The anti-hypertensive medication benazepril may be prescribed by itself or along with other drugs in the treatment of high blood pressure. By preventing an enzyme from constricting your blood vessels, it keeps them relaxed and open so your heart has a reduced workload. This means your heart does not have to beat as hard to get blood to all parts of your body and your hypertension is decreased. It is administered as a pill.
Mental Confusion
The use of benazepril to help control your blood pressure may produce one side effect that is categorized as "less common" by the Mayo Clinic. This is a confusion of your mental processes. You may have momentary lapses in awareness of where you are and what you are doing. This is a serious side effect of the medicine. Talk with your physician immediately if you notice momentary confusion while taking benazepril.
Body Impacts
Other less common side effects of benazepril--there are no common serious side effects reported from its use--can affect various parts of your body or your body as a whole. For example, you may experience chills from taking the drug, or you may suddenly break out in cold sweats for no other apparent reason. There also is the potential for a condition in which you get sudden effects on rising from a sitting or prone position. You may feel lightheaded, faint or dizzy momentarily when you do this.
Other Side Effects
All other known side effects from benazepril use are considered not serious and temporary. As you take the medicine regularly, these will tend to fade and disappear. If they do not, tell your physician about them. The most common of these types of side effects is a headache. This can occur as your blood pressure is being balanced and controlled. Less common temporary side effects may include abnormal weakness in your body, a cough, nausea, abnormal tiredness and uncommon drowsiness. There is the potential for other side effects, too, the Mayo Clinic states, but they have not be reported by users of benazepril yet. If you experience something that is unexplainable otherwise while taking the medication, call your physician.
Member Comments