Olmezest 20mg (Olmesartan)

Olmezest general information

What is Olmezest used for?

Olmezest tablets 20mg are used to treat essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest, with usually no obvious and identifiable cause. Although there are usually no other symptoms, high blood pressure increases risk of cardiovascular disease and if uncontrolled can cause kidney damage, stroke, heart attack and heart failure. Olmezest 20 lowers blood pressure to normal resting levels, which helps the heart to cope better and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and end organ damage. Olmezest tablets 20mg can be used alone as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive medication such as diuretics (water tablets).

How does Olmezest work?

Olmezest tablets 20mg contain olmesartan medoxomil, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which acts by blocking the binding of the hormone angiotensin II to its receptor in a variety of tissues including vascular smooth muscle (heart and blood vessel walls) and kidney cells. Angiotensin II is a naturally produced hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, which is the force needed to pump blood around the body, as well as fluid balance, the amount of water removed from the blood by the kidneys. Angiotensin II causes salt (sodium and potassium) and water retention by the kidneys, and causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow); this increases blood volume while at the same time reducing blood vessel volume, which increases blood pressure. Olmesartan in Olmezest 20 blocks the binding of Angiotensin II to its receptor, preventing its pressor actions (blood pressure increasing) resulting in dilation (widening) of blood vessel and increased salt and water removal by the kidneys into the urine, which together result in lower blood pressure.

What does Olmezest contain?

Olmezest tablets 20mg contain the active ingredient olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) used to treat essential hypertension.

Treating hypertension (high blood pressure) with Olmezest

Olmezest tablets 20mg contains olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that is used to treat essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest, in people with high blood pressure of no obviously identifiable cause, who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Olmesartan in Olmezest 20 blocks the action of angiotensin II, a naturally produced hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, and works by preventing the binding of angiotensin II to its receptor in vascular smooth muscle (blood vessel walls), where it causes constriction (narrowing); and in the kidneys, where it causes salt and water retention. Olmezest tablets 20mg increase urine volume, decreases blood volume and increases blood vessel volume, all of which reduce the force needed for the heart to pump blood around the body, and lowers blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps the heart to cope better and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease including stroke, heart failure, heart attack and end organ damage, including kidney damage, which can lead to kidney failure.

What are the side effects of Olmezest?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Olmezest tablets 20mg include: upper respiratory tract infections like sinusitis or bronchitis, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, cough, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, back pain, peripheral oedema, changes in blood salts.

When should Olmezest not be used?

You should not use Olmezest 20 if you:

• are allergic to olmesartan or any ingredients in Olmezest 20
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have a history of heart problems or stroke
• are taking medicines that interact with Olmezest 20, including: other antihypertensives, diuretics like furosemide, potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, potassium tablets or potassium-containing salt substitutes, lithium for mood disorders, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antacids like aluminium magnesium hydroxide
• are taking Co-trimoxazole (Sulphamexthoxazole/Trimethoprim) [Trusul/Bactrim DS]

What medications interact with Olmezest?

Several medications interact with Olmezest tablets 20mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Olmezest or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Olmezest: potassium tablets, potassium-containing salt substitutes or potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone may increase potassium levels.
• Drugs that affect Olmezest: other antihypertensives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antacids like aluminium magnesium hydroxide
• Drugs that are affected by Olmezest: lithium for mood disorders

How should Olmezest be taken?

You should take your Olmezest tablets 20mg with a glass of water, once daily, with or without food, at the same time each day. Your doctor may increase your dose if your blood pressure has not reduced sufficiently after 2 weeks. Olmezest 20 will help control your blood pressure but will not cure it, so you should continue to take your Olmezest tablets 20mg for as long as your doctor recommends, to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

How long should you take Olmezest?

Olmezest 20 will help control your blood pressure but will not cure it, so you should continue to take your Olmezest tablets 20mg for as long as your doctor recommends, to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

Missed dose of Olmezest

If you miss a dose of Olmezest tablets 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Olmezest be stored?

You should keep your Olmezest tablets 20mg in their blister packs until use and store below 30°C in a cool dry place.