Telmisartan

Telmisartan is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. Telmisartan is also used to decrease the chance of heart attack, stroke, or death in people 55 years of age or older who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Telmisartan is in a class of medications called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the action of certain natural substances that tighten the blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow more smoothly and the heart to pump more efficiently.

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. Telmisartan tablets come in individual blister packs that can be opened by peeling back the paper layer from the foil and pushing the tablet through the foil. Do not open a blister pack until you are ready to swallow the tablet it contains. 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. Your blood pressure may decrease during the first 2 weeks of your treatment, but it may take 4 weeks for you to notice the full benefit of telmisartan. Continue to take telmisartan even if you feel well. Do not stop taking telmisartan without talking to your doctor. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Telmisartan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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back pain</li>
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sinus pain and congestion</li>
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diarrhea</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, or those listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately:

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swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs</li>
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hoarseness</li>
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difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
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pain and cramping in the lower leg that comes and goes during walking or exercise </li>
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blistering of the skin or rash</li></ul>Telmisartan may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking telmisartan, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to telmisartan, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in telmisartan tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril (Captoten, in Capozide), enalapril (Vasotec, Lexxel, in Vaseretic), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, in Prinzide), moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril, in Accuretic, Wuinaretic), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka);aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and selective COX-2 inhibitor such as celecoxib (Celebrex); digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps, Phenytek); diuretics ('water pills') including spironolactone (Aldactone, in Aldactazide); lithium (Eskalith CR, Eskalith, Lithobid); and potassium supplements. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure; blockage of the bile duct (condition when bile can not flow from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine, which can occur with gallstones, tumors, or injury); or kidney or liver disease. you should know that telmisartan may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. you should know that diarrhea, vomiting, not drinking enough fluids, and sweating a lot can cause a drop in blood pressure, which may cause lightheadedness and fainting. Tell your doctor if you have any of these problems or develop them during your treatment.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

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dizziness</li>
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fainting</li>
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fast or slow heartbeat</li></ul>