Irbesartan

The usual starting dose of irbesartan is 150 mg daily at approximately the same time each day. If you are taking other medication to reduce your blood pressure, your doctor may start you with a dose of 75 mg daily. The doctor may decide to increase the dose to 300 mg once a day if your blood pressure has not come down enough.

Irbesartan may be taken with or without food but should be taken in the same manner each day.

Make sure you follow your doctor's instructions about monitoring your blood pressure to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit from the medication.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important that Irbesartan be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Irbesartan at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause diarrhea; it may cause dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and use caution if driving; it may cause unusual tiredness; on occasion, it may cause a dry cough - contact your pharmacist or doctor if it becomes bothersome. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

75 mg
Each white-to-off-white, biconvex, oblong, film-coated tablet, embossed with "rph" on the upper side and with "I23" on the lower side contains 75 mg of irbesartan. Nonmedicinal ingredients:colloidal silicon dioxide, copovidone, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxy propylcellulose, polysorbate, polyvinyl alcohol, macrogol, sodium stearyl fumarate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

150 mg
Each white-to-off-white, biconvex, oblong, film-coated tablet, embossed with "rph" on the upper side and with "I22" on the lower side contains 150 mg of irbesartan. Nonmedicinal ingredients:colloidal silicon dioxide, copovidone, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxy propylcellulose, polysorbate, polyvinyl alcohol, macrogol, sodium stearyl fumarate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

300 mg
Each white-to-off-white, biconvex, oblong, film-coated tablet, embossed with "rph" on the upper side and with "I21" on the lower side contains 300 mg of irbesartan. Nonmedicinal ingredients:colloidal silicon dioxide, copovidone, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxy propylcellulose, polysorbate, polyvinyl alcohol, macrogol, sodium stearyl fumarate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Do not take irbesartan if you:

• are allergic to irbesartan or any ingredients of the medication
• have experienced a serious allergic reaction to another angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) (e.g., Candesartan, Losartan, Valsartan)
• have diabetes mellitus, kidney damage caused by diabetes, or severely reduced kidney function and are taking the medication Aliskiren or an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
• are pregnant
• are breast-feeding
• have galactose intolerance or glucose malabsorption (a rare hereditary disease)

There may be an interaction between irbesartan and any of the following:

• aliskiren
• alpha agonists (e.g., Clonidine, methyldopa)
• alpha blockers (e.g., Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Tamsulosin)
• amifostine
• Amiodarone
• amphetamines (e.g., Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine)
• angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., Captopril, Ramipril, Enalapril)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Aripiprazole, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Pimozide) beta-adrenergic blockers (e.g., Atenolol, Propranolol, Sotalol)
• Bosentan
• brimonidine
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Canagliflozin
• Celecoxib
• ciprofloxacin
• Cyclosporine
• Dapsone
• dasabuvir
• Dipyridamole
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, Furosemide)
• Enzalutamide
• fluconazole
• ginger
• Guanfacine
• ginseng (American)
• Heparin
• Hydralazine
• isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate
• lithium
• Lomitapide
• low molecular weight heparins (e.g., Dalteparin, Enoxaparin, Tinzaparin)
• Methylphenidate
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M.O.S. e.g., Moclobemide, Phenelzine, Rasagiline, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Naproxen)
• other angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., candesartan, losartan)
• Paclitaxel
• Pentoxifylline
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (e.g., Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)
• Pioglitazone
• potassium pills or potassium supplements
• potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., Amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene)
• quinine
• Repaglinide
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Rituximab
• Rosiglitazone
• sacubitril
• salt substitutes that contain potassium
• sodium phosphates
• sulfonamide anti-diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, Gliclazide, Glyburide)
• sulfonamide antibiotics (e.g., sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole)
• Tamoxifen
• Tolvaptan
• Trimethoprim
• tretinoin
• Warfarin
• Yohimbine
• Zafirlukast

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Irbesartan. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Irbesartan.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Irbesartan, like other medications for blood pressure may cause dizziness and lightheadedness, especially if you have been taking a diuretic (water pill). This may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid these and other activities until you have determined that Irbesartan does not affect you in this way.

Heart disease: If you have a history of heart problems, such as a recent Heart Attack or Stroke, narrowing of the heart valves (valvular stenosis) or other heart disease, discuss with your doctor how Irbesartan may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Irbesartan, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Kidney function: Irbesartan may affect the function of the kidneys, especially for people who already have kidney problems. Certain people may be more likely to experience changes in kidney function (e.g., people with narrowed blood vessels in their kidneys, or those with severe Congestive Heart Failure). The use of diuretics (water pills) or aliskiren may further increase risk of kidney problems for those at risk for this problem. If you have reduced kidney function or Kidney Disease, discuss with your doctor how Irbesartan may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Irbesartan, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Irbesartan to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Irbesartan may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Irbesartan, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Irbesartan.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Low Blood Pressure: Occasionally, a larger-than-expected decrease in blood pressure occurs after taking irbesartan. In some cases, this happens after the first dose. It is more likely to occur if you take diuretics (water pills) or the medication aliskiren, have a reduced salt intake, are on dialysis, or are experiencing diarrhea or vomiting. Blood pressure should be monitored more often in these situations. If you have low blood pressure or are just starting to take Irbesartan, move slowly from a reclining to an upright position to reduce the risk of dizziness.

Potassium levels: Irbesartan may affect potassium levels in the blood, especially when used for heart failure, or when taken with other medications called ACE inhibitors or diuretics such as Spironolactone. Your doctor will monitor your potassium levels while you are on Irbesartan. Avoid using salt substitutes that contain potassium while you are taking irbesartan.

Pregnancy: Irbesartan can cause severe harm or death to a developing baby if it is taken by the mother during pregnancy. Therefore, Irbesartan should not be taken by pregnant women. If you become pregnant while taking Irbesartan, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if irbesartan passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Irbesartan, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Irbesartan have not been established for children.

Seniors: Older adults may be more likely to experience side effects of Irbesartan.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. You should take this medication at approximately the same time each day. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. If you forget a dose, simply skip it and then take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. This medication may be taken with or without food.