Micardis 40 mg 28 Tablets

Description

Micardis belongs to a class of medicines known as angiotensin II receptor blockers. 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. Micardis is used to treat essential hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults. ‘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 adults 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. Your doctor can tell you if you are at high risk for such events. How to use The recommended dose is one tablet a day. Try to take the tablet at the same time each day. You can take Micardis with or without food. The tablets should be swallowed whole with some water or other non-alcoholic drink. It is important that you take Micardis every day until your doctor tells you otherwise. If you have the impression that the effect of Micardis is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 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 20 mg 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 80 mg, blood pressure should be frequently monitored. If your liver is not working properly, the usual dose should not exceed 40 mg once daily. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor before taking Micardis if you are suffering or have ever suffered from any of the following conditions or illnesses: Kidney disease or kidney transplant. Renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the blood vessels to one or both kidneys). Liver disease. Heart trouble. Raised aldosterone levels (water and salt retention in the body along with imbalance of various blood minerals). Low blood pressure (hypotension), likely to occur if you are dehydrated (excessive loss of body water) or have salt deficiency due to e.g. diuretic therapy ('water tablets'), low-salt diet, diarrhoea, or vomiting. Elevated potassium levels in your blood. Diabetes. Side Effects If you experience any of the following symptoms you should contact your doctor or go to the hospital straight away: Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): Low blood pressure (hypotension) in users treated for reduction of cardiovascular events. Storage Information Store below 30°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture. Drug Interactions 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 blockers, 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). If you are taking an ACE-inhibitor or aliskiren. Digoxin. Ingredients The active substance is telmisartan. The other ingredients are povidone (K25), meglumine, sodium hydroxide, sorbitol (E420) and magnesium stearate. Specifications Micardis 40 mg tablets are white, oblong-shaped, and engraved with the code number '51H' on one side and the company logo on the other side.