling/Edema


Global Patient Feedback for Lotensin (Benazepril) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first
English comments | Global comments

Question/Comment:

I have been taking this for about 12 years. just recently switched to Losartan (50mg) because of a cough that i'VE HAD for a long time. I've only been taking this one for 4 days, & my cough is mostly subsided. But they were guessing at the dosage of this new one, & it's a LOT lower than before.(93/44; 110/47;108/69; 106/55; 107/65; 116/60) I'm concerned that these may be too low. I originally was put on medication because the lower numbers were in the 90's.

What do you think?

60 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-04-25 18:20:28

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Blood pressure varies from person to person and throughout the day. However, a blood pressure reading of 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or less systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) or 60 mm Hg or less diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is usually considered low blood pressure.

Although looking at your blood pressure numbers to determine if your blood pressure is too low is important, you also need to watch for symptoms of low blood pressure, such as tiredness or fatigue, and dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when changing positions from lying down to seated, or seated to standing. If any of these symptoms are occurring, please contact your doctor to discuss your symptoms as soon as possible.

If you are not experiencing any symptoms but continue to get low blood pressure readings, you should follow up with your doctor and possibly have your dose adjusted.

Posted: 2010-05-14 11:36:12

Question/Comment:

I'm taking 10 mg a day for my high blood pressure. it seems to be working well.

25 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-01-07 00:27:14

Question/Comment:

I am 31 years old. The last doctor visit I found about 3 weeks ago, found out I have HBP and am hypertensive.

Doctor prescription on 1st visit (160/120) was for Tekturon : didnt do the job
Doctor prescription on 2nd visit (154/?) was for Benazepril HCL 20mg : coughing and fatigue

I am so young and after reading this board..seems like everybody is in their 50-60's.

Just wanted to know if anybody is taking the same meds and any results?
I will find out in a week if the 2nd meds are working for me....
-mary

32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-08-08 16:14:07

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Benazepril is in a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. A common side effect of these medications is cough. Also, about 10% of iGuard patients experience drowsiness while taking benazepril. As you continue taking benazepril, your fatigue side effects should become less bothersome. If the cough is bothersome, you can ask your doctor to consider switching you to a different class of blood pressure medications.

There are also lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure. These lifestyle changes include increasing your exercising activity level and decreasing salt intake. If you are overweight, losing weight will also help to lower your blood pressure.

Posted: 2009-08-09 23:04:40

Answer/Reply:

I am 76 years old,,female. I have taken Lotensin for years. Inital order was for 10 mgm. daily. About 5 years ago had to increase to 20 mgm.daily and add norvasc 5 mgm. I have over the r the years experienced some cough which is probably related to the Lotensin. My pressure is controled at 120/72 to 135/74.
Doris

76 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-08-15 18:10:14

Answer/Reply:

Hi Mary,

Not everyone on here who takes Benazepril is in their 50-60's. I am 33, and have been taking it since - let's see - I was 29 or so.

Benazepril was the first prescription my doctor tried with me, and it worked great. I have found that working out first thing in the morning helps me get a nice energy boost that overwrites any fatigue from the drug. Maybe you can try it out. I hit the gym for 45 min before work every day.

Good luck, and I hope Benazepril works for you!

Cheers! :)

G

34 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-08-18 12:43:55

Answer/Reply:

I am also on Benazepril HCL 20 mg. I am also exhausted and coughing. My bp is 130/73 and I am 65 female. I tried many alternatives meds with no effect so I settled with what I have. Wish I could help mcfaulf@hotmail.com

66 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-08-18 21:10:51

Question/Comment:

Anyone experiencing diminished sex drive because of this drug?

56 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-03-10 19:41:11

Answer/Reply:

Yes, unfortunately I do.
I used to have a very strong sex drive and since taking this med my drive has diminished significantly. My blood flow/pressure to my genital area just isn't the same and as a result I sometimes find it difficult to keep an erection.
Something I used to be quite proud of.
I have tried Viagra and Cialis. Cialis seems to work better than Viagra (for me).

52yo male

53 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-04-16 13:30:41

Answer/Reply:

i also have no interest is sex and it bothers me, can anyone help me with this, should i just stop taking the medication?

51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-05-25 13:51:50

Question/Comment:

i take 80mg aday, most day 150 over 84 on a good day

67 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-01-29 17:31:20

Answer/Reply:

I am presently taking 10 mg lotensin once daily. I have been on the medication, but various doses, for 13 years. My blood pressure has since been in great range, only have had to lower the dose as I made healthy life changes and did not need as high of a dose.

44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-02-18 16:51:27

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