Irbesartan
Description
Irbesartan is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of high blood pressure in adults and children above the age of 6 years. It is also used to treat kidney problems associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (a condition in which there is an increased blood sugar level). Irbesartan relaxes your blood vessels and promotes the smooth flow of blood by blocking the hormone responsible for increasing blood pressure.
Irbesartan may cause some side effects like tiredness, unusual weakness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Most of these side effects are temporary and subside with time. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, consult your doctor. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to it.
Irbesartan is usually taken once a day with or without food. The dose and duration of treatment will be determined by your doctor. You should not stop taking Irbesartan without consulting your doctor as it may worsen your condition.
Irbesartan can interact with other medical conditions and medications. Inform your doctor if you have liver, heart and kidney problems, diabetes, or if you are under any medication. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Irbesartan
- Increased potassium levels
- Dizziness
- Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet
- Difficulty in breathing
- Orthostatic Hypotension
- Increased heart beat
- Rash
- Pharyngitis
- Heartburn
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Diarrhoea
- Dark colored urine
- Stomach pain
Uses of Irbesartan
What is it prescribed for?
- Hypertension
- Diabetic Nephropathy
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of Irbesartan can be observed within one to two hours of administration of the dose.
- Duration of effectThe effect of Irbesartan lasts for an average duration of 24 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported for Irbesartan.
- Usage in pregnancy?Irbesartan is not recommended during pregnancy, as it may cause complications in the development of your foetus. Your doctor may advise a safer alternative with the same medicinal effect based on your clinical condition.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Irbesartan is not recommended if you are breastfeeding as is not known if passes into breastmilk. Your doctor may advise a safer alternative with the same medicinal effect based on your clinical condition.
Allergy
Irbesartan is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention you experience symptoms such as skin rashes, swelling (especially of the face, lips, tongue, etc.), breathing difficulty, etc.
Aliskiren
Aliskiren is a medicine that is used to reduce high blood pressure. Coadministration of Irbesartan and aliskiren is not recommended as it may increase the risk of serious side effects such as kidney problems, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels in your blood which in severe cases can lead to kidney failure, muscle paralysis, irregular heart rhythm, and cardiac arrest (sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness). This risk is especially higher in the elderly and in people with diabetes and kidney problems.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Irbesartan is not recommended during pregnancy, as it may cause complications in the development of your foetus. Your doctor may advise a safer alternative with the same medicinal effect based on your clinical condition.
Breast-feeding
Irbesartan is not recommended if you are breastfeeding as is not known if passes into breastmilk. Your doctor may advise a safer alternative with the same medicinal effect based on your clinical condition.
General warnings
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalaemia is high blood potassium levels in your body. Irbesartan could lead to hyperkalemia which may result in kidney failure, muscle paralysis, irregular heart rhythm, and cardiac arrest (sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness). It is important to maintain adequate fluid intake during treatment with this medicine. Your doctor will suggest tests to regularly monitor your potassium levels while you are on this medication.
Use in children
Irbesartan is not recommended for use in children below 6 years of age, since the safety and efficacy data is unavailable.
Renal artery stenosis
Renal artery stenosis is the narrowing of one or more arteries that carry blood to your kidneys. Irbesartan should be used with caution if you have renal artery stenosis as this medicine will alter the flow of the blood to the kidneys, which may lead to improper filtering of the blood. Your blood urea and serum creatinine levels will be closely monitored by your doctor while you are on treatment with this medicine.
Liver disease
Take Irbesartan with extreme caution if you have liver problems due to the risk of liver damage. Close monitoring of liver function is necessary while using this medicine. Your doctor might adjust the dose if required.
Kidney disease
Irbesartan should be used with caution if you have kidney problems. This medicine is excreted through urine. Using this medicine while you have kidney problems will lead to its accumulation in your body. This can cause permanent damage to your kidneys and worsen your condition.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take the dose of Irbesartan at a given time, then take it as soon as you remember. Do not take the dose if it has been more than 6 hours after missing a dose. Make sure that you remember to take your next dose when it is due. Do not take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Overdose of Irbesartan may cause headache, confusion, fever, change in the heartbeat, nausea, vomiting etc. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice these symptoms.
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
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Insulin
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI's)
Diclofenac
Potassium sparing diuretics
Trimethoprim
Disease interactions
Hypotension
Hypotension is a decrease in your blood pressure. Irbesartan will further reduce your blood pressure which can be fatal, especially if you have low levels of sodium in your body or if you have low fluid volumes due to excessive vomiting, diarrhoea, burns, kidney failure, etc.
Angioedema
Angioedema is the rapid swelling of the area beneath the skin because of fluid retention. Irbesartan has to be used with caution as it may cause your body to retain excess water, which could lead to swelling in certain places like the face, eyes, lips, tongue or legs.
Congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscle. Irbesartan should be used with caution if you have congestive heart failure, as it will further reduce your heart’s ability to pump blood leading to very low blood pressure and slow heartbeat.
Food interactions
It is recommended to avoid a high potassium diet during treatment with Irbesartan as this medicine may increase the levels of potassium in your blood. High levels of potassium can cause weakness, irregular heartbeat, confusion, tingling of the extremities, or heaviness in the legs.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Irbesartan with or without food. Do not take in larger amounts than advised. Inform the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Irbesartan relaxes the blood vessels and promotes the smooth flow of blood by blocking the hormone responsible for increasing blood pressure.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Angiotensin receptor blockers
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Irbesartan 75mg film-coated Tablets - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) - (emc). [online] Available at: [Accessed 23 November 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - IRBESARTAN- irbesartan tablet. [online] Available at: [Accessed 23 November 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Irbesartan: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 23 November 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 24 Mar 2023
Disclaimer
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