Telmisartan (Systemic)

Brand Names : Micardis

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 telmisartan, the following should be considered:

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

Pregnancy - Use of telmisartan during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters (after the first 3 months) can cause low blood pressure, severe kidney failure, or possibly 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 telmisartan passes into breast milk. However, telmisartan 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 it.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of telmisartan 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.

Racial differences - Black patients may have a smaller response to the blood pressure-lowering effects of telmisartan.

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. It is important that your health care professional know if you are taking any other medicines.

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

• Aortic valve damage - Risk of decreased blood flow through the heart

• Congestive heart failure (severe) - Lowering of blood pressure by telmisartan may make this condition worse

• Dehydration (fluid and electrolyte loss due to excessive perspiration, vomiting, diarrhea, prolonged diuretic therapy, dialysis, or dietary salt restriction) - Blood pressure-lowering effects of telmisartan may be increased

• Kidney disease - Effects of telmisartan may make this condition worse

• Liver disease, severe - Blood levels of telmisartan may be higher in patients with this condition