Candesartan tablets are used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure or reduced heart muscle function. It is available in 4mg, 8mg, 16mg and 32mg tablets. The medicine contains candesartan cilexetil as its active ingredient, which belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists.
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to candesartan cilexetil or any of the other ingredients, if you have severe liver disease, diabetes, impaired kidney function, if you are already being treated with a blood pressure lowering medicine. If you are intolerant towards some sugars, you should avoid this medicine as it contains lactose.
You are advised not to take Candesartan tablets if you are more than 3 months pregnant.
Inform your doctor if you suffer from any condition such as heart, liver or kidney problems, diarrhoea, low blood pressure or if you are on any medication currently.
Candesartan tablets can cause side effects, though rare, they include; - Feeling dizzy - Respiratory infection - Low blood pressure - Increased potassium in your blood
If you experience more severe side effects such as a severe allergic reaction that causes difficulty in breathing, with or without swelling of the throat, tongue, lips and face or severe itching of the skin with raised lumps, you must seek medical help immediately.
Candesartan should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Take the tablet whole with water, with or without food. It must be taken everyday.
To treat high blood pressure, the recommended dose is 8mg once a day, which may be increased subsequently depending on your response.
To treat heart failure, the recommended dose is 4mg once a day, which may be increased up to 32mg once a day.
For children aged 6 to 18 years of age, the usual recommended dose is 4mg once a day.
If you take more tablets than you are prescribed, contact your doctor for advice. In case you forget to take a tablet, continue to take the next dose as normal, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Before stopping the medication, consult your doctor.
Candesartan tablets contain the active ingredient candesartan cilexetil, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist.
Angiotensin II acts on special receptors in the body, causing peripheral blood vessels to narrow and stimulating the production of the hormone aldosterone, which causes salt and water retention in the kidneys. Candesartan blocks these receptors, resulting in the peripheral blood vessels widening, and increasing the amount of fluid removed from the blood, lowering the blood pressure. By lowering blood pressure, the heart is able to pump blood around the body more efficiently.
