Benicar is a medicine used to treat hypertension, congestive heart failure and kidney problems caused by type two diabetes. It belongs to a group of medications called angiotensin II receptor blockers and the active ingredient is amlodipine.
The main purpose of this medicine is to prevent the narrowing of blood vessels which results to lower blood pressure and improved blood flow throughout the body. This drug can be used alone or combined with other medicines for high blood pressure.
Being a pro drug, it has to be chemically converted during metabolic processes of the body in order for it to become an active agent in treating the medical ailment it is being used for.
Adults and children aged 1 to 17 years old can freely use this medicine to lower blood pressure. Available in tablet form in 4mg, 8mg, 16mg and 32mg, the starting dosage in treating high blood pressure is 16mg per day, thereafter, regular doses must range from 8 to 32mg taken once or twice daily. It is safe to be consumed on a full or empty stomach.
This drug is not for use by pregnant women. The physician must be informed about the pregnancy before undergoing this medication. However, if a patient discovers the pregnancy while on the treatment, she should discontinue taking it at once and have herself examined by the doctor immediately. During a pregnancy’s second and third trimesters, such drugs can harm or bring death to a fetus. It should not also be taken during breastfeeding. Patients who are allergic to medicines containing sulfonamides should not take these drugs because its hydrochlorothiazide component belongs to that class of drug.
Abstinence from drinking alcohol while under this treatment is recommended because alcohol can further reduce blood pressure and amplify the side effects entailed to it. Salt or potassium substitutes must also be avoided unless otherwise advised by a medical expert. The reason behind it is that, this drug increases the body’s salt levels and can lead to kidney failure if they become excessive. Some of the symptoms of kidney failure include slow heartbeat and tired and exhausted muscles.
Putting hypertension under control may take from two to six weeks after initializing treatment, so it is encouraged to carry on with regular blood pressure check ups. Quitting the medication is not an option, even if a patient feels perfectly healthy because people with high blood pressure at times don’t encounter any kind of symptoms to indicate that there’s something wrong with them.
Ddace Bojanu is a highly-regarded specialist across the medical investigation area. Ensuring that drug treatments just like Benicar are available to pretty much all customers. If you need to find out how to control this disease, find out more about Benicar .