amlodipine vs amlodipine/benazepril
Side-by-side comparison of amlodipine 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.
major Known Drug Interaction
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Potassium supplements/potassium-sparing diuretics: hyperkalemia ( 7.1 ) • Lithium: Increased serum lithium levels; toxicity symptoms ( 7.1 ) • Injectable gold: facial flushing, nausea, vomiting, hypotension ( 7.1 ) • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Risk of renal dysfunction, loss of antihypertensive effect ( 7.1 ) • Do not exceed doses greater than 20 mg daily of simvastatin ( 7.1 ) • mTOR inhibitors: increased risk of angioedema ( 7.1 ) • Dual inhibition of the RAS: Increased risk of renal impairment, hypotension, and hyperkalemia ( 7.1 ) • Neprilysin...
Recommendation: Check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure you are not accidentally taking the same medicine in two different pills.
Norvasc
Lotrel
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril. It is used to treat high blood pressure.
This medicine treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Amlodipine also treats chest pain (angina) caused by coronary artery disease, including chronic stable angina and vasospastic angina.
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.
Amlodipine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells. This relaxes and widens blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow. As a result, the heart does not have to work as hard, which lowers blood pressure and reduces chest pain.
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.
- • Swelling in your ankles or feet
- • Dizziness
- • Flushing (redness of the face)
- • Palpitations (feeling your heart beat rapidly or irregularly)
- • Fatigue (feeling tired)
- • Cough
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Swelling (edema)
- Feeling tired 15,696
- Diarrhea 14,038
- Feeling sick to your stomach 13,425
- Shortness of breath 13,222
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 10,671
- Tiredness 15,696
- Diarrhea 14,038
- Feeling sick to your stomach 13,425
- Shortness of breath 13,222
- Feeling lightheaded 10,671
Amlodipine may cause low blood pressure, especially if you have severe aortic stenosis. Some people with severe heart disease may experience worsening chest pain or a heart attack when starting or increasing the dose of amlodipine. If you have severe liver problems, your doctor will increase your dose slowly.
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. High blood pressure during pregnancy can harm both the mother and the baby. Amlodipine passes into breast milk, but no harmful effects on the breastfed infant have been seen.
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.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare amlodipine with
How to Read This amlodipine vs amlodipine/benazepril Comparison
amlodipine is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker 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, amlodipine has 67,052 submissions while amlodipine/benazepril has 67,052. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to this combination pill already contains amlodipine, so taking extra amlodipine separately can lead to an overdose and dangerously low blood pressure.. 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 amlodipine 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.