Benicar

Generic name: Olmesartan
Drug class: Angiotensin receptor blockers

Usage of Benicar

Benicar is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (sometimes called an ARB). Olmesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

Benicar is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children at least 6 years old.

Benicar is sometimes given together with other blood pressure medications.

Benicar side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Benicar: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

little or no urination;

severe diarrhea and weight loss; or

high potassium level - nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.

Common Benicar side effects may include:

dizziness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Benicar

You should not take Benicar if you are allergic to olmesartan.

If you have diabetes, do not use Benicar together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

You may also need to avoid taking Benicar with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

To make sure Benicar is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

a heart condition other than one being treated with Benicar;

kidney disease; or

if you are on a low salt diet.

Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using the medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Olmesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.

If you plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor for a safer medicine to use before and during pregnancy. Having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications in the mother and the baby.

You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Benicar

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

20 mg orally once a day; may increase dose to 40 mg in two weeks if further blood pressure reduction is needed. Maximum dose: 40 mg orally once a day Comments: -For patients with possible intravascular volume depletion (e.g., patients treated with diuretics, especially those with impaired renal function), initiate this drug under close supervision and give consideration to a lower starting dose. -Twice daily dosing offers no additional benefit over the same total dose give once daily.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:

6 to 16 years: -20 to less than 35 kg: 10 mg orally once a day; may increase dose to 20 mg in two weeks if further blood pressure reduction is needed -35 kg or more: 20 mg orally once a day; may increase dose to 40 mg in two weeks if further blood pressure reduction is needed Comments: -For children who cannot swallow tablets, the same dose can be given using an extemporaneously compounded oral suspension.

Warnings

Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using Benicar and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Olmesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.

If you have diabetes, do not take Benicar with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine - brand names include Amturnide, Tekturna, and Tekamlo).

What other drugs will affect Benicar

If you take colesevelam, take your Benicar dose 4 hours before you take colesevelam.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

lithium;

a diuretic (water pill) or other medicines that lower blood pressure; or

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with olmesartan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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