Benazepril hydrochloride and hydrochlorothiazide work together to treat high blood pressure, reports MayoClinic.com. Benazepril Hcl-Hctz, the generic shortened name of the medication, combines the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide with the angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitor--or ACE inhibitor--benazepril. Diuretics function by flushing excess fluid from the body. ACE inhibitors help to relax blood vessels for easier blood flow. The combination medicine can induce some side effects.
Postural Hypotension
Sometimes, Benazepril Hcl-Hctz can lower blood pressure too much, especially when at the beginning of treatment. This may not be noticeable to the person until he changes position. If he bends over and stands up quickly, or rises from lying down or a sitting position, he may experience a sudden drop in his blood pressure. This condition, called postural hypotension, can cause lightheadedness, dizziness and vertigo. This postural hypotension should stop as the body gets accustomed to having the medicine in it. Drugs.com recommends consulting a doctor if the problems linger or feel severe.
Fatigue
The person suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension becomes used to having a higher-than-normal level of blood flow throughout her body. When Benazepril Hcl-Hctz corrects the blood pressure to normal, it can cause her to feel drained and fatigued. This symptom, too, is expected to disappear following the body's adjustment to the medication.
Gastric Problems
During the person's adjustment to the Benazepril Hcl-Hctz medication, he may have some temporary and nonserious side effects in his digestive tract. He may, for example, find himself feeling nauseated. This queasiness in the stomach may force him to vomit. He may also get problems farther into the system in the intestines, and may have a bout of diarrhea during the initial treatment phase with Benazepril Hcl-Hctz that also may produce cramps in his abdomen. These side effects should end on their own, Drugs.com indicates.
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