✅ Generic Name:
Telmisartan 20 mg Tablet
✅ Prescription Status:
Prescription-only (Rx) – Should be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
📄 Description:
Telmisartan 20 mg is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) used to treat hypertension and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. It works by blocking the action of angiotensin II, a substance that narrows blood vessels, thereby relaxing blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.
Each tablet contains 20 mg of Telmisartan, usually as telmisartan monotherapy.
🌿 Nature / Drug Class:
- Therapeutic Class: Antihypertensive
- Pharmacologic Class: Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
- Mechanism of Action: Blocks angiotensin II from binding to its receptor, which causes vasodilation, reduces aldosterone secretion, and lowers blood pressure.
🎯 Purpose / Indications:
- Primary hypertension
- Cardiovascular risk reduction in patients ≥55 years with high risk (e.g., diabetes, stroke, heart disease history)
- Can be used as monotherapy or with other agents (e.g., HCTZ, amlodipine)
✅ Advantages:
- Effective 24-hour blood pressure control
- Minimal side effects compared to ACE inhibitors (e.g., less dry cough)
- Protects kidneys in diabetic patients
- Once-daily dosing
- Well tolerated in long-term use
- May reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality
📦 Common Packaging:
- Usually supplied in blister packs, 10 tablets per strip
- Available in boxes of 10, 30, or 100 tablets
- Tablets are typically white or off-white, round or oval, depending on the brand
❄️ Storage Conditions:
- Store at room temperature (15°C to 30°C)
- Protect from moisture and light
- Keep in original packaging
- Keep out of reach of children
👨⚕️ Patient Advice / Precautions:
- Take once daily, at the same time every day, with or without food
- Do not discontinue suddenly without consulting your doctor
- May take 2–4 weeks for full effect on blood pressure
- Avoid salt substitutes containing potassium
- Inform doctor if you have:
- Kidney or liver disease
- Dehydration
- Heart conditions
- Side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Rarely: hypotension, hyperkalemia, or kidney issues
- Contraindicated in pregnancy – can cause injury or death to fetus
- Regular monitoring of blood pressure, kidney function, and potassium levels is advised