Telmisartan comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. To help you remember to take telmisartan, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take telmisartan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor may start you on a low dose of telmisartan and gradually increase your dose.
Telmisartan controls high blood pressure but does not cure it. Continue to take telmisartan even if you feel well. Do not stop taking telmisartan without talking to your doctor.
High blood pressure reduction helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This drug works by blocking the hormone angiotensin thereby relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. Telmisartan belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers.
OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
This drug may also be used to treat congestive heart failure and to help protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes.
How to use Temisartan OralTake this medication by mouth, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. You may take this drug with or without food. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day.
Do not take potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. This medicine can raise your potassium levels, which rarely can cause serious side effects such as muscle weakness or very slow heartbeats. Tell your doctor immediately if these effects occur.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take 4 weeks before the full benefit of this drug occurs.
Olmesartan Side Effects:The most common Benicar side effects include dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, abdominal/stomach pain, stuffy nose or stuffy sinuses, and unusual tiredness. The side effects that you may experience should be mild, but if Benicar side effects continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. In the unlikely event you experience Benicar side effects, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other Benicar side effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking BENICAR (Olmesartan)? • Before taking BENICAR (Olmesartan), tell your doctor if you: · have kidney disease; · have liver disease; · are on a salt-restricted diet or have high levels of potassium in your blood; or · are taking a potassium supplement (e.g., K-Dur, Klor-Con, others), or a potassium-sparing diuretic such as amiloride (Midamor), triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide), or spironolactone (Aldactone). • You may not be able to take BENICAR (Olmesartan), or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. • BENICAR (Olmesartan) is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. When used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, BENICAR (Olmesartan) can cause injury and even death to the developing baby. Do not take BENICAR (Olmesartan) if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. • It is not known whether BENICAR (Olmesartan) passes into breast milk. Do not take BENICAR (Olmesartan) without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. How should I take BENICAR (Olmesartan)? • Take BENICAR (Olmesartan) exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. • Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. • BENICAR (Olmesartan) can be taken with or without food. • Do not stop taking BENICAR (Olmesartan) without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking the medication, your condition could become worse. • Store BENICAR (Olmesartan) at room temperature away from moisture and heat.