Irbesartan

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Irbesartan (中文：厄貝沙坦)

Pronunciation

Irbesartan 150mg (APROVEL 150mg)

Common Strengths of Irbesartan

Irbesartan is available in the following strengths:

• 150 mg
• 300 mg

Drug Trade Names of Irbesartan

The brand names for irbesartan is Aprovel.

Mechanism of Action

Irbesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker.

Irbesartan relaxes and widens your blood vessels. This lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

It is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It helps to prevent future strokes, heart attacks and diabetic kidney disease.

If you have diabetic kidney disease, it helps to protect your kidneys and slows down the disease. It reduces high blood pressure and the amount of protein you lose through your kidneys.

Route of Administration

Irbesartan is given orally as tablets.

After a dose the hypotensive effect peaks within 3 to 6 hours and persists for at least 24 hours. The maximum hypotensive effect is achieved within 4 to 6 weeks after starting therapy.

Dosage

• For both high blood pressure and diabetic kidney disease
  • 150 mg to 300 mg once a day
• For over 75 years old or have liver or kidney problems
  • The dose may be lower
  • Initially 75 mg to 150 mg once a day

Side Effects

Frequency	Adverse reactions
Common (≥1/100 to <1/10)	Musculoskeletal pain
	Nausea
	Vomiting
	Hypotension
	Hyperkalemia
Very Rare (<1/10,000)	Dizziness
	Fatigue
	Cough
	Hyponatremia

Pharmacokinetics

• Peak plasma concentrations of irbesartan occur 1.5 to 2 hours after an oral dose.
• Irbesartan is about 96% bound to plasma proteins.
• It undergoes some metabolism in the liver, primarily by the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP2C9, to inactive metabolites.
• It is excreted as unchanged drug and metabolites in the bile and in urine.
• The terminal elimination half-life is about 11 to 15 hours.

Drug Management

Pregnancy

Should be avoided in pregnancy unless essential.

Breast Feeding

They are not recommended.

Monitoring Requirements

Monitor plasma-potassium concentration, particularly in the elderly and in patients with renal impairment.

Drug Interactions

• Diuretics
  • Enhanced hypotensive effect when given with diuretics
• Potassium sparing diuretics (triamterene, amiloride and spironolactone) or potassium supplement
  • Increase risk of hyperkalemia

Caution

• Aortic or mitral valve stenosis
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Patients with a history of angioedema
• Patients with primary aldosteronism

Contraindication

The concomitant use of irbesartan with aliskiren-containing products is contraindicated in patients with diabetes mellitus or renal impairment (if eGFR < 60ml/minute/1.73m2)

FAQs

How should I take the tablet?

• Usually take irbesartan tablet once a day.
• Your doctor may suggest that you take your first dose before bedtime, because it can make you dizzy. After the very first dose, you can take irbesartan at any time of day.
• You can take irbesartan tablet with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.

What should I avoid while taking?

Avoid potassium-containing salt substitutes or potassium supplements, unless your doctor has told you to.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take a dose and you usually take candesartan:

• Once a day: Take it as soon as you remember unless it is less than 12 hours until your next dose. In this case leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time

Never take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten one.