Norvasc combined with benazepril lowers blood pressure, study says

TUCSON, Ariz. A study has found that when combined with the hypertension drug benazepril, Pfizer’s drug Norvasc (amlodipine) lowered blood pressure and decreased patients’ risk of heart attack, stroke and premature death from cardiovascular disease by 20 percent compared with a combination of benazepril and a diuretic drug.

The researchers in the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week, recommended that the combination be used as a first-line treatment for hypertension.

Novartis markets a combination of the drugs under the brand name Lotrel. They are also available in generic form.