Candesartan: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What medicine is Candesartan?

What is Candesartan used for?

Candesartan is a drug used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in both adults and children. Candesartan is a drug that belongs to the class of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). The drug works by blocking angiotensin receptors, which relax blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily.

In addition, the drug Candesartan is a drug that is also commonly used to protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes, and treat heart failure.

How to use this drug?

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily. The dosage used is based on your health condition and response to treatment. In children, the dosage also depends on body weight.

Use this remedy regularly for best results. To help you remember, take the medicine at the same time each day. It is important to continue this treatment even if you feel better. Most people who have high blood pressure don't feel sick. For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take about 6 weeks for you to feel the benefits of this medicine.

Contact your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse (such as blood pressure continues to rise).

How to store Candesartan?

The best way to store candesartan is to store it at room temperature, away from direct light and a damp place. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Candesartan dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the Candesartan dosage for adults?

The dose given will be different, depending on the patient's condition at that time.

Hypertension

Initial dose: 16 mg orally once a day.
Follow-up dose: 8-32 mg daily, taken once or twice a day.

Heart failure

Initial dose: 4 mg orally once a day. The target dose is 32 mg once daily, achieved by doubling the dose in two-week intervals, based on the patient's tolerance to the drug.

What is the dose of candersatan for children?

All doses can be given once a day or divided into 2 equal doses:

Age less than 6 years:

Initial dose: 0.20 mg / kg (oral suspension)
Follow-up dose: 0.05 to 0.4 mg / kg orally a day.

Age 6-17 years, less than 50 kg:

Initial dose: 4-8 mg orally a day.
Follow-up dose: 2-16 mg orally a day.

Age 6 to less than 17 years, over 50 kg:

Initial dose: 8-16 mg orally a day.
Follow-up dose: 4-32 mg orally a day.

Doses above 0.4 mg / kg (ages 1 to less than 6 years) or 32 mg (ages 6 to less than 17 years) have not been studied in pediatric patients.

In what dosage is Candesartan available?

Candesartan preparations are oral tablets with different doses, namely 4mg, 8mg, 16mg, and 32mg.

Candesartan side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Candesartan?

Side effects that may occur when using candesartan are allergies with signs such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, Candesartan can cause conditions that result in muscle tissue damage and kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you experience muscle pain, pain to the touch, or fatigue especially if there is fever, unusual fatigue, and dark urine color.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have:

Lightness in the head, such as fainting
Chest pain
Little or no urination
Swelling, rapid weight gain
High potassium (slow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, and tingling sensation)

Side effects can also include:

Runny nose or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough
Back pain
Joint pain
Stomach pain, diarrhea
Headache, dizziness
Fatigue.

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Candesartan Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using this drug?

Do not use this medication if you have an allergy to Candesartan.

If you have diabetes, do not use Candesartan together with any medicines that contain Aliskiren (Amturnide®, Tunjukna®, Tekamlo®, Valturna®).

You may also need to avoid using Candesartan with Aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

Is this drug safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category D according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

A = No risk,
B = not at risk according to several studies,
C = May be risky,
D = There is positive evidence of risk,
X = Contraindicated,
N = Unknown

Candesartan Drug Interactions

What other medicines may interact with this drug?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Use of this drug with the drugs listed below is generally not recommended, but may be needed in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or change how often you use one drug or the other.

Benazepril
Captopril
Enalapril
Enalaprilat
Fosinopril
Lisinopril
Lithium
Moexipril
Perindopril Erbumine
Quinapril
Ramipril
Trandolapril
Trimethoprim

Using this medicine with the medicines listed below may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dosage or change how often one drug is used.

Aceclofenac
Acemetacin
Amtolmetin Guacil
Aspirin
Bromfenac
Bufexamac
Celecoxib
Choline Salicylate
Clonixin
Dexibuprofen
Dexketoprofen
Diclofenac
Dislunisal
Dipyrone
Etodolac
Etofenamate
Etoricoxib
Felbinac
Fenoprofen
Fepradinol
Feprazone
Floctafenine
Flufenamic Acid
Flurbiprofen
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen Lysine
Indomethacin
Ketoprofen
Ketorolac
Lornoxicam
Loxoprofen
Lumiracoxib
Meclofenamate
Mefenamic Acid
Meloxicam
Morniflumate
Nabumetone
Naproxen
Nepafenac
Niflumic Acid
Nimesulide
Oxaprozin
Oxyphenbutazone
Parecoxib
Phenylbutazone
Piketoprofen
Piroxicam
Pranoprofen
Proglumetacin
Propyphenazone
Proquazone
Rofecoxib
Salicylic Acid
Salsalate
Sodium Salicylate
Sulindac
Tenoxicam
Tiaprofenic Acid
Tolfenamic Acid
Tolmetin
Valdecoxib

Can food or alcohol interact with this drug?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with this drug?

The presence of other health problems can affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

Kidney illness
Liver disease
Heart failure
Electrolyte imbalance
If you are on a low salt diet
If you are dehydrated

Candesartan overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms include:

Dizzy
Fainting
Fast or slow heart rate

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.