Irbesartan Irbesartan is a medicine widely used to treat high blood pressure. Irbesartan helps to prevent future strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. This medicine is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets. NHS coronavirus adviceIf you have coronavirus, or think you might have it, keep taking your blood pressure medicines as usual. There is no clear evidence that taking angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) like irbesartan will cause complications. Updated: 17 March 2020 Key facts
Who can and cannot take irbesartan Irbesartan can be taken by adults aged 18 and over. Your doctor may prescribe irbesartan if you've tried taking blood pressure-lowering medicines called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as ramipril and lisinopril, in the past but had to stop taking them because of side effects such as a dry, irritating cough. Irbesartan isn't suitable for some people. To make sure irbesartan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
Take irbesartan tablets once a day. Your doctor may suggest that you take your first dose before bedtime, because it can make you dizzy. After the very first dose, you can take irbesartan at any time of day. Try to take it at the same time every day. You can take irbesartan tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. How much will I take?The dose of irbesartan you take depends on why you need the medicine. Take it as instructed by your doctor. The usual dose is 150mg to 300mg once a day. If you are over 75, or you have liver or kidney problems, your dose may be lower. Will my dose go up or down?After a few weeks your doctor will check your blood pressure and ask you if you're getting any side effects. You may also have blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working and the amount of potassium in your blood. Your doctor will then decide whether to change your dose of irbesartan. If irbesartan doesn't get your blood pressure down, your doctor may want to increase the dose. If your blood pressure gets too low or you get side effects, your doctor may want to lower your irbesartan dose. ImportantTake irbesartan even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits of the medicine. If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting for any reason, contact your doctor or a pharmacist. They’ll be able to advise you about what to do. They may recommend that you stop taking irbesartan until you’re better, and you’re able to eat and drink normally again. What if I forget to take it?If you miss a dose of irbesartan, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. What if I take too much?If you take too many irbesartan tablets by accident, contact your doctor or go to your nearest hospital straight away. An overdose of irbesartan can cause low blood pressure and changes in heart rate. The amount of irbesartan that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Contact a doctor or go to A&E as soon as possible if:
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance. Take the irbesartan packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you. Side effects Like all medicines, irbesartan can cause side effects although not everyone gets them. Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine. Common side effectsThese common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people:
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away. Serious side effectsIt happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects after taking irbesartan. Call a doctor straight away if you have:
Serious allergic reactionIn rare cases, irbesartan may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). These are not all the side effects of irbesartan. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. How to cope with side effects What to do about:
Pregnancy and breastfeeding Irbesartan is not normally recommended in pregnancy or when breastfeeding. However, your doctor may prescribe it if they think the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks. If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking irbesartan. These will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take it. There may be other treatments that are safer for you. For more information about how irbesartan can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website. Irbesartan and breastfeedingSmall amounts of irbesartan may get into breast milk. This can cause low blood pressure in the baby. Talk to your doctor, as other medicines might be better while you are breastfeeding. Cautions with other medicines Some medicines interfere with the way irbesartan works. Tell your doctor if you're taking:
Mixing irbesartan with herbal remedies or supplementsThere's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with irbesartan. For safety, speak to your pharmacist or doctor before taking any herbal or alternative remedies with irbesartan. How does irbesartan work? How long does irbesartan take to work? How long will I take it for? Is it safe to take for a long time? What will happen if I stop taking it? Can I come off irbesartan now my blood pressure is lower? Can taking sartans increase the risk of getting cancer? Can I drink alcohol with irbesartan? Is there any food or drink I should avoid? Are there similar medicines to irbesartan? What are the differences between irbesartan and other medicines for high blood pressure? Can I take irbesartan before surgery? Can I take irbesartan for migraines? Can I take irbesartan to protect myself against Alzheimers disease? Is irbesartan addictive? Will it affect my sex life? Will it affect my fertility? Will it affect my contraception? Can I drive or ride a bike? Can lifestyle changes help? BestCareCompare | ||||||
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