Micardis (telmisartan) is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) used to lower blood pressure and to prevent cardiovascular complications in at-risk patients. The medication comes in tablets which are taken once per day.

Note that Micardis is known to cause birth defects and stillbirths if taken while pregnant; it should not be used if trying to conceive. If pregnancy is discovered during treatment, treatment should stop immediately and a doctor should be consulted.

Managing Blood Pressure with Micardis

High blood pressure is a serious condition which, if untreated, can lead to range of severe health problems and even death. Patients suffering from high blood pressure often experience no symptoms until a major medical event occurs. Medications like Micardis lower blood pressure and reduce strain on the heart, preventing damage to organs and significantly reducing risk of heart attack or stroke.

As with all high blood pressure medications, treatment with Micardis will need to be individualized. Blood pressure will need to be checked frequently during the first few months of treatment to establish an effective dose and ensure no complications are developing. Age, weight, other medications being taken, and other individual variables will also need to be taken into account when determining the ideal course of treatment.

In otherwise healthy adults, treatment with Micardis is typically as follows:

• Start with 40 mg once per day.
• After two weeks results should be evaluated. If needed, dosage may adjusted down to 20 mg per day or up to 80 mg per day.
• Results should be evaluated again after two weeks. If blood pressure is still too high at 80 mg per day, adding another hypertension medication---such as a diuretic---will produce greater results than further increasing the dosage of Micardis.
• Tablets may be taken with or without food as desired.

Treatment is typically long term, often spanning years or even for the remainder of life if the underlying issues are not addressed. Lifestyle changes to further lower blood pressure are usually encouraged along with treatment, and if successful treatment may eventually end.

Reducing Cardiovascular Risk with Micardis

In this application Micardis is typically prescribed to patients age 55 and up who are at high risk of heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular events. Common risk factors indicating Micardis may provide benefit include diabetes with evidence of organ damage, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and personal or family history of stroke, transient ischemic attack ('mini'-stroke), or heart attack.

Treatment is straightforward:

• The ideal, target dose is 80 mg per day, taken once per day.
• Patients may be started on lower doses, gradually increased over two to four weeks.
• Blood pressure should be checked regularly, particularly if other hypertension medications are being taken.

When used to reduce cardiovascular risk Micardis is usually taken for the remainder of life.

Warnings & Side Effects

As Micardis lowers blood pressure, many patients will experience some symptoms of low blood pressure at the start of treatment. Symptoms include dizziness, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, and less commonly, mild confusion. These side effects are not cause for concern unless severe, and usually stop occurring after several weeks of treatment as the body adjusts to its new, lower blood pressure.

Micardis can increase levels of potassium in the blood. This is a concern for patients who have conditions or are taking medications that also increase potassium levels; the condition will need to be monitored closely and alternative hypertension treatments may need to be considered.

As mentioned above, Micardis can produce birth defects and stillbirths if taken while pregnant.

Micardis can interact with a wide range of other medications, including those used to treat related conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, other blood pressure medications, and over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin. Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medications while taking Micardis.