Telmisartan hydrochlorothiazide

Telmisartan hydrochlorothiazide is a combination drug mainly prescribed for the treatment of high blood pressure with no known cause. It is also used in reducing the risk of a patient with a history of coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and stroke from having a heart attack or stroke.

Telmisartan HCT is an angiotensin receptor blocker or ARB. This class of medication is reserved for people who are unable to tolerate other anti-hypertensive medications such as ACE or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. As an ARB, this medicine works by blocking the action of angiotensin II in the body. Angiotensin hormone normally acts on the peripheral blood vessels causing it to become narrow. It also stimulates the production of aldosterone hormone which causes the salt and water to be retained in the kidney. This increases the volume of fluid in the blood vessels and may lead to hypertension.

Blocking the action of angiotensin prevents the blood vessel from narrowing. It also reduces the action of aldosterone on the kidney. As a result, more fluid is removed from the blood, blood pressure is reduced and the heart doesn’t have to pump blood hard.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that belongs to the group of drugs known as thiazide diuretics. This type of drug acts directly on your kidney in order to increase urine production. It works by causing your kidney to increase the amount of water and salt being filtered out of the blood and into the urine. Removing excess water from the blood decreases the fluid volume that circulates throughout the blood vessels. The combined action of Telmisartan and HCT can effectively treat high blood pressure. It may also be used for other purposes as determined by your physician.

Why Buy Telmisartan HCT?

Telmisartan hydrochlorothiazide is a good blood pressure-lowering medicine that helps protect the kidney with fewer side effects. It works similarly as an ACE inhibitor but it doesn’t cause coughing effects. At the same time, it is especially useful for elderly patients with mild to moderate kidney disease or diabetes.

Telmisartan is the generic version of the brand name Micardis plus that was approved for the treatment of high blood pressure and reducing the risk of patients from having a stroke or heart attack.

How to Take Telmisartan HCT?

Take Telmisartan exactly as prescribed by your physician. Your dosage and the duration of your treatment are based on your condition. The initial treatment for high blood pressure is 80mg/12.5mg of Telmisartan HCT once a day. Your doctor can increase your dose if needed.

Take this with a drink of water. If it upsets your stomach, you can take it with food. Take it at the same time each day. Do not take this medication in a large amount or longer than the prescribed time. To help monitor your condition, your doctor will have to check your blood pressure regularly so do not miss a schedule. Keep using Telmisartan even if you feel well. Do not stop taking it without informing your doctor as this can cause your blood pressure to suddenly rise. For a missed dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take an extra dose to make up for the missed one.

What are the side effects of Telmisartan HCT?

Stop using Telmisartan HCT and contact your doctor as soon as possible if you will experience any of the following serious side effects:

• Rapid weight gain
• Jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Fainting or light-headedness
• Vision problems
• Increased thirst, dry mouth
• Increased urination
• Confusion
• Seizure
• Fast heart rate
• Allergic reaction with signs like difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tongue, lips or throat.

Less serious side effects are:

• Dry cough
• Skin rash
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Back pain

Here are Things to Remember

Use Telmisartan HCT with caution in patients with:

• Severe heart failure
• Diabetes
• Mild to moderately decreased liver function
• Low volume of salt or fluid in the body due to dehydration, diarrhea, low salt diet, diuretics therapy, kidney dialysis
• Gout
• Glaucoma
• Mitral valve stenosis or heart valve disease
• History of asthma
• Narrowing of the main artery that leaves the heart to supply blood to the kidney or renal artery stenosis
• History of allergies
• Heart disease due to not enough blood flow to the heart or ischaemic heart disease
• Systemic lupus erythematosus where there is long-term inflammation of some internal organs and the skin

Do not among patients with:

• Severely decreased kidney and liver function
• Low potassium level in the blood
• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding women
• Cholestasis or failure of the normal flow of bile from the liver to the intestines
• Blockage of the bile duct or biliary obstruction
• High blood pressure due to a high level of aldosterone and who do not respond to Telmisartan.
• Rare hereditary problems such as Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
• Inherited intolerance to fructose in the diet

Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while under medication. Alcohols can lower your blood pressure and may increase the side effects of this drug. Avoid becoming dehydrated during a hot weather o exercise by drinking plenty of fluid. Avoid taking salt or potassium supplements while under medication unless you are told to do so.

Inform your doctor if you are taking other medications including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements as they can interact with Telmisartan HCT.

In rare cases, long-term use of Telmisartan HCT may result in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue or kidney failure. In case of muscle pain, weakness or tenderness along with fever, nausea, vomiting, and dark-colored urine, inform your doctor right away.

Telmisartan HCT has an FDA category D warning for pregnant women. This drug is not recommended for pregnant women as this can cause harm or even death to an unborn baby. If you suspect you are pregnant, stop taking this right away and call your doctor.