Micardis

Generic name: Telmisartan
Drug class: Angiotensin receptor blockers

Usage of Micardis

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

Micardis is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Micardis is also used to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, or death from heart problems in people who are at least 55 years old with risk factors for serious heart disorders.

Micardis side effects

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

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

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

little or no urination;

swelling in your feet or ankles, rapid weight gain;

unusual pain or tightness in your lower body;

a skin ulcer; or

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

Common Micardis side effects may include:

stuffy nose, sinus pain;

back pain; or

diarrhea.

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 Micardis

You should not use Micardis if you are allergic to telmisartan.

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

a heart condition other than one being treated with Micardis;

liver disease;

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); 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. Telmisartan 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 Micardis

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 40 mg orally once a day Maintenance dose: 40 to 80 mg orally once a day Comments: Most of the antihypertensive effect is present within 2 weeks; maximum blood pressure reduction at a given dose is generally observed within 4 weeks of starting that dose.

Usual Adult Dose for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction:

80 mg orally once a day Comments: It is unknown whether doses lower than 80 mg are effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. -When initiating this drug for cardiovascular risk reduction, monitoring of blood pressure is recommended, and if appropriate, adjustment of other medications that lower blood pressure. Use: Reduction of risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes in patients 55 years or older at high risk of developing major cardiovascular events who are unable to take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. High risk for cardiovascular events can be evidenced by a history of coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or high-risk diabetes (insulin-dependent or non-insulin dependent) with evidence of end-organ damage.

Warnings

Stop using Micardis and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Telmisartan 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 Micardis with any medicine that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine e.g. Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Valturna).

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

In rare cases, Micardis can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

What other drugs will affect Micardis

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

digoxin;

lithium;

a diuretic or "water pill" or other blood pressure medicine; 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 telmisartan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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