Benazepril Dosage: An Introduction
The dose of
benazepril hydrochloride (
Lotensin®) your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- Your age
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Benazepril Dosing for Adults
The recommended starting dosage of benazepril for most people with
high blood pressure (
hypertension) is benazepril 10 mg once daily. Based on the
blood pressure response or
benazepril side effects, the dosage may be increased or decreased. For most people, the normal daily dose is benazepril 20 mg to benazepril 40 mg as a single dose or divided into two smaller doses (benazepril 10 mg to 20 mg twice a day). With each change in dosage, it may take several weeks to see the full effects of benazepril on
lowering blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure and are already taking a diuretic (water pill), your physician will most likely instruct you to stop the diuretic before starting benazepril. If you cannot stop the diuretic (for other medical reasons), your healthcare provider may choose to start you on a lower dose of benazepril, such as benazepril 5 mg, under close medical supervision.
If you have kidney disease or kidney failure, your healthcare provider may start you on a lower benazepril dose depending on the severity of your kidney disease.
