Why have I been prescribed Micardis?

• Micardis (Telmisartan) is used to treat essential hypertension (high blood pressure). ‘Essential’ means that the high blood pressure is not caused by any other condition.
• Micardis is also used to reduce cardiovascular events (i.e. heart attack or stroke) in patients who are at risk because they have a reduced or blocked blood supply to the heart or legs, or have had a stroke or have high risk diabetes.

How does it work?

• Micardis belongs to a class of medicines known as angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Angiotensin II is a substance produced in your body which causes your blood vessels to narrow, thus increasing your blood pressure.
• Micardis blocks the effect of angiotensin II so that the blood vessels relax, and your blood pressure is lowered.

When and how do I take it?

• Try to take the tablet at the same time each day. You can take Micardis with or without food.
• The tablets should be swallowed with some water or other non-alcoholic drink. It is important that you take Micardis every day until your doctor tells you otherwise.

What’s the dose?

For treatment of high blood pressure, the usual dose of Micardis for most patients is one 40 mg tablet once a day to control blood pressure over the 24 hour period. However, sometimes your doctor may recommend a lower dose of 20mg or a higher dose of 80 mg. Alternatively, Micardis may be used in combination with diuretics (‘water tablets’) such as hydrochlorothiazide which has been shown to have an additive blood pressure lowering effect with Micardis. For reduction of cardiovascular events, the usual dose of
Micardis is one 80 mg tablet once a day. At the beginning of the preventive therapy with Micardis 80mg, blood pressure should be frequently monitored.

Could it interact with other tablets?

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Your doctor may need to
change the dose of these other medicines or take other precautions. In some cases you may have to stop taking one of the medicines.

This applies especially to the medicines listed below taken at the same time with Micardis:

• Lithium containing medicines to treat some types of depression.
• Medicines that may increase blood potassium levels such as salt substitutes containing potassium, potassium-sparing diuretics (certain ‘water tablets’), ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, e.g. aspirin or ibuprofen), heparin, immunosuppressives (e.g. cyclosporin or tacrolimus), and the antibiotic trimethoprim.
• Diuretics (‘water tablets’), especially if taken in high doses together with Micardis, may lead to excessive loss of body water and low blood pressure (hypotension).

As with other blood pressure lowering medicines, the effect of Micardis may be reduced when you take NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, e.g. aspirin or ibuprofen) or corticosteroids. Micardis may increase the blood pressure lowering effect of other medicines used to treat high blood pressure.

Herbal supplements should be used with caution and only after informing your doctor first.

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

Common side effects may include:

• Low blood pressure (hypotension) in users treated for reduction of cardiovascular events.

Uncommon side effects may include:

• Upper respiratory tract infections (e.g. sore throat, inflamed sinuses, common cold)
• urinary tract infections
• deficiency in red blood cells (anaemia)
• high potassium levels
• feeling sad (depression)
• fainting (syncope)
• difficulty falling asleep
• feeling of spinning (vertigo)
• slow heart rate (bradycardia)
• low blood pressure (hypotension) in users treated for high blood pressure
• dizziness on standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
• shortness of breath
• abdominal pain
• diarrhoea
• discomfort in the abdomen
• bloating
• vomiting
• increased sweating
• itching
• drug rash
• muscle pain (myalgia)
• back pain
• muscle cramps
• kidney impairment including acute kidney failure
• pain in the chest
• feeling of weakness, and increased level of creatinine in the blood

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

• Micardis may interact with alcohol.
• Ask your doctor/pharmacist if you can drink alcohol as this may depend on what other tablets you are taking.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

Micardis is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy and cannot be given during second or third trimesters.
Micardis should not be used while breast feeding.

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

http://www.medicinenet.com/telmisartan/article.htm

http://www.drugs.com/micardis.html

http://www.rxlist.com/micardis-drug.htm

https://us.micardis.com/

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-telmisartan/article_em.htm