Azilsartan
Description
Azilsartan is an anti-hypertensive medicine. It is used alone or in combination with other medications for the treatment of hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. This medicine improves the blood flow by relaxing the blood vessels.
Azilsartan shows side effects like nausea, fatigue, diarrhoea, etc. Consult your doctor if these side effects bother you for a long time or become severe. Avoid driving vehicles or operating machines as this medicine can make you feel dizzy.
Azilsartan may be taken with or without food. Your doctor will determine the dose based on the severity of your condition. Take it around the same time every day to maintain a constant level of the medicine in your body and for the ease of remembering. Follow a strict diet and exercise regime for better control of your blood pressure. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor, as it may cause an increase in blood pressure and worsen your condition.
Azilsartan is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. If you have kidney or liver problems or hyperkalaemia (high blood potassium levels), inform your doctor before taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you are taking any other medicines to avoid undesired effects.
Azilsartan is unsafe for use during pregnancy. Also, consult your doctor if you are planning a pregnancy or are breastfeeding. This medicine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically established.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Azilsartan
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Sweating
- Blurred vision
- Muscle spasm
Uses of Azilsartan
What is it prescribed for?
- Hypertension
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time taken for Azilsartan to show its effect is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectAzilsartan may remain in your body for approximately 2-3 days.
- Safe with alcohol?Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Azilsartan as it may lower your blood pressure and can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, and/or changes in heart rate.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Azilsartan.
- Usage in pregnancy?Azilsartan is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can harm your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?It is not known whether Azilsartan passes into the breastmilk. Consult your doctor for further guidance if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Azilsartan is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Aliskiren
Aliskiren is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. Coadministration of Aliskiren and Azilsartan is not recommended due to the increased risk of serious side effects. This risk is especially higher in the elderly and in people having diabetes and/or kidney problems.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Azilsartan is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can harm your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether Azilsartan passes into the breastmilk. Consult your doctor for further guidance if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Hyperkalaemia
Azilsartan should be used with caution as it may cause hyperkalaemia (an increase in the potassium levels in the blood). This may cause complications related to the heart or kidneys. Your doctor may suggest tests to closely monitor your potassium levels if necessary while taking this medicine.
Low blood pressure
Azilsartan may cause hypotension (low blood pressure) in some people who have dehydration or high urinary output. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine based on your clinical condition.
Kidney impairment
Azilsartan should be used with caution if you have kidney problems as a diseased kidney will not be able to filter the medicine properly. This can increase the risk of toxicity. Your doctor will monitor your kidney functions closely and/or adjust your dose if required.
Use in children
Azilsartan is not recommended for use in children less than 18 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically known.
Liver disease
Azilsartan is broken down in your liver. Hence, it should be used with caution if you have impaired liver function. This may increase the level of the unused medicine in your blood, causing an increased risk of side effects.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose of Azilsartan as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Azilsartan.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Azilsartan as it may lower your blood pressure and can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, and/or changes in heart rate.
Interaction with Medicine
Captopril
Insulin
Trimethoprim
Disease interactions
Angioedema
Azilsartan should be used with caution if you have a history of angioedema (swelling of the deep layers of the skin) as this medicine can trigger or aggravate it.
Congestive heart failure
Azilsartan should be used with extreme caution if you have congestive heart failure (the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently) due to the increased risk of kidney damage and myocardial ischemia (a condition that occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed). Thus it may further worsen your condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Azilsartan with or without food. Never take more than the prescribed dose. Take this medicine at around the same time every day to avoid missing the dose.
Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor, as it may worsen your condition.
Azilsartan may cause high blood potassium levels. Hence, avoid potassium-rich food while taking this medicine.
Inform your doctor if you experience any side effects that persist or worsen.
This medicine can cause dizziness, so get up slowly from a sitting position to avoid feeling dizzy.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Azilsartan works by blocking the action of a natural substance in the body that causes the narrowing of the blood vessels. Thus it promotes a smooth flow of blood.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Angiotensin receptor blockers, Anti-hypertensive Agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 December 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Azilsartan: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 27 December 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - EDARBI- azilsartan kamedoxomil tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 December 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Edarbi Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 December 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 28 Feb 2022
Disclaimer
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