Product Details

What you need to know before you take Olmesartan

DO NOT take Olmesartan: • If you are allergic to olmesartan medoxomil or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). • If you are more than 3 months pregnant. It is also better to avoid olmesartan tablets in early pregnancy – see pregnancy section. • If you suffer from yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) or problems with drainage of the bile from the gallbladder (biliary obstruction e.g. gallstones). • If you have diabetes or impaired kidney function and you are treated with a blood pressure lowering medicine containing aliskiren. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor before taking olmesartan. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Olmesartan • if you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure: – an ACE-inhibitor (for example enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), in particular if you have diabetes-related kidney problems – aliskiren Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and the amount of electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals. See also information under the heading “DO NOT take Olmesartan“ Tell your doctor if you: • have kidney problems • have liver disease • have heart failure or problems with your heart valves or heart muscle • suffer from severe vomiting • have diarrhoea • are on treatment with high doses of water tablets (diuretics) • are on a low salt diet • have increased levels of potassium in your blood • have problems with your adrenal glands Contact your doctor if you experience diarrhoea that is severe, persistent and causes substantial weight loss. Your doctor may evaluate your symptoms and decide on how to continue your blood pressure medication. As with any medicine that reduces blood pressure, an excessive drop in blood pressure in patients with blood flow disturbances of the heart or brain could lead to a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will therefore check your blood pressure carefully. You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Olmesartan is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage (see pregnancy section). Children and adolescents Olmesartan has been studied in children and adolescents. For more information, talk to your doctor. Olmesartan is not recommended for children from 1 year to less than 6 years and should not be used in children under the age of 1 year as no experience is available. Elderly people If you are over 65 years of age and your doctor decides to increase your dose of olmesartan medoxomil to 40 mg daily, you need to have your blood pressure regularly checked by your doctor to make sure that it does not become too low. Black patients As with other similar drugs the blood pressure lowering effect of olmesartan is somewhat less in black patients. Other medicines and Olmesartan Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist about any of the following: • other blood pressure lowering medicines, as the effect of olmesartan can be increased. Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions: If you are taking an ACE-inhibitor or aliskiren (see also information under the headings “DO NOT take Olmesartan” and “Warnings and precautions”). • potassium supplements, a salt substitute which contains potassium, water tablets (diuretics) or heparin (for thinning the blood). Using these medicines at the same time as olmesartan may raise the levels of potassium in your blood. • lithium (a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression) used at the same time as olmesartan may increase the toxicity of lithium. If you have to take lithium, your doctor will measure your lithium blood levels. • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis. If used at the same time as olmesartan you may have an increased risk of kidney failure and in addition, the effect of olmesartan can be decreased by NSAIDs. • colesevelam hydrochloride, a drug that lowers the level of cholesterol in your blood, as the effect of olmesartan may be decreased. Your doctor may advise you to take olmesartan at least 4 hours before colesevelam hydrochloride. • certain antacids (indigestion remedies), as the effect of olmesartan can be slightly decreased. Olmesartan with food Olmesartan can be taken with or without food. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Pregnancy You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking olmesartan before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of olmesartan. Olmesartan is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used after the third month of pregnancy. Breast-feeding Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Olmesartan is not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breastfeed, especially if your baby is newborn, or was born prematurely. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines You may feel sleepy or dizzy while being treated for your high blood pressure. If this happens, do not drive or use machines until the symptoms wear off. Ask your doctor for advice. Olmesartan contains lactose This medicine contains lactose (a type of sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.