Benazepril (Lotensin) Flashcards

Study Notes

Benazepril Overview

Benazepril is classified as an ACE inhibitor and antihypertensive medication.
Administered orally, it has specific dosing instructions based on condition severity and response.

Dosing Information

For hypertension, the initial dose is 10 mg once daily, with maintenance doses ranging from 20 to 40 mg once daily or in two doses.
Maximum daily dosage is 80 mg; diuretic therapy should be paused 2-3 days before starting benazepril.
If a diuretic cannot be stopped, begin with 5 mg/day.

Dose Adjustments

For patients with renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min), the initial dose is 5 mg once daily, with a maximum of 40 mg daily.

Contraindications

History of angioedema, concurrent use with aliskiren in diabetic patients, and hypersensitivity to benazepril or other ACE inhibitors are contraindicated.

Adverse Effects

Common effects include dizziness (3.6%), headache (6.2%), cough (1.2%), and fatigue (2.4%).
Serious side effects include Stevens-Johnson syndrome, intestinal angioedema, agranulocytosis, nephrotoxicity, and angioedema, with severe reactions occurring at lower frequencies.

Black Box Warning

Discontinue use immediately if pregnancy is detected due to potential fetal injury or death linked to drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system.

Drug Interactions

Increase in serum potassium with potassium-sparing drugs (e.g., spironolactone, amiloride) and certain supplements.
Concurrent NSAIDs may cause renal failure, especially in older patients or those with impaired kidney function.
Lithium levels can rise to toxic levels when combined with benazepril.
Alcohol should be avoided as it can enhance side effects.

Pregnancy Category

Rated as Category D, indicating potential risk to the fetus.

Monitoring Requirements

Assess reduction in blood pressure for efficacy and perform renal function tests initially, especially in vulnerable patients.
During pregnancy, serial ultrasound examinations and fetal monitoring may be necessary.

Mechanism of Action

Benazepril, as a prodrug, converts to benazeprilat which inhibits ACE, reducing angiotensin II levels leading to vasodilation, decreased blood pressure, and increased potassium levels through renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system suppression.

Pharmacokinetics

Oral benazepril reaches peak concentration between 0.5 to 1 hour, with a bioavailability of at least 37%.
Food does not significantly affect benazepril absorption, while it increases the Cmax of the active metabolite, benazeprilat, which peaks at 1-2 hours.
Benazepril and its active form are highly protein-bound (approximately 96.7% and 95.3%).
Benazepril is metabolized in the liver and primarily excreted through the kidneys as glucuronide conjugates. Benazeprilat is also renally excreted, with a notable amount remaining unchanged.

Description

Test your knowledge of Benazepril, a common ACE inhibitor used for treating hypertension. These flashcards cover essential information such as drug classification, routes of administration, and dosing guidelines. Perfect for students and healthcare professionals alike.

Benazepril (Lotensin) Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Which drug class does benazepril belong to?

What is the primary route of administration for benazepril?

The initial dosing of benazepril for hypertension is ____ mg orally once daily.

The maximum daily dosage of benazepril is ____ mg.

Which of the following is a contraindication for benazepril?

What are common adverse effects associated with benazepril?

What pregnancy category is benazepril classified under?

What is the mechanism of action (MOA) of benazepril?

What should be monitored during the therapy with benazepril?

Which of the following is a drug interaction with benazepril?