by Ddace Bojanu


With olmesartan medoxomil as its main component, Benicar is used to fight heart failure, hypertension and kidney diseases of patients with type two diabetes. It belongs to a class of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

These drugs aim to stop the chemical angiotensin II from stifling blood vessels to boost blood circulation through the body and to counter hypertension. This medication will work either on its own or when coupled with other drugs used in combating high blood pressure.

This is classified as a pro drug because it has to be broken down and changed during the metabolic processes of a patient before it is able to perform the function it is being used for.

It can be used in patients of all ages, from adults to children between 1 and 17 years old. The product is available in the form of a tablet with strengths of 4mg, 8mg, 16mg and 32mg and food is not important when taking it. Hypertension dosages are initialized at 16mg once a day and maintenance doses can be between 8 and 32mg taken once or twice a day.

Such medications are contra-indicated in pregnancy and it is very important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant before starting to use the medication or if you have just found out that you are pregnant. In the case of discovering pregnancy, discontinue use of the medication and inform the doctor involved immediately. During the second and third trimester of pregnancy, some medications can cause injury and even death in fetuses. It is also not considered safe to use during breastfeeding. These medications should also not be used by patients who have shown a sensitivity to medicines containing sulfonamides because the hydrochlorothiazide component in this drug is derived from it.

It's best to steer totally free of alcoholic drinks while under medication due to the fact that alcohol can set off a drop in blood pressure and amplify secondary effects. Except in cases where it is prescribed by a physician, don't take salt or potassium alternatives in addition to this drug because it can lead to excessive levels of potassium in the body and can result to kidney failure. Kidney failure's symptoms are described as muscle tenderness and slow heart rate.

Getting high blood pressure under control can take from 2-6 weeks after initializing treatment, therefore, it is encouraged to continue with regular blood pressure checks. Quitting the medication is not a choice, even if a patient feels perfectly healthy because people with high blood pressure at times don't experience any kind of symptoms to indicate that there's something wrong with them.




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