Candesartan

About Candesartan

Candesartan is used to manage high blood pressure (hypertension), and heart failure.

You will experience the benefits of this medication some weeks after you start treatment. Candesartan is usually an alternate if your first medicine caused unbearable dry cough.

How does Candesartan work?

Tensed blood vessels play a role in increasing blood pressure. Candesartan prevents this tension by replacing a chemical (angiotensin II) that causes blood vessels to get tense.

Candesartan helps the blood vessels to relax and widen to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.

Useful information

• Heart failure occurs when the power with which the heart beats to pump blood to the body reduces. This makes you easily fatigued and fluid to build up in your legs or chest (edema). High blood pressure and other heart diseases can cause heart failure if not managed.

What are the side-effects I may experience?

You may experience:

• Headache

• Dizziness

  You may experience dizziness when you start taking candesartan. You can take it in the evening or when sitting down to manage this effect.

• Cough

• Sore throat

Useful information

You should not abruptly stop taking any high blood pressure medications. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if any side effects of medications become unbearable.

Are there any medications and foods I should avoid?

• You may eat normally while taking candesartan. Excess salt can cause hypertension. It is advisable to reduce your salt intake.

• Alcohol can worsen dizzy side effects. Alcohol also worsens high blood pressure. Consumption of alcohol is therefore not recommended.

I forgot a dose. What should I do?

If you forget to take your prescription, take it as soon as you remember.

If you miss a dose, don’t take a double dose.

If your next dose is approaching, skip the missed dose and take the next one.

Can I drive or operate machinery?

Your driving ability can be impaired when your dose is changed, when you start using candesartan.

Alcohol can worsen this effect.

Should I be bothered about possible addiction or dependence?

Candesartan isn’t addictive.

Will my sexual performance, fertility or contraceptive be impaired?

• Candesartan hasn’t been proven to affect sexual performance. Some men may complain of reduced sex drive and difficulty getting erections.

  Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you encounter any problems. You must not stop taking your medications.

• Candesartan doesn’t affect the effectiveness of contraceptives.

  Certain contraceptives are not recommended for women with high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any contraceptives long-term.

• Candesartan has not been proven to affect fertility.

Can I use this medication if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

• You should not take candesartan when pregnant.

  Candesartan can be toxic to your unborn baby’s kidneys and cause retardations.

• Candesartan is secreted in breast milk in very small amounts. There is little information on the safety of candesartan when breastfeeding. It is not recommended during breastfeeding.