Benicar and/or Equivalents

Benicar (Olmesartan)

Benicar Drug Description

Benicar is the brand name for the drug Olmesartan that is used in hypertensive invidividuals. It is also sometimes prescribed to children with congenital defects. The main drug in benicar is olmesartan medoxomil. It also contains other inactive contents in the form of lactose, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, talc, titanium dioxide, and negligible amount of yellow iron oxide.

Conditions Treated by Benicar

Benicar is used to lower increased blood pressure and improves the blood circulation. Benicar is useful in both adult and pediatric cases. Maintaining an optimum level of blood pressure is critical for the prevention of various heart diseases, stroke and kidney-related conditions. Olmesartan, which is the main content in Benicar, is part of a drug category called angiotensin receptor blockers. These help to relax blood vessels, thereby increasing the blood circulation. Hence they are highly effective in patients with elevated blood pressure.

Benicar Dosage Information

a.) Typical Dosage Recommendations

The prescribed doses can vary between different patients. Medicines must never be shared. Two people taking the same medication might require different dosages to treat their individual condition. Overall there are some commonly accepted standards. The initial dosage for Benicar is normally 20mg. Over the course of few weeks, depending on the blood pressure, this dosage could be increased to 40mg if needed. This seems to be the optimal level, as doses above 40mg are not found that effective. Many times, Benicar might be given, as part of a treatment regime, hence there might be other prescribed drugs to be taken. If the doctor has recommended certain time schedules for the drugs, these must be adhered to as generally the recommendations are provided to help deal with any likely side effects. Benicar need not be consumed specifically with food. Benicar comes in the form of a yellow film-coated tablet of 5 mg each of olmesartan medoxomil. Some are also white, film-coated tablets and contain 20 mg of olmesartan medoxomil. A third higher dose tablet having 40 mg of olmesartan medoxomil is also available. Benicar is also available in liquid form that needs to be taken in a specific measuring spoon.

b.) Missing a Dose

Patients often miss doses, especially in the initial stages when they are trying to adjust to a medication. It is often a good idea to take the medication at the same time daily. This helps to include taking the medication, as a normal part of the routine. However if due to some reason a dose is missed, then the patient should take the dose as soon as remembered. If however it is almost time for the next dose, it best to simply wait and then take the next one.

c.) Overdosing

If there is overdose of Benicar, leading to any unexpected reactions, immediate medical help must be taken. No self-medications must be tried as it could further complicate the situation. The most common indication of Benicar overdosage is excessive giddiness and fainting due to hypotension and tachycardia or a very fast heart beat.

Benicar Warnings

Benicar is not recommended for pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers. The unborn fetus is quite delicate and it could easily be affected by any unnatural external stimulus, including drugs. This can pose risks to development of the baby hence mostly medications must not be taken during pregnancy. It is better to avoid alcohol when Benicar is recommended as alcohol can interfere with the blood pressure. Potassium or sodium supplements must be avoided when Benicar is being taken. Patients also often complain of a dizzy feeling when they do fast movements. While on Benicar, it is better to avoid rapid movements. Lifestyle modifications would also have to be done such as performing only moderate to mild exercises rather than any intensive form of workouts. Doctors will usually provide due advice regarding the same when they prescribe Benicar.

Benicar Side Effects

Most of the drugs have some kind of side effect. A lot of times, the side effects are simply the body's response to a new drug and gradually the side effects might subside. However if the severity of the side effects is too high, then alternative treatments or home remedies, lifestyle changes might be recommended. The patient must always keep the doctor informed regarding any side effects he/she might be experiencing. Benicar has some side effects associated with it such as:

• feeling giddy and overall lightheadedness
• Benicar also affects the kidney hence there could be less urination after taking the drug

If Benicar causes, severe itchiness, swelling of throat or mouth or tongue and breathlessness then this could be an allergic reaction to the drug. This can lead to several complications if left untreated. Therefore emergency medical help will have to be taken.

Possible Drug Interactions with Benicar

The chemical processes resulting from multiple drugs can have varied reactions, hence whenever more than one drug is being taken it is best to exercise caution. When the doctor takes a detailed medical history, usually this point is covered. However the patient must ensure that he or she mentions about any non-prescription drugs such as herbal medicines that he or she might be taking. Two, highly divergent medications could also interact and cause adverse reactions. At times the drug interactions might even cause a reduced effectiveness of the drug. Products containing Lithium definitely interact with Benicar. Even potassium is known to interact with the drug; therefore "water pills" or diuretics such as , Midamor (amiloride ) and Dyrenium (triamterene) may have a drug interaction with Benicar. Also it must be kept in mind that Benicar is used to lower elevated hypertension. But there are some other medications and even activities that might lower the blood pressure. Even daily consumption products and drugs could result in lowered blood pressure. This, in addition to Benicar could result in hypotension and excessively fast heart beats. Therefore it is recommended that patients read all food and drug labels before consuming them, to see if they have any effect on the blood pressure.

If you have any questions about buying discount Benicar online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Benicar and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information