Drug & supplement interaction

Light Therapy + Benazepril

Benazepril brand name: Lotensin.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Light Therapy has a moderate interaction with Benazepril. Light therapy may increase the risk for photosensitization.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Light Therapy and Benazepril

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Benazepril

Benazepril falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Light Therapy interacts with.

Light therapy may increase the risk for photosensitization.
Concomitant use of photosensitizing drugs with light therapy may increase the risk for phototoxicity and should be avoided.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the idea behind this pairing: some medicines can make your skin a little more sensitive to bright light, and that's the concern listed for benazepril (Lotensin). Since light therapy shines strong light, the worry is a bit more chance of skin reactions like redness or a rash where you're exposed.

I want to be honest, though: this flag is theoretical, based on how the drug class behaves on paper, not strong real-world reports. Photosensitivity isn't a common complaint with benazepril, which mostly works on blood pressure. The light from these lamps is also aimed at your eyes, not your skin. Most folks do fine, but if you notice unusual skin sensitivity, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Pathirana, D., Ormerod, A. D., Saiag, P., Smith, C., Spuls, P. I., Nast, A., Barker, J., Bos, J. D., Burmester, G. R., Chimenti, S., Dubertret, L., Eberlein, B., Erdmann, R., Ferguson, J., Girolomoni, G., Gisondi, P., Giunta, A., Griffiths, C., Honigsmann
  2. Leon, A., Nguyen, A., Letsinger, J., and Koo, J. An attempt to formulate an evidence-based strategy in the management of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a review of the efficacy and safety of biologics and prebiologic options. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2007; PubMed
  3. Morgan, M. and Khan, D. A. Therapeutic alternatives for chronic urticaria: an evidence-based review, Part 2. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008;100(6):517-526. PubMed
  4. Hoare, C., Li Wan, Po A., and Williams, H. Systematic review of treatments for atopic eczema. Health Technol Assess 2000;4(37):1-191. DOI
  5. Whitton, M. E., Pinart, M., Batchelor, J., Lushey, C., Leonardi-Bee, J., and Gonzalez, U. Interventions for vitiligo. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010;(1):CD003263. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Light Therapy Also Interacts With Other Medications

Light Therapy has 334 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Benazepril one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 334 No known interaction 2,496 (incl. Benazepril)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Light Therapy

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Light Therapy. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Light Therapy or Benazepril

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Light Therapy or Benazepril, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Benazepril

This page covers Light Therapy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Benazepril page lists 166 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Asarabacca (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 6 major · 136 moderate · 24 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Benazepril page

“Benazepril (Lotensin) lowers blood pressure, and most of the 166 supplements on this page pull on that same lever, either dropping your pressure further or pushing it back up and undoing the drug's work. Six carry a major rating and deserve your attention before everything else, among them activated charcoal, which can soak up your dos…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Benazepril interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Light Therapy and Benazepril Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Light Therapy
Steady interest

#871 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Benazepril
Top half

#1,062 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Treatment approach

About Light Therapy

What is Light Therapy?

  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
  • Non-seasonal depression
  • Sleep and circadian rhythm problems
  • Jet lag and shift-work sleep issues
  • Certain skin conditions

Light therapy uses controlled exposure to bright artificial light and is best supported for seasonal affective disorder, where it is a recognized treatment option. It is generally safe for most people when used as directed, but you should talk to a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you have eye conditions, bipolar disorder, or take medicines that increase light sensitivity.

Read the full Light Therapy monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Benazepril

What Is Benazepril Used For?

Brand name: Lotensin

Benazepril — sold as Lotensin and under its generic names Benazepril and Benazepril Hydrochloride — is approved to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of serious events like stroke and heart attack.

It can be used on its own or combined with a thiazide diuretic (water pill) when blood pressure needs more control. Because high blood pressure management is part of overall heart health, your doctor may also address cholesterol, blood sugar, and lifestyle factors alongside this medication.

See full Benazepril drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Light Therapy

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Light Therapy — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
334Moderate
0Minor
2,495No known interaction
334 Moderate 2,495 No interaction
Moderate

334 interactions

Showing 60 of 334 moderate interactions — see all 334 on the Light Therapy page.

No interaction 2,495 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Light Therapy against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,495 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Light Therapy list.

See the full Light Therapy interactions page
See every supplement checked against Benazepril, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Light Therapy monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Benazepril supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Benazepril, ranked by severity Benazepril drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Having Light Therapy While Taking Benazepril: Common Questions

Can you have Light Therapy while taking Benazepril?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Light Therapy and Benazepril interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Benazepril and Light Therapy?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.