Candesartan
About Candesartan
Candesartan belongs to a class of drugs known as angiotensin II receptor blockers used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and lower the risk of stroke in certain people with heart disease. Hypertension is a medical condition in which blood pressure is elevated persistently (<140/90) in the arteries. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should.
Candesartan contains Candesartan which works by blocking the action of a hormone called angiotensin II thereby preventing blood vessels from narrowing, in turn lowering the blood pressure and improving the overall blood flow.
Take Candesartan with or without food daily at the same time and swallow whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew or break it. Take this medicine in the dose and for the duration prescribed by your doctor. In some cases, you may experience side effects like feeling dizzy or faint or having a spinning sensation (vertigo) and headaches. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to any medicines or food products, inform your doctor. It is advised to complete a full course of medication and not stop taking Candesartan suddenly, as it may cause recurring symptoms or worsen the condition. Candesartan is not recommended for pregnant, breastfeeding women and children below six years of age. Do not consume alcohol with Candesartan as it may increase the risk of low blood pressure. Avoid potassium supplements with Candesartan as they may lead to high potassium levels in the blood.
Uses of Candesartan
Medicinal Benefits
Candesartan contains Candesartan, used to treat high blood pressure and prevent heart failure. Candesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker that blocks the action of a hormone called angiotensin II in the body, which causes the narrowing of blood vessels leading to high blood pressure. Thereby lowering high blood pressure by widening and relaxing blood vessels.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Candesartan
- Feeling dizzy or faint or having a spinning sensation (vertigo)
- Headaches
Drug Warnings
Do not take Candesartan if you are allergic to any of its contents if you have severe liver disease, diabetes, impaired kidney function, or if you are taking aliskiren. Inform your doctor if you have severe heart disease, aldosteronism (a disorder in which adrenal glands make too much of a hormone called aldosterone), dehydration, liver or kidney disease if you take medicines containing potassium if you have undergone kidney transplantation or dialysis. Candesartan is recommended not to take if you are pregnant, as it may cause fetal harm. Consult your doctor before taking Candesartan if you are breastfeeding. Candesartan is not recommended for children below six years as efficacy and safety have not been established. Candesartan may cause dizziness, so drive with caution. Avoid consuming alcohol as it might cause increased dizziness.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Candesartan may interact with diuretic medicines (e.g. amiloride, spironolactone), anti-hypertensive medications (e.g. aliskiren, enalapril, captopril) and potassium salts (e.g. potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium iodide).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found/established.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Candesartan may interact with disease conditions, including diabetes, angioedema, hypotension or low blood pressure, congestive heart failure, hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium) and kidney or liver impairment.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid consuming alcohol while taking Candesartan as it may cause increased dizziness.
Pregnancy
unsafeCandesartan belongs to pregnancy category D. Candesartan is not recommended for use in pregnancy, as Candesartan can cause harm to the developing fetus.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown if Candesartan passes into breastmilk. Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding; your doctor will decide whether Candesartan can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
cautionCandesartan may cause dizziness, do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy.
Liver
consult your doctorIf you have had a liver impairment/disorder history, inform your doctor before receiving the Candesartan. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Kidney
consult your doctorIf you have had a kidney impairment/disorder history, inform your doctor before receiving the Candesartan. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Children
cautionCandesartan is not recommended for children below six years as efficacy and safety have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Create a well-balanced and healthy diet that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, omega-3-rich foods, and lean protein sources.
- Keep your weight under control with a BMI of 19.5-24.9.
- Avoid chronic stress, as it can raise your blood pressure.
- Spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Control your salt intake; consume no more than 2,300 mg each day.
- Limit or avoid alcohol consumption.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
Special Advise
- Regular monitoring of blood pressure levels, kidney function and electrolyte levels while taking Candesartan is advised.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: The blood exerts increased pressure on the walls of blood vessels leading to hypertension. High blood pressure is expressed as systolic/diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats or pumps blood out. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries between the heartbeats. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) by a blood pressure monitor called a sphygmomanometer. Some of the symptoms are headache, dizziness, nosebleeds, altered vision, chest pain, weakness, and shortness of breath. However, most of the time, the signs and symptoms of hypertension are none.
Heart failure: Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to the other parts of the body. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and swollen legs.
FAQs
Candesartan contains Candesartan which works by blocking the action of a hormone called angiotensin II thereby preventing blood vessels from narrowing, in turn lowering the blood pressure and improving the overall blood flow.
It is recommended not to stop taking Candesartan without consulting your doctor on your own as it may lead to a rise in blood pressure. Continue taking Candesartan for as long as your doctor prescribes it. Do not hesitate to speak with your doctor if you experience difficulty taking Candesartan.
High blood pressure increases the workload on the arteries and heart. If untreated, it could damage the heart, brain, and kidney's blood vessels, resulting in a stroke, heart failure or kidney failure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart attacks. Therefore, anti-hypertensives such as Candesartan are used to lower the blood pressure to normal; this reduces the risk of developing these disorders.
Avoid taking diuretics with Candesartan unless prescribed by the doctor.
Talk to your doctor before taking potassium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretics or salt substitutes along with Candesartan as it might cause an increase in serum potassium and serum creatinine levels.
Quit smoking & alcohol, do regular exercise and eat proper food; making these important lifestyle changes can help your heart's health.
