Olmezest 20

Generic

Olmesartan Medoxomil

 

Indications

The drug Olmesartan Medoxomil is used to treat hypertension. It can be taken alone or with additional antihypertensive medications.

 

Pharmacology

Angiotensin-II is a strong vasoconstrictor, the major vasoactive hormone of the renin-angiotensin system, and a key component in the pathophysiology of hypertension. It is produced from angiotensin-I in a process catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). It also causes the adrenal cortex to secrete more aldosterone. Olmesartan inhibits angiotensin-vasoconstrictor II's and aldosterone-secreting actions by inhibiting angiotensin-binding II's to the AT 1 receptor, which is present in numerous tissues (e.g. vascular smooth muscle, adrenal gland). Olmesartan is a reversible and competitive inhibitor of the AT 1 receptor, according to in vitro binding experiments. Olmesartan has no effect on ACE (kinase-I, the enzyme that converts angiotensin-I to angiotensin-II and degrades bradykinin).

 

Dosage & Administration

Dosage must be individualized. The usual recommended starting dose of Olmesartan is 20 mg once daily when used as monotherapy in patients who are not volume-contracted. For patients requiring further reduction in blood pressure after 2 weeks of therapy, the dose of Olmesartan may be increased to 40 mg. Doses above 40 mg do not appear to have a greater effect. Twice-daily dosing offers no advantage over the same total dose given once daily.

No initial dosage adjustment is recommended for elderly patients, for patients with moderate to marked renal impairment (creatinine clearance <40 ml/min) or with moderate to marked hepatic dysfunction. For patients with possible depletion of intravascular volume (e.g. patients treated with diuretics, particularly those with impaired renal function), Olmesartan should be initiated under close medical supervision and consideration should be given to use of a lower starting dose. Olmesartan may be administered with or without food.

 

Interactions

With medicine: No significant drug interactions were reported in which Olmesartan was co-administered.

With food & others: Food does not affect the bioavailability of Olmesartan.

 

Contraindications

Any component of olmesartan is contraindicated in people who are hypersensitive to it.

 

Side Effects

Back discomfort, bronchitis, elevated creatine phosphokinase, diarrhea, headache, hematuria, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, influenza-like symptoms, pharyngitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis are the most frequent adverse effects.

Chest discomfort, peripheral edema, and arthritis are all uncommon.

 

Pregnancy & lactation

Pregnancy: If you suspect you're pregnant, stop using this product right away. During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, medications that operate directly on the renin-angiotensin system can harm or even kill the growing fetus.

Olmesartan is secreted at low concentrations in the milk of nursing rats, although it is unknown if Olmesartan is excreted in human milk. Because of the risk of harm to the nursing child, a choice should be taken on whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking the medicine, taking into account the drug's value to the mother.

 

Precautions & warnings

Changes in renal function may be expected in susceptible people treated with olmesartan medoxomil as a result of suppressing the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone pathway. Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists has been linked to oliguria and/or progressive azotemia, as well as (rarely) acute renal failure and/or death in patients whose renal function may be dependent on the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (e.g. patients with severe congestive heart failure). Patients receiving olmesartan medoxomil could expect similar results.

 

Therapeutic Class

Angiotensin-ll receptor blocker

 

Storage Conditions

Store in cool & dry place below 30ºC, protect from light & moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.

 

Pharmaceutical Name

Sun Pharmaceutical Ltd.