How Effective and Safe is Benicar in Treating Hypertension?

Benicar also called as olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. It prevents blood vessels to narrow down, thus decreasing blood pressure and they also better the blood flow.

Benicar is effectively used in the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults and children above the age of 6 years. Benicar is also used in combination with other drugs to treat hypertension.

• Benicar is not recommended to patients allergic to olmesartan.
• In patients also having diabetes mellitus, it should not be used in combination with other drugs having aliskiren such as Tekamlo, Tekturna or Amturnide etc…

Also prevent its combination with other drugs having aliskiren in patients having renal complications.

To ensure its safe use for you, consult with physician if you have/had:

• Hepatic disease.
• Dehydration.
• Congestive cardiac failure (CCF).
• Never use it while pregnancy because it can cause serious harm or even death of the fetus if this drug is used during the second or may be the third trimester of pregnancy.
• It is also suspected that this drug gets into the mothers breast milk and if a baby is fed on mother milk it can cause harm to that baby.

Benicar is strictly prohibited during pregnancy because it is highly teratogenic. It can cause serious harm or even death of the fetus if this drug is used during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. In patients also having diabetes mellitus, it should not be used in combination with other drugs having aliskiren in them such as Tekamlo, Amturnide or Tekturna etc…

Use Benicar as instructed by the doctor. You should strictly follow all the instructions on the label while using this drug. However, dosing can be altered in some cases to obtain better results but this should be as directed by the doctor. Don’t use Benicar in smaller or larger quantity, use it for the exact duration as recommended by the doctor.

• It can be taken along with the food.
• Also routinely check your blood pressure during the course.
• Sometimes, your blood pressure can get too low, so immediately consult the physician if develop symptoms such as sickness with diarrhea or vomiting or excessive sweating.
• Keep on taking this medicine even if the patient feels sound and healthy because sometimes hypertension is asymptomatic.
• Store it at 25°C away from heat and moisture.

Maintenance dose of Benicar: 20 mg of Benicar can be taken orally once every 24 hours, which can be increased to 40 mg in 2 weeks if further hypertension reduction is required.

Maximal Benicar dose: up to 40 mg taken orally once every 24 hours.

Caution: In patients with intravascular volume depletion such as diabetic patients being administered with diuretics or patients of impaired kidney function, use this medicine with strict monitoring and preferably lower the starting dose. Distributing daily dose in two has no benefit over a single larger dose every 24 hours.

This dose is recommended for children between ages beginning from 6 and until 16 years:

For children in between the weight of 2 to 35 kgs: A 10 mg of Benicar is given orally once every 24 hours; however, dosing can be increased to 20 mg in 2 weeks if more hypertension reduction is required.

Kids above 35 kgs: A 20 mg of Benicar is given orally once every 24 hours; however, dosing can be increased up to 40 mg in 2 weeks if more hypertension reduction is required.

Caution: In children who are unable to swallow the pills, the dose can be taken using an extemporaneous device.

The usage of Benicar is safe as long as it is prescribed by the doctor. Seek emergency medical aid immediately if you develop symptoms or side effects of allergic response to Benicar like hives; inflammation on your face, difficulty in breathing, and swelling of lips, throat or tongue etc. Consult your doctor immediately if you have:

• Feelings of lightheadedness.
• Severe or continuous diarrhea with weight loss.
• Low quantity or no urination.
• Inflammation in your feet or hands.
• Chest pain, fast heart rate.