Can Benazepril Usage For High BP Cause Shortness Of Breath?

Posted on Fri, 25 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 Answered on

Fri, 16 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I've been taking Benazepril for more than a year. On a recent trip to Argentina, I ran out of the medication for several days. I resumed the medication as soon as I got home, because my blood pressure has jumped from 130 to 190. I noticed something interesting though, my shortness of breath, that had dissappeared, came back. Is this related to Benazepril?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
ECG needed to exclude ischemic episode....

Detailed Answer:
Hi there,

Benzapril is an anti-hypertensive drug of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor class. Its side effect that is commonly reported by patients who are taking is coughing.

If your shortness of breath is also associated with coughing, it might be due to Benzapril.

However, to my opinion, your shortness of breath is caused by persistent high blood pressure you get when you did not take your anti-hypertensive drugs correctly. I suggest to run an ECG in order to exclude any ischemic episode.

Hope it helped! Let me know if you have further queries!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar