Description
Telmisartan belongs to a class of medications known as angiotensin II receptor antagonists. These medications reduce blood pressure by blocking the actions of a chemical (angiotensin II) that causes blood vessels to constrict or tighten. It is used to treat mild-to-moderate high blood pressure.
When blood pressure is allowed to remain high for a long time, the blood vessels of the heart, kidneys, and brain may become damaged. This puts a person at increased risk for heart attack and stroke as well as kidney failure and blindness. Keeping blood pressure in the normal range can reduce the risk for these conditions. Telmisartan is also used to reduce the risk of death caused by a heart attack or stroke, for people who cannot use another type of medication called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.
The recommended adult dose of telmisartan is 80 mg once a day at approximately the same time each day. It may be taken with or without food, but it should be taken the same way each time. Tablets should be swallowed whole with water. It will take about 2 weeks for reductions in blood pressure to become noticeable and another 2 weeks until the full effects of the medication are realized. People with reduced liver function are usually given 40 mg once daily to start.
