Edarbi (azilsartan)

Edarbi tablets contain the active ingredient azilsartan medoxomil, which is a type of medicine called an angiotensin-II receptor antagonist.

What is it used for?

High blood pressure with no known cause in adults patients (over 18 years of age). A reduction in your blood pressure will be measurable within 2 weeks of initiation of treatment and the full effect of your dose will be observed by 4 weeks. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This medicine can only be obtain with a prescription.

How does it work?

Azilsartan works by blocking receptors in the body known as angiotensin II receptors. This prevents the action of a hormone called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is involved in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance. It has two main actions. It causes the blood vessels to narrow and the kidneys to retain salt and water. Azilsartan blocks the receptors that angiotensin II acts on, and so prevents its actions. The main result of this is that the peripheral blood vessels are allowed to widen, which means that there is more space and less resistance in these blood vessels. This is the main mechanism by which the pressure in the blood vessels is lowered. Blocking the actions of angiotensin II also increases the amount of fluid removed from the blood by the kidneys. This decreases the amount of fluid in the blood vessels, which also lessens the resistance and pressure in the blood vessels.The combined effect of these changes is to lower the blood pressure, hence azilsartan is used to treat high blood pressure.

How to take it?

• Edarbi tablets are taken by mouth, once a day, preferably at the same time each day. The dose of Edarbi prescribed will depend on how well your blood pressure is controlled. Follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist. These will be printed on the dispensing label your pharmacist has put on the packet of medicine.
• Edarbi tablets should be swallowed with a drink of water.
• Edarbi tablets can be taken either with or without food.
• If blood pressure is not adequately controlled with Edarbi alone, additional blood pressure reduction can be achieved when this treatment is coadministered with other antihypertensive medicinal products, including diuretics and calcium channel blockers.
• If you have diabetes, do not use Edarbi together with any medication that contains aliskiren
• Before you take this medicine, tell your doctor about all your other medical conditions and allergies.
• Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking azilsartan and each time you get a refill.

Not to be used in

• Pregnancy - particularly in the second and third trimesters, as it may be harmful or cause death to the unborn baby. Stop using this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
• Breastfeeding - it is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk and it is not recommended for mothers who are breastfeeding.
• people with severely decreased liver function
• children and adolescents under 18 years of age

Caution should be exercised in:

• hypertensive patients with severe renal impairment, congestive heart failure or renal artery stenosis.
• patients suffering from aortic or mitral valve stenosis, or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
• patients taking lithium (not recommended)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What should I avoid while taking Edarbi?

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking Edarbi, unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Common side effects (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)

Side effects with Edarbi are generally mild or moderate, with the most common side effect being:

• Dizziness
• Diarrhoea.
• increased blood creatine phosphokinase (an indicator of muscle damage).

Stop taking Edarbi and seek medical help immediately if you have any of the following allergic reactions:

• difficulties in breathing, or swallowing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat (angioedema)
• itching of the skin with raised lumps.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.

1)      If azilsartan is used in combination with other medicines that lower blood pressure, either to treat high blood pressure (antihypertensives), or as a side effect, the combination might lower your blood pressure too much. This could make you feel dizzy or faint, particularly when moving from a lying or sitting position to sitting or standing. If this happens to you, you should sit or lie down until the symptoms pass. This is more likely to happen when you first start taking azilsartan with one of these medicines, particularly if you have been taking a high dose of a diuretic. Tell your doctor if any dizziness persists, as your medicine doses may need adjusting.

2)      Azilsartan may increase the blood level of the medicine lithium, and the combination is not recommended. If it is necessary to take both lithium and azilsartan, your doctor should carefully monitor your blood level of lithium. You should let your doctor know if you experience any signs that your lithium level is increasing, for example, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, vomiting, blurred vision, muscle weakness, lack of co-ordination, drowsiness, tremor, unsteadiness, muscle twitching, ringing in the ears or confusion.

3)       Azilsartan may increase the level of potassium in your blood. If this medicine is taken with other medicines that can increase blood potassium levels, this effect may be enhanced. These are not usually recommended for use in combination with azilsartan. If they are used in combination with alizsartan, the amount of potassium in your blood should be monitored

4)       The following medicines may reduce the blood pressure lowering effect of this medicine:

• corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone or prednisolone
• oestrogens, such as those in the contraceptive pill
• regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or indomethacin (occasional painkilling doses are unlikely to have a significant effect); they may also increase the risk of side effects on the kidneys.

References:

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/heart-blood/a8810/edarbi-azilsartan/

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/4074/smpc

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-155419/edarbi-oral/details

https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/edarbi-tablets-31959/patient-info

https://www.rxlist.com/edarbi-drug.htm

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/edarbi

https://www.edarbi.com/

https://www.drugs.com/edarbi.html