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Click on each question below to find out more about MICARDIS.
- What is MICARDIS?
- How does MICARDIS lower my blood pressure?
- Why is 24-hour control important?
- How do I take MICARDIS?
- How do I know if MICARDIS is working?
- When will I realize the full benefit of taking MICARDIS?
- Are there any side effects associated with MICARDIS?
- Should I take MICARDIS with food or on an empty stomach?
- Does MICARDIS cause a cough?
- Can MICARDIS be added to other blood pressure medications?
- Can MICARDIS be used in patients with renal insufficiency?
- Can I take MICARDIS if I am pregnant?
1. What is MICARDIS?
MICARDIS is a once-daily medication for hypertension that works 24 hours a day
to control blood pressure. This means MICARDIS is still working in the early
morning, up until the next pill is taken.
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2. How does MICARDIS lower my blood pressure?
MICARDIS selectively blocks the binding of angiotensin II to the AT1 receptor
in many tissues, such as vascular smooth muscle and the adrenal gland. Angiotensin
II is responsible for vasoconstriction, stimulation of synthesis and release
of aldosterone, cardiac stimulation, and renal reabsorption of sodium—all of
which lead to high blood pressure.
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3. Why is 24-hour control important?
Your blood pressure can go up and down during the day. In fact, it has been
shown that blood pressure rises in the early morning hours (from 6 am to noon),
when a person is waking up and starting morning activities. Discuss with your
doctor the benefits of full 24-hour blood pressure control.
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4. How do I take MICARDIS?
If your doctor prescribes MICARDIS, it is important to take a single tablet
at the same time every day, as instructed. A 30-day supply of MICARDIS comes
in 3 convenient packs to help make dosing easy to remember. Don't skip
or miss doses or make any change in your dosing.
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5. How do I know if MICARDIS is working?
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, so you may not be able to tell
if your medication is working to lower your blood pressure. That's why it is
important to take your medicine every day and see your doctor regularly to have
your blood pressure checked.
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6. When will I realize the full benefit of taking MICARDIS?
Most of the antihypertensive effect is apparent within 2 weeks and maximal
reduction is seen after 4 weeks. When additional blood pressure reduction
beyond 80mg MICARDIS is required, a diuretic may be added.
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7. Are there any side effects associated with MICARDIS?
Usually there are no more side effects with MICARDIS than with a sugar pill,
or placebo. In clinical studies, the most common side effects reported with
MICARDIS were headache, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), dizziness, pain,
and diarrhea. These side effects were generally mild and did not last long.
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8. Should I take MICARDIS with food or on an empty stomach?
MICARDIS may be administered with or without food.
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9. Does MICARDIS cause a cough?
The incidence of cough occurring with MICARDIS in 6 placebo-controlled trials
was identical to that noted for placebo-treated patients (1.6%).
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10. Can MICARDIS be added to other blood pressure medications?
MICARDIS tablets may be administered with other antihypertensive agents.
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11. Can MICARDIS be used in patients with renal insufficiency?
Renal excretion does not contribute to the elimination of MICARDIS. Based on
limited experience with patients with mild-to-moderate renal impairment (creatinine
clearance of 30-80 mL/min, average clearance 50 mL/min), no dosage adjustment
is necessary in patients with decreased renal function.
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12. Can I take MICARDIS if I am pregnant?
No.You must not take MICARDIS if you are pregnant.
When used in pregnancy during the second and third trimesters, drugs that act
directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury, and even death, to
the developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, MICARDIS tablets should be
discontinued as soon as possible.
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Selected important cautionary information
MICARDIS (telmisartan) Tablets and MICARDIS HCT (telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide) Tablets are contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any of their components.
MICARDIS HCT (telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide) is contraindicated in patients with anuria or hypersensitivity to other sulfonamide-derived drugs.
In patients with an activated renin-angiotensin system, such as volume- and/or salt-depleted (e.g., those receiving high doses of diuretics), symptomatic hypotension may occur after initiation of MICARDIS or MICARDIS HCT therapy. This condition should be corrected prior to administration of MICARDIS or MICARDIS HCT, and treatment should start under close medical supervision.
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USE IN PREGNANCY
When used in pregnancy during the second and third trimesters, drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, MICARDIS and MICARDIS HCT Tablets should be discontinued as soon as possible (see WARNINGS, Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality).
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