Telmisartan

This article describes telmisartan’s uses, side effects, and more. Below you’ll also find some coupon options to help save on the cost of telmisartan.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm

Telmisartan oral tablet has a boxed warning about the risk of fetal harm. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for telmisartan” section below.

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about telmisartan.

How does telmisartan compare with other similar drugs, such as losartan or amlodipine?

Telmisartan and losartan are both angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). There are several other drugs in the ARB group of drugs. These include candesartan, olmesartan, and valsartan. All the drugs in the ARB group will have similar side effects, warnings, and uses. But some of them will have certain approved uses that others don’t have.

Amlodipine is in a different group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It has different side effects and warnings. Similar to telmisartan, it can be prescribed to treat high blood pressure. It has other uses as well, such as treating certain types of coronary artery disease.

Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know about other medications to treat your condition.

Can telmisartan be taken with other blood pressure medications, such as metoprolol?

Yes, telmisartan can be taken with other blood pressure medications, such as metoprolol. ARBs such as telmisartan are a common first-line treatment for high blood pressure. But most people need more than one blood pressure medication to manage high blood pressure. Doctors have several choices for adding medications. Beta-blockers, such as metoprolol, may be one of them.

To learn more about treating high blood pressure, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If your blood pressure is still high while taking telmisartan, tell your doctor. They can suggest ways to manage it.

Are there brand names available for telmisartan?

Yes, Micardis is the brand-name version of telmisartan.

If you’re interested in taking the brand-name version of telmisartan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does telmisartan work? And how long does it take to start working?

Telmisartan works by blocking the angiotensin II receptor. (A receptor is a binding site on a cell.) Angiotensin II is the hormone that usually binds to this receptor.

When angiotensin II binds to the receptor, it sends a signal to blood vessels to contract and tighten. When telmisartan blocks the receptor, angiotensin II can’t bind to it. This stops blood vessels from tightening. Instead, blood vessels relax, which lowers blood pressure.

Telmisartan will start working soon after you take it. Due to its long half-life, telmisartan’s effects will last all day. (Half-life is the time it takes for half of a dose to leave your body.) You’ll notice most of its blood pressure-lowering effects within 2 weeks. But it can take up to 4 weeks for the maximum response.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out more about what to expect with telmisartan.

Does telmisartan cause long-term side effects?

No, long-term side effects aren’t expected with telmisartan. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible long-term side effects with telmisartan.

Is weight gain a side effect of telmisartan?

No, weight gain isn’t an expected side effect of telmisartan. But unexpected weight gain can be a sign of kidney problems or worsening kidney problems. Taking telmisartan can make kidney problems worse. Other symptoms of worsening kidney problems include swelling in the feet, ankles, or hands.

Contact your doctor if you notice unexplained weight gain. They can determine the most likely cause and suggest ways to manage it.

Telmisartan may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of telmisartan and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about telmisartan’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read the prescribing information* for telmisartan.

* To view telmisartan’s prescribing information, see the “Article resources” section below.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of telmisartan are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Telmisartan oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• back pain
• diarrhea
• sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses in the nose)
• upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
• mild allergic reaction†

† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for telmisartan” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of telmisartan are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, telmisartan’s serious side effects include:

• anxiety
• depression
• heart rhythm problems
• high potassium level
• intermittent claudication (muscle pain that starts with activity and stops with rest)
• skin ulcer
• sleep problems
• very low blood pressure
• worsening kidney problems
• boxed warning: risk of fetal harm†
• severe allergic reaction†

† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for telmisartan” section below.

The dosage of telmisartan your doctor prescribes may vary based on your condition and certain other factors. Talk with your doctor about the dosage you should follow.

Taking telmisartan

Telmisartan oral tablet is swallowed with or without food.

Your doctor will talk with you about how to take telmisartan. They’ll explain how much to take and how often. Always follow your doctor’s recommendation.

Overdose of telmisartan

You should not take more telmisartan than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to serious side effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much telmisartan, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Below, you’ll find information about telmisartan’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of telmisartan

For some medications, certain things may affect how the drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take telmisartan, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription medications
• over-the-counter medications
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for telmisartan” section below.

Warnings for telmisartan

Some people should not take telmisartan, and others should take it cautiously.

Boxed warning: Risk of fetal harm

Telmisartan has a boxed warning about the risk of fetal harm. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To learn more about this risk, see the “Pregnancy or breastfeeding and telmisartan” section below.

Other warnings

Telmisartan could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether telmisartan is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for telmisartan, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Telmisartan can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to telmisartan or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe telmisartan. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to telmisartan, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and telmisartan

Information about telmisartan and pregnancy and breastfeeding are described below.

Risk of fetal harm

Telmisartan has a boxed warning about the risk of fetal harm. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Taking telmisartan while you’re pregnant can cause harm to a fetus or pregnancy loss. If you become pregnant, tell your doctor immediately and stop taking telmisartan as soon as possible.

To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Telmisartan and pregnancy

Telmisartan should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with telmisartan.

Telmisartan and breastfeeding

Telmisartan should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with telmisartan.

You may be able to save money on your prescription for telmisartan by using our Perks discount coupons. They can be found at the end of this article.

If you have questions about how to pay for telmisartan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as telmisartan for certain conditions. Approved uses for telmisartan are described below.

Use for certain heart and blood vessel problems

Doctors may prescribe telmisartan oral tablet for treating high blood pressure. It’s prescribed for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

Doctors may also prescribe it to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease in certain people. It’s prescribed for this purpose in adults ages 55 years and older who are at risk of major heart disease events but who can’t take an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With high blood pressure, there usually aren’t any symptoms. But having high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. These conditions can be life threatening. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of these serious conditions.

With major heart disease events, people who have a history of heart disease, blood vessel disease, or diabetes have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death. Taking telmisartan lowers the risk of these life threatening events.

Telmisartan may be prescribed together with other medications to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of major heart disease events.

Doctors may not prescribe telmisartan oral tablet in certain situations, such as for people with diabetes who also take aliskiren (Tekturna).

This article describes telmisartan’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about telmisartan or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Can telmisartan be prescribed for bodybuilding?
• Is telmisartan a beta-blocker?
• Are withdrawal symptoms* possible with telmisartan?

* Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.

• Amlodipine besylate tablets for oral administration. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/ac0dd8fb-ebe1-4d02-bd0d-4f979c6e3608/spl-doc?
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Telmisartan tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/bf2dca37-ce9c-40e4-8ad6-b8186aa7fed1/spl-doc#LINK_daeb41ab-3b92-4728-b532-2b7682d3ec1c

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.