ACE Inhibitor

Recently Answered

• QWhat should I know before taking ACE inhibitors?

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  A Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  You should not take an ACE inhibitor if you have ever shown signs of intolerance when taking one in the past.
  
  You should not take an ACE inhibitor if you are breastfeeding. The medication is believed to be passed on in milk, and may harm a nursing child.
  
  If you have had angioedema, you should not take an ACE inhibitor.
  
  If you have kidney disease, an ACE inhibitor may not be a good option for you. 
  
  If you have liver disease, an ACE inhibitor may not be a good option for you.
  
  If you have renal artery stenosis, an ACE inhibitor may not be a good option for you.
  
  If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or believe you may be pregnant, you should not take an ACE inhibitor.
• QWho should not take benazepril (Lotensin)?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Benazepril (Lotensin) may not suitable for the following people:
  

  • women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as risks to the fetus could occur (Studies have demonstrated a risk of birth defects if benazepril is taken during pregnancy.)
  • women who are breastfeeding (Discuss the potential risks to a breastfeeding child with your doctor.)
  • individuals with a history of angioedema, a condition that causes swelling in the abdomen, arms, legs, face, lips, tongue, throat or eyes (Benazepril may increase the risks of developing this condition.)
  • those suffering from lupus, scleroderma, kidney problems, bone marrow suppression, low blood pressure, vascular disease and diabetes

  In addition, certain medications may interact with benazepril. Before starting benazepril, be sure to review your medical history with your doctor to determine if benazepril is right for you.
  
  
• QWho should take benazepril (Lotensin)?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Benazepril (Lotensin) is most often prescribed to treat individuals with high blood pressure. However, doctors may also prescribe benazepril to treat people with congestive heart failure and chronic renal (kidney) failure. In addition, benazepril can also help prevent kidney damage in people with diabetes.
  
  
• QIs benazepril (Lotensin) safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers benazepril (Lotensin) to be a pregnancy Category D drug, meaning that it can cause injury or death to a fetus. (Studies have demonstrated a risk of birth defects if benazepril is taken during any trimester.)  Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy before you begin to take benazepril.
  
  It is currently believed that benazepril may present risks to a breastfeeding baby. If you are taking -- or considering use of -- benazepril while breastfeeding, contact your doctor to discuss any potential risks.
  
  
• QWhy is captopril prescribed?

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  A Dr. Nicole Basile , Nephrology, answered on behalf of MDLIVE

  Captopril is a blood pressure lowering medication called an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.  It is prescribed to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney diseases with  protein in the urine.  

• QWhen should captopril be used?

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  A Piedmont Heart Institute answered

  Captopril is an example of an angiotensin-converting inhibitor (ACEi).  This is a medication that has been shown in the early 1990s to be useful in patients with systolic heart failure.  Systolic heart failure refers to patients with low ejection fractions, or patient's that have abnormally low pumping action, as measured by echocardiogram.  Patients that receive captopril and medications similar to captopril, enjoy decreases in mortality, increases in quality of life, and decreases in hospital admission for acute decompensated heart failure.