Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) and Alcohol / Food Interactions

There are 4 alcohol/food/lifestyle interactions with Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) which include:

MONITOR: Many psychotherapeutic and CNS-active agents (e.g., anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, opioids, alcohol, muscle relaxants) exhibit hypotensive effects, especially during initiation of therapy and dose escalation. Coadministration with antihypertensive agents, in particular vasodilators and alpha-blockers, may result in additive effects on blood pressure and orthostasis.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised during coadministration of these agents. Close monitoring for development of hypotension is recommended. Patients should be advised to avoid rising abruptly from a sitting or recumbent position and to notify their physician if they experience dizziness, lightheadedness, syncope, orthostasis, or tachycardia.

Calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may have additive hypotensive effects. While these drugs are often safely used together, careful monitoring of the systemic blood pressure is recommended during coadministration, especially during the first one to three weeks of therapy.

MONITOR: Calcium-containing products may decrease the effectiveness of calcium channel blockers by saturating calcium channels with calcium. Calcium chloride has been used to manage acute severe verapamil toxicity.

MANAGEMENT: Management consists of monitoring the effectiveness of calcium channel blocker therapy during coadministration with calcium products.

Calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may have additive hypotensive effects. While these drugs are often safely used together, careful monitoring of the systemic blood pressure is recommended during coadministration, especially during the first one to three weeks of therapy.

GENERALLY AVOID: Moderate-to-high dietary intake of potassium can cause hyperkalemia in some patients who are using angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. In some cases, affected patients were using a potassium-rich salt substitute. ACE inhibitors can promote hyperkalemia through inhibition of the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin (RAA) system.

MANAGEMENT: It is recommended that patients who are taking ACE inhibitors be advised to avoid moderately high or high potassium dietary intake. Particular attention should be paid to the potassium content of salt substitutes.

The consumption of grapefruit juice may slightly increase plasma concentrations of amlodipine. The mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. Data have been conflicting and the clinical significance is unknown. Monitoring for calcium channel blocker adverse effects (e.g., headache, hypotension, syncope, tachycardia, edema) is recommended.

You should also know about...

Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) drug Interactions

There are 760 drug interactions with Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril)

Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) disease Interactions

There are 11 disease interactions with Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) which include:

Angioedema Bone Marrow Suppression Chf Hemodialysis Hyperkalemia Hypotension

Cardiogenic Shock/Hypotension Coronary Artery Disease Liver Disease Renal Dysfunction Chf/Ami

See also...

• Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) Side Effects
• Lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) Consumer Information

• Drug Interactions Checker

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Multum is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Multum Information Services, Inc. does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. Copyright 2000-2012 Multum Information Services, Inc. The information in contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.