Telmisartan

High blood pressure (hypertension)

⚠ī¸ Important Safety Information

DO NOT take Telmisartan if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It can be very harmful to an unborn baby. If you get pregnant while taking it, stop immediately and call your doctor.

What is Telmisartan?

Telmisartan is a popular medicine prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It belongs to a group of medicines called ARBs (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers).

How telmisartan works?

Think of your blood vessels as stretchable pipes. Your body makes a natural chemical known as angiotensin which squeezes these pipes, making them narrower. When the pipes are narrower, your blood pressure goes up. This chemical also helps your body retain extra salt and water through the kidneys, which increases your blood pressure even more.Telmisartan works by blocking this angiotensin from stretching your blood vessels.This allows blood vessels to relax and widen which is also called vasodilation.

Use

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)

Dose

Adults: The usual starting dose is 40 mg, taken once a day. If needed, your doctor might increase it to 80 mg once a day. You can take it with or without food.

Older Adults (Elderly): The dose is often the same, but doctors usually prefer to start with low dose and gradually increase it.

Side Effects

  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, especially when you stand up too fast.
  • Dry cough
  • High Potassium
  • Allergic Reaction (Rare): Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat that makes it difficult to breathe. This is an emergency.

Safety Precautions

  • Alcohol: Don't consume alcohol when you are on telmisartan therapy.
  • Pregnancy: DO NOT take Telmisartan if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It can be very harmful to an unborn baby. If you get pregnant while taking it, stop immediately and call your doctor.
  • Breastfeeding: It is safe to consume Telmisartan during breastfeeding. Consult your doctor.
  • Kidney: Tell your doctor if you have any kidney issues. They will need to monitor you closely.
  • Liver: Consult your doctor if you have any liver disease. Dosage may need to alter in such cases.

Quick tips to remember

  • Regular Check-up of blood pressure will help your doctor to adjust the dose accordingly.
  • Physical exercise and healthy diet will help to stabilise your blood pressure.
  • Limit your alcohol intake

Interactions with other drugs

  1. Painkillers like Ibuprofen or Naproxen(NSAIDS): These can make Telmisartan less effective and can be hard on your kidneys when taken together.
  2. Potassium Pills or Salt substitutes: Taking these with Telmisartan can make your potassium levels dangerously high.
  3. Other Blood Pressure Medicines: Taking them together can sometimes lower your blood pressure too much. Your doctor will manage this.
  4. Lithium (for mood disorders): Telmisartan can increase the amount of lithium in your body to unsafe levels.

Storage

  • Store at room temperature (20-25°C)
  • Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture
  • Keep out of reach of children
  • Do not use after the expiry date

📚 Resources :

  • 1] Brunton LL, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 14th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2023.
  • 2] Katzung BG, Vanderah TW. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 16th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2024.