Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide
About
Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide belongs to the class of anti-hypertensives primarily taken for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). Hypertension or high blood pressure is a life-long or chronic condition in which the force exerted by the blood against the artery wall becomes too high. It can lead to the risk of heart diseases, like heart attack and stroke.
Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide is a combination of Telmisartan (angiotensin II receptor antagonist) and Hydrochlorothiazide (thiazide diuretic or water pill). Telmisartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker that helps to relax and widen the blood vessels (arteries). Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that prevents absorption of excess salt in the body, preventing fluid retention. Together it lowers blood pressure and prevents the risk of stroke, heart attack and oedema (fluid retention).
You can take Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide with food or empty stomach. It should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Your doctor will advise you how often you take your tablets based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience dizziness, feeling tired, nausea, diarrhoea, back pain, and cold/flu symptoms. Most of these side effects of Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Do not use potassium supplements or its salt substitutes, unless the doctor has told you. In rare cases, Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide can cause a condition that results in the skeletal muscle problem, leading to further to kidney failure. If you notice unexplained muscle pain, dark colour urine, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or unexplained tiredness, immediately contact the doctor. Do not use if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, stop taking Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide and tell your doctor right away. Besides this, you should not use Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide if you are unable to urinate. If you have diabetes, do not use Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine). Before taking Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide, tell your doctor if you have ever had liver disease, kidney failure, glaucoma, high or low levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood, have allergies or asthma, lupus (an autoimmune disease), diabetes, or an allergy to penicillin or sulfa drugs.
Uses of Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide
Medicinal Benefits
Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels (arteries) making the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. It helps to lower high blood pressure thus reduces the chances of future heart attack and stroke. Besides this, it prevents excessive water and electrolytes (like sodium, potassium etc.) from the body through urine that can raise high blood pressure.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide
- Dizziness
- Feeling tired
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Back pain
- Cold/flu symptoms
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide should not be given to the people allergic to Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide, have low blood pressure (less than 90 mm of Hg), have had a heart attack, kidney disease, liver disease, pregnant women, or planning to get pregnant and breastfeeding women. It should be used with caution in patients suffering from diabetes. Besides this, it is contraindicated in low blood pressure (hypotension), cardiogenic shock (sudden stopping of blood flow to the heart), and aortic stenosis (heart valve problem). Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide can pass into breast milk, but its effect on the baby is not known. So, it is better to tell your doctor if you are taking Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide and breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug interaction: This medicine may have an interaction with medicines used to treat mood disorders (lithium), medicines used to treat heart disorders (digoxin), antidiabetic medicines (metformin, insulin), medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction (sildenafil), medicines used to lower cholesterol levels (such as simvastatin), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine), and other anti-hypertensive medicines (aliskiren, enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril),
Drug-Food Interaction: Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide may interact with high potassium-containing food and drinks. So, if you are using any of the OTC items, please tell your doctor.
Drug-Disease Interaction: The efficacy of Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide is affected, and the disease condition may even worsen if taken in patients with a recent or history of heart attack, low blood pressure, low potassium level, low electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium etc.), anuria (non-passage of urine), angioedema (an allergic condition with swelling under the skin), lupus (an autoimmune disease), kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide to avoid unpleasant side effects like drowsiness, dizziness and liver damage.
Pregnancy
unsafeTelmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended during pregnancy. This medicine may cause fetal damage and can affect the unborn baby (foetus).
Breast Feeding
cautionTelmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide is known to pass breast milk, but, its effect on the baby is not known. So, before breastfeeding, let your doctor know about this.
Driving
unsafeDrive with caution, Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide usually causes drowsiness and affects driving ability.
Liver
cautionTelmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide to be taken with caution, especially if you have or have had a history of liver disease. Your doctor will have to change the dosage depending on your medical condition and your reaction to treatment.
Kidney
unsafeNot recommended in patients with chronic kidney disease (severe renal impairment). Safety and effectiveness in patients with severe renal impairment have not been established.
Children
safe if prescribedTelmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide can be given safely to children aged 6 - 12 years provided; dose has been prescribed by a child specialist.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with BMI 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Limit intake of sodium chloride (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol then only one serving for women and two servings for men is advisable.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spent time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation then immediately contact your doctor.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids containing food drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil can help in lowering your elevated blood pressure.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: It is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Blood pressure is the measurement of the force that our heart uses to pump blood to all parts of the body. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, high blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer. Systolic pressure is the pressure when the heart pumps blood out. On the other hand, diastolic pressure is the pressure when your heart is at the resting stage between heartbeats. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mm of Hg, it means the systolic pressure is 140 mm of Hg and, diastolic pressure is 90 mm of Hg. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60 mm of Hg and 120/80 mm of Hg.
FAQs
No, you are advised to inform your doctor and monitor your blood pressure for at least two weeks before stopping the medicine. Depending upon your current blood pressure readings, there is a possibility your doctor may lower your medicine dosage and not recommend to discontinue it.
Yes, Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide can cause ankle swelling in some cases which can be due to oedema (fluid retention). If you feel the swelling is persistent, please inform your doctor.
Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide can be safely taken as long as your doctor has prescribed it to you. Conditions such as high blood pressure are life-long conditions, and one should not abruptly discontinue it without discussing it with a doctor.
Yes, Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide can cause dizziness. It is advised to avoid driving or operate any heavy machinery while taking Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide. In case you feel dizzy or lightheaded, it is advised to rest for some time until you feel better.
You should not take Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide if you have ever had liver disease, kidney failure, glaucoma, high or low levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood, have allergies or asthma, lupus (an autoimmune disease), diabetes, or allergic to penicillin or sulfa drugs, anuria (reduction or absence of urine) and pregnant women in their second or third trimesters. Besides this avoid using Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide (in case of diabetes) with aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine) as it can lead to a life-threatening condition.
In case, you have missed a dose of Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide, you are advised to take it as soon as you remember. However, try not to miss a dose in the first place, if it's time for you to take your next dose, then do not take both the doses together. Take only one dose, taking a double dose of Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide will lead to low blood pressure.
No, it is not recommended to take Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide if you are pregnant as it can cause damage to the unborn baby (may lead to fetal toxicity).
Yes, prolonged intake of Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide can cause an increase in blood potassium level. So, patients taking Telmisartan+hydrochlorothiazide should avoid taking supplements and food rich in potassium to avoid any unpleasant side-effect.
