BENICAR - Olmesartan Medoxomil

Benicar Used For

Benicar is prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

Directions for Benicar

For patients who are not volume depleted, Benicar is recommended at a starting dosage of 20 mg once daily. If further reduction in blood pressure is necessary after 2 weeks of therapy, Benicar dosage may be increased to 40 mg. Benicar is available in strengths of 5 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg and can be administered with or without food. Dosage must be individualized for each patient.

How Benicar works

Benicar may cause developmental damage and even death of an unborn baby when taken by pregnant women during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Women patients on Benicar should report pregnancy to the doctor as soon as it is detected and should go off this medication. In some patients, the renal functions are affected by this drug. Hence it is important to consult the doctor before using this medication.

Side effects of Benicar medication

Like all medications, Benicar also has its side effects which include chest pain, peripheral edema, vertigo, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, nausea, tachycardia, hematuria, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipemia, hyperuricemia, arthralgia, arthritis, myalgia, coughing, rash, back pain, bronchitis, increased creatine phosphokinase, diarrhea, headache, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, inflicted injury, influenza-like symptoms, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis and upper respiratory tract infection. It is advisable to consult a doctor immediately if any of the above listed side effects get aggravated or persist over an extended period.

Other Benicar medication Information

If blood pressure is not controlled by Benicar alone, a diuretic may be added. The tablet can be split and taken at half the dose, but only after medical advice. A missed dose of the medication should be taken as soon as it is remembered. If the missed dose does not come to mind till the time of the next dose, the missed dose should be skipped and dosing regimen continued with the next dose. Under no circumstances must dosage be doubled.