Irbesartan: Price, Dosage & Where to Buy

Irbesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), most commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly strokes and heart attacks. It requires a prescription in the United Kingdom and may be used alone or alongside other medicines for blood pressure control.

Irbesartan treats hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, particularly strokes and heart attacks. It may be used alone or in combination with other blood pressure medicines.

Irbesartan is also indicated for diabetic nephropathy, a form of kidney disease, in people with type 2 diabetes who have high blood pressure, raised blood creatinine and protein in their urine. In this group, it slows the progression of kidney disease, including progression towards kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Irbesartan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor blockers. Angiotensin II is a substance in the body that narrows blood vessels and promotes the retention of salt and water. Blocking its action allows blood vessels to relax, which lowers blood pressure.

This also changes the pressure within the kidneys' filtering system, helping explain the use of this medicine class in certain forms of diabetic kidney disease. These effects can also influence kidney function and blood potassium levels.

The label lists oral tablets and film-coated oral tablets in strengths of 75 mg, 150 mg and 300 mg. The usual starting dose is 150 mg once daily for hypertension. The label lists an increase to a maximum dose of 300 mg once daily as needed to control blood pressure.

The label lists 300 mg once daily for diabetic nephropathy. The label lists an initial dose of 75 mg once daily for patients with depleted circulating fluid volume or salt, including those treated intensively with diuretics or receiving haemodialysis. These are label dosing facts rather than an individual treatment plan.

The label allows administration with or without food and alongside other antihypertensive medicines. It also describes correction of fluid or salt depletion before treatment and monitoring of kidney function and blood potassium. The appropriate regimen depends on the indication and the patient's clinical circumstances.

A missed dose may interrupt regular blood pressure control. General pharmacy advice is to resume the prescribed schedule, avoiding a double dose to make up for the omission.

If the next scheduled dose is close, the missed dose is usually omitted. A pharmacist can clarify the timing for an individual prescription.

Irbesartan can harm the developing baby. Exposure during the second and third trimesters can reduce fetal kidney function and cause serious complications, including death. The label calls for discontinuation as soon as pregnancy is detected; prompt contact with the prescriber is needed to arrange alternative treatment.

There are no available data on irbesartan in human milk, its effects on milk production or its effects on breastfed infants. Use during breastfeeding is not recommended because of the potential for adverse effects in the infant.

The label specifies storage at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Keep the medicine in its original packaging and out of the sight and reach of children.