Blopress (Candesartan)

Description

Blopress is a common trade name for candesartan; a drug used to treat hypertension in adults. Blopress is available by physician prescription only.

Drug Information

Candesartan, the active ingredient in Blopress, is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to lower abnormally high blood pressure. The effectiveness of candesartan against hypertension was established by studies in 1993. Candesartan cilexetil, as it is chemically known, is metabolized fully by the intestinal walls.

In the early 2000s, a prominent study indicated effectiveness of candesartan to improve the mortality and morbidity rates of patients with congestive heart failure. Therefore, candesartan can sometimes be used to treat congestive heart failure in combination with ACE inhibitors, which are considered to be the first line treatment for the disease.

Another study has shown that candesartan can relieve “prehypertension” symptoms, thus significantly reducing the risk for the condition worsening and becoming hypertension.

Dosage

Blopress dosage may vary as per physician recommendation and prescription. Commonly, Blopress is administered in a single 8 milligram daily dose. Effects are expected within at least 4 weeks. Depending on the severity of the hypertension and response to treatment, dosage can be increased to 16 or 32 milligrams per day.

The highest tolerated dose of Blopress is 32 milligrams per day in adult patients.

For patients at risk for hypotension or intravascular volume depletion, or suffering from renal impairment, the recommended dosage is 4 milligrams once per day.

For children or adolescent patients the dosage may depend on weight, exact age and response to the drug. Commonly, 4 milligrams per day is recommended for underage patients. Pediatric patients are not recommended to take a dose more than 32 milligrams per day.

Blopress is not recommended to be given to small children younger than a year old. The effectiveness of the drug in patients that young is not established by scientific research.

Blopress daily dosage can be taken with or without food, as food does not affect how the body absorbs the drug.

Blopress only controls high blood pressure and doesn’t eliminate it, therefore patients should continue the medication without stopping unless advised by a doctor.

Warnings and Precautions

There is significant evidence to support that angiotensin II receptor antagonists taken in combination with ACE inhibitors or aliskiren can increase the risk for hyperkalaemia, hypotension and decreased renal function or renal failure. Therefore, combining types of these drugs are not recommended without close supervision.

 Blopress is not recommended for patients in second or third trimester of pregnancy.

 Blopress might not be suitable for patients suffering from diabetes, heart disease, liver diseases, or kidney diseases.

Side Effects

Blopress and candesartan can possibly cause one or more of the following side effects:

 Skin rashes or hives
 Photosensitivity
 Dizziness or jaundice
 Itching
 Light headedness
 Headaches or dull migraines
 Insomnia
 Feeling sleepy or tired
 Numb feeling in the tongue
 Loss of appetite
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Palpitations/ irregular heartbeat
 Colds, sore throats or infections in the upper respiratory tract
 Diarrhea
 Difficulty breathing
 Facial swelling
 Chest pain
 Fainting

Immediately seek emergency medical care if side effects continue to persist or worsen over time.

Side effects can be aggravated if Blopress is taken along with lithium or diuretics.