acebutolol vs amlodipine/benazepril
Side-by-side comparison of acebutolol and amlodipine/benazepril Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Sectral
Lotrel
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats. It belongs to a class of drugs called beta-blockers.
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril. It is used to treat high blood pressure.
Acebutolol is used to treat high blood pressure in adults. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines. Acebutolol is also used to manage irregular heartbeats called ventricular arrhythmias. It helps to reduce the number of these irregular beats.
Lotrel is used to treat high blood pressure. It is for people whose blood pressure is not controlled well enough with just one medicine (either amlodipine or benazepril alone). This medicine helps to lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Acebutolol works by blocking the effects of certain natural chemicals in your body, like adrenaline, on the heart and blood vessels. This helps to slow down the heart rate and lower blood pressure. It also helps to make the heart beat more regularly.
Lotrel contains two medicines that work in different ways to lower blood pressure. Amlodipine relaxes and widens blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Benazepril lowers blood pressure by preventing your body from making a substance that narrows blood vessels.
No common side effects listed.
- • Cough
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Swelling (edema)
- Problems with thinking or memory 620
- Falling down 615
- Low blood pressure when standing up 573
- Problems with balance 568
- Difficulty passing stools 565
- Tiredness 15,696
- Diarrhea 14,038
- Feeling sick to your stomach 13,425
- Shortness of breath 13,222
- Medicine not working 12,075
You should not take acebutolol if you have a very slow heart rate, second- or third-degree heart block, heart failure, or cardiogenic shock.
This medicine can harm your unborn baby or cause death. If you become pregnant, stop taking Lotrel and tell your doctor right away.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if acebutolol will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking acebutolol while breastfeeding.
Do not take Lotrel if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm to your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
How to Read This acebutolol vs amlodipine/benazepril Comparison
acebutolol is classified in the Beta-1 Selective Blocker with ISA drug class, while amlodipine/benazepril sits within the Calcium Channel Blocker / ACE Inhibitor Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acebutolol has 2,941 submissions while amlodipine/benazepril has 68,456. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between acebutolol and amlodipine/benazepril — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.