Candesartan: Price, Dosage & Where to Buy

Candesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, commonly prescribed to lower high blood pressure in adults and children. It is also used for certain types of heart failure.

Candesartan requires a prescription in the United Kingdom and has been available as a generic medicine since 2013-05-03. Treatment is supervised according to the condition and individual response.

Candesartan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor blockers. Angiotensin II is a naturally occurring chemical messenger that narrows blood vessels and encourages the body to retain sodium and water. These effects can raise blood pressure and increase the workload on the heart.

Candesartan blocks angiotensin II from attaching to its main receptors. This allows blood vessels to relax and reduces the signals that promote fluid retention. Blood pressure can therefore fall, while the heart may have less resistance against which to pump.

In heart failure, reducing these effects can help limit strain on the cardiovascular system. The medicine does not replace other aspects of cardiovascular care, such as appropriate management of diabetes, lipids, smoking, exercise and dietary sodium.

Candesartan is used to treat hypertension, meaning persistently high blood pressure, in adults and children from 1 year to under 17 years of age. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly strokes and myocardial infarctions. Candesartan may be used alone or with other antihypertensive medicines.

It is also indicated for heart failure classified as NYHA class II-IV in adults with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and an ejection fraction of 40% or less. In this setting, it reduces cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisations.

It can have an added effect on these outcomes when used with an ACE inhibitor. Children under 1 year of age must not receive candesartan for hypertension.

The label lists 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, and 32 mg tablets. The usual starting dose is 16 mg once daily for adult hypertension when used alone in patients who are not volume depleted. The label lists adult hypertension total daily doses of 8 mg to 32 mg, given once or twice daily.

The usual starting dose is 4 mg once daily for adult heart failure. The label lists 32 mg once daily as the target dose for adult heart failure, reached by doubling the dose at approximately 2 week intervals as tolerated. The usual starting dose is 0.20 mg/kg once daily for children from 1 year to under 6 years of age.

The label lists a paediatric range of 0.05 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg once daily for that age group. The usual starting dose is 4 mg to 8 mg once daily for children under 50 kg aged 6 years to under 17 years. The usual starting dose is 8 mg to 16 mg once daily for those over 50 kg in that age range.

Store tablets at 20°C to 25°C, with excursions permitted at 15°C to 30°C. Keep them in a tightly closed container and dispense them in a tight, light-resistant container as directed on the label. Keep medicines out of the reach of children.

A missed dose should be managed according to the prescribed schedule and the advice of a pharmacist or doctor. The dose should not be doubled to compensate for a missed dose. If several doses have been missed, or if dizziness, faintness or other symptoms occur, advice from a pharmacist or doctor is appropriate because candesartan can affect blood pressure and renal function.

Candesartan can cause fetal harm. Drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system during the second and third trimesters can reduce fetal renal function and increase fetal and neonatal morbidity and death.

When pregnancy is detected, candesartan should be discontinued as soon as possible under medical supervision. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment because it is not known whether candesartan is excreted in human milk and serious adverse reactions may occur in breastfed infants.