Olmesartan (Systemic)

Brand Names : Benicar

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For olmesartan, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to olmesartan. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium diet.

Pregnancy - Use of olmesartan during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters (after the first 3 months), can cause low blood pressure, severe kidney failure, or even death in the newborn. Therefore, it is important that you check with your doctor immediately if you think that you may have become pregnant . Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether olmesartan passes into breast milk. However, olmesartan passes into the milk of lactating rats. Because this medicine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are taking olmesartan.

Children - Studies on this medicine have only been done in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing the use of olmesartan in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. Elderly patients may have a greater sensitivity to olmesartan than younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking olmesartan it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Diuretics (water pills) - Effects on blood pressure may be increased

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of olmesartan. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Congestive heart failure, severe - Lowering of blood pressure by olmesartan may make this condition worse

• Dehydration - Blood pressure-lowering effects of olmesartan may be increased

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Effects of olmesartan may be increased because of slower removal of medicine from the body.