Candesartan Aurovitas 8 mg Tablets

2. What you need to know before you take Candesartan Aurovitas

Do not take Candesartan Aurovitas:

• If you are allergic to candesartan cilexetil or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are more than 3 months pregnant. (It is also better to avoid this medicine during the first months of pregnancy – see section “Pregnancy”).
• If you have severe liver disease or biliary obstruction (problem with bile leaving the gallbladder).
• If the patient is a child under 1 year of age.
• If you have diabetes or kidney problems and are being treated with a blood pressure-lowering medicine containing aliskiren.

If you are not sure if you are in one of these situations, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking candesartan.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor before starting to take candesartan:

• If you have heart, liver or kidney problems or are undergoing dialysis.
• If you have recently had a kidney transplant.
• If you have recently had vomiting, severe vomiting or have diarrhea.
• If you have a disease of the adrenal gland called Conn's syndrome (also known as primary hyperaldosteronism).
• If you have low blood pressure.
• If you have ever had a stroke.
• If you are pregnant (or if you think you might be). Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking candesartan before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of candesartan.
• If you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension):
• 1. - An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) (e.g. enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), especially if you have kidney problems related to diabetes.
  2. - Aliskiren.
• If you are taking an ACE inhibitor along with a medicine belonging to the class of drugs called mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). These medicines are for the treatment of heart failure (see “Other medicines and Candesartan Aurovitas”).

Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and blood electrolyte levels (e.g. potassium) at regular intervals.

Consult your doctor if you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after taking candesartan. Your doctor will decide whether to continue treatment. Do not stop taking candesartan on your own.

See also the information under the heading “Do not take Candesartan Aurovitas”.

If you are in one of these situations, your doctor may want to see you more often and perform some tests.

If you are going to have surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking candesartan. This is because candesartan, in combination with some anesthetics, can cause a drop in blood pressure.

Children and adolescents

Candesartan has been studied in children. For more information, consult your doctor. Candesartan should not be given to children under 1 year of age due to a potential risk to the developing kidneys.

Other medicines and Candesartan Aurovitas

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines.

Candesartan may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the effect of candesartan. If you are using certain medicines, your doctor may need to perform blood tests from time to time.

In particular, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines, as your doctor may need to change your dose and/or take other precautions:

• Other medicines to lower your blood pressure, including beta-blockers, diazoxide, and ACE inhibitors such as enalapril, captopril, lisinopril, or ramipril.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, celecoxib, or etoricoxib (medicines to relieve pain and inflammation).
• Acetylsalicylic acid (if you take more than 3g per day) (medicine to relieve pain and inflammation).
• Potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium (medicines that increase the amount of potassium in your blood).
• Heparin (a medicine to increase blood fluidity).
• Co-trimoxazole (an antibiotic medicine) also known as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
• Diuretics (medicines to promote urine production).
• Lithium (a medicine for mental health problems).
• If you are taking an ACE inhibitor or aliskiren (see also the information under the headings “Do not take Candesartan Aurovitas” and “Warnings and precautions”).
• If you are being treated with an ACE inhibitor along with other specific medicines for the treatment of your heart failure, known as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) (e.g. spironolactone, eplerenone).

Taking Candesartan Aurovitas with food, drinks, and alcohol

• You can take candesartan with or without food.
• When prescribed candesartan, consult your doctor before drinking alcohol. Alcohol may make you feel dizzy or faint.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

You must tell your doctor if you are pregnant (or think you might be). Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking candesartan before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of candesartan.

Candesartan should not be used during the first trimester of pregnancy and should not be used at all after the third month of pregnancy, as it may cause serious harm to your baby when administered after this time.

Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or about to start breastfeeding. Candesartan is not recommended during breastfeeding, and your doctor will choose another treatment for you if you want to breastfeed, especially if your baby is newborn or premature.

Driving and using machines

Some patients may feel tired or dizzy when taking candesartan. If this happens, do not drive or use tools or machines.

Candesartan Aurovitas contains lactose

Lactose is a type of sugar. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Candesartan Aurovitas

Follow exactly the instructions of administration of this medicine given by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again. It is important that you continue to take candesartan every day.

You can take candesartan with or without food.

Swallow the tablet with a little water.

Try to take the tablet at the same time each day. This will help you remember to take it.

Hypertension:

• The recommended dose of candesartan is 8mg once a day. Your doctor may increase this dose to 16mg once a day and then to 32mg once a day depending on your blood pressure response.
• In some patients, such as those with liver problems, kidney problems, or those who have recently lost body fluids, for example due to vomiting, diarrhea, or because they are taking diuretics, the doctor may prescribe a lower initial dose.
• Some black patients may have a reduced response to this type of medicine when given as sole treatment, and these patients may need a higher dose.

Use in children and adolescents with high blood pressure:

Children from 6 to <18 years of age:< em>

The recommended starting dose is 4mg once a day.

For patients weighing <50kg:in some patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled, your doctor may decide to increase the dose up to a maximum of 8mg per day.

For patients weighing ≥50kg:in some patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled, your doctor may decide to increase the dose to 8mg once a day and to 16mg once a day.

Heart failure in adults:

• The usual initial dose of candesartan is 4mg once a day. Your doctor may increase this dose by doubling the dose at intervals of at least 2 weeks up to 32mg once a day. Candesartan can be taken with other medicines for heart failure; your doctor will decide what treatment is suitable for you.

If you take more Candesartan Aurovitas than you should

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, telephone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.

If you forget to take Candesartan Aurovitas

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. Simply take the next dose.

If you stop taking Candesartan Aurovitas

If you stop taking candesartan, your blood pressure may increase again. Therefore, do not stop taking candesartan without consulting your doctor.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.