Candesartan - an angiotensin receptor blocker

About candesartan

Candesartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker. It is also called an angiotensin-II receptor antagonist, or an AIIRA. You will have been prescribed candesartan either because your heart is not working as well as it should (insufficienza cardiaca), or because your la pressione sanguigna è troppo alta (ipertensione). People with high blood pressure usually feel well but, if left untreated, high blood pressure can harm the heart and damage blood vessels.

Candesartan works by blocking the effect of a chemical called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes your blood vessels to narrow, so by blocking its effect, candesartan allows your blood vessels to relax and widen. As this happens, the pressure within your blood vessels is reduced and it is easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking candesartan it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se sei incinta, stai cercando di avere un bambino o stai allattando.

• Se hai un problema ai reni, in particolare se si tratta di un blocco dell'arteria che fornisce sangue ai tuoi reni.

• Se hai problemi con le valvole cardiache o il muscolo cardiaco.

• If you have a problem with the way your liver works, or if you have a condition which blocks the flow of bile from your liver, called cholestasis.

• Se stai assumendo altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione medica, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.
  

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about candesartan and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take candesartan once each day, exactly as your doctor tells you to. There are several different strengths of tablet available (2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg and 32 mg). When you first start treatment your doctor may gradually increase the strength of the tablets to suit your condition. Each time you collect a fresh supply of tablets, it's a good idea to check the strength on the packet to make sure they are what you are expecting.

• Try to take candesartan at the same time of day each day. For most people this will be in the morning. Taking your doses at the same time each day will help you to remember to take candesartan regularly.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. You can take candesartan either before or after a meal.

• Se dimentichi di prendere una dose, prendila appena te ne ricordi. Se non te ne ricordi fino al giorno successivo, salta la dose dimenticata. Non prendere due dosi contemporaneamente per compensare una dose dimenticata.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your progress can be monitored and your blood pressure measured. Your doctor may want you to have some blood tests from time to time to check on your kidneys, and also how much potassium is in your blood.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with candesartan. This is because some anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as aspirin and ibuprofen) may interfere with the way it works, and also may increase the risk of side-effects.

• È molto importante seguire qualsiasi consiglio dietetico e sullo stile di vita che ti è stato dato dal tuo medico, come mangiare una dieta sana, non fumare e fare esercizio fisico regolare.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice. Your doctor may recommend that you do not drink alcohol while you are on candesartan because it will increase the risk of side-effects, such as feeling dizzy or faint.

• Cerca di evitare i sostituti del sale che contengono potassio. Questo perché i sostituti aumenteranno la quantità di potassio nel tuo sangue e questo può causare problemi.

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking candesartan. This is because your blood pressure may drop too low if you are given some anaesthetics.

• Treatment with candesartan is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets regularly, unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

Se stai assumendo anche idroclorotiazide in combinazione con questo medicinale

• Studi hanno suggerito che assumere dosi più elevate di idroclorotiazide per lunghi periodi di tempo potrebbe aumentare il rischio di alcuni tipi di cancro della pelle.

• Informa il tuo medico se sei mai stato trattato per il cancro della pelle in passato.

• Informa il tuo medico di eventuali nei nuovi o modificati o segni preoccupanti sulla tua pelle.

• Usa una crema solare sotto il sole forte. Non usare lettini abbronzanti.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with candesartan. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se si verificano altri sintomi che ritieni possano essere dovuti alle compresse, parla con il tuo medico o farmacista per ulteriori consigli.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.