Telmisartan
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What Micardis is used for
Micardis is used to:
treat high blood pressure (also called hypertension)
prevent cardiovascular complications, including death due to cardiovascular causes, in patients older than 55 years of age with coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, previous stroke, previous transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or high risk diabetes with evidence of end organ damage
Treatment of Hypertension
Micardis is used to lower high blood pressure (hypertension).
Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps your blood move around your body. Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day, depending on how busy or worried you are. You have hypertension (high blood pressure) when your blood pressure stays higher than normal, even when you are calm or relaxed.
There are usually no signs of hypertension. The only way of knowing that you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems, including stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.
How Micardis works
Micardis contains telmisartan. Telmisartan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Angiotensin II is a substance in the body which causes blood vessels to narrow, thus increasing blood pressure. Telmisartan works by blocking the effect of angiotensin II. When the effect of angiotensin II is blocked, your blood vessels relax and your blood pressure goes down.
Micardis may be used either alone or in combination with other medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
Prevention of Cardiovascular Complications, including Death due to Cardiovascular Causes
Micardis is also used to prevent cardiovascular complications, including death due to cardiovascular causes that may arise in high risk patients older than 55 years of age. Examples include heart attack, stroke, death caused by heart diseases or hospitalisation due to heart failure (a condition which can cause shortness of breath or ankle swelling).
Patients who may be considered at high risk of developing cardiovascular complications or at high risk of death due to cardiovascular causes are those aged 55 or more who have problems such as coronary artery disease (a heart disease caused by poor blood flow in the blood vessels of the heart), peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in the hands or feet), previous stroke, previous transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or diabetes with additional high risk factors and evidence of end organ damage (e.g. damage occurring in the kidneys, heart, brain or eyes).
Your doctor can tell you if you are at high risk of developing cardiovascular complications or if you are at high risk of death due to cardiovascular causes.
Your doctor may have prescribed Micardis for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Micardis has been prescribed for you.
Micardis is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Use in children
The safety and effectiveness of Micardis in children and teenagers up to 18 years of age have not been established.
Before you take Micardis
When you must not take it
Do not take Micardis if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking:
telmisartan (the active ingredient in Micardis)
any other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Micardis may include skin rash, itchiness, shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, muscle pain or tenderness or joint pain.
Do not take Micardis if you have a rare hereditary condition of fructose intolerance.
The maximum recommended daily dose of Micardis contains approximately 338 mg of sorbitol.
Do not take Micardis if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Micardis is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Like other similar medicines, it could affect your unborn baby if you take it during pregnancy.
Do not breastfeed if you are taking Micardis.
It is not known if telmisartan, the active ingredient in Micardis, passes into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.
Do not take Micardis if you suffer from:
severe liver disease
biliary obstructive disorders (problem with the flow of bile from the gall bladder)
Do not take Micardis after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not take Micardis if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Do not take Micardis if the tablets are discoloured.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Micardis talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
kidney problems
liver problems
heart problems
a condition known as primary hyperaldosteronism (raised aldosterone levels, also known as Conn's syndrome)
fructose intolerance
recent severe diarrhoea or vomiting
Tell your doctor if you are following a very low salt diet.
Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or breastfeed.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell your doctor before you take Micardis.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Micardis may interfere with each other. These include:
ramipril or any other medicines used to treat high blood pressure or heart problems
potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes
medicines or salt substitutes which may increase your potassium levels
diuretics or fluid tablets, medicines used to help the kidneys get rid of salt and water by increasing the amount of urine produced
aspirin
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation including arthritis)
lithium, a medicine used to treat certain mental illnesses
digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure
These medicines may be affected by Micardis, or may affect the way it works. Also, other medicines used to treat high blood pressure may have an additive effect with Micardis in lowering your blood pressure. You may need different amounts of your medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Micardis.
How to take Micardis
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how many tablets you will need to take each day. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.
If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
For the Treatment of Hypertension
The usual dose of Micardis for adults is one 40 mg tablet once a day.
If your blood pressure is still too high after 4-8 weeks of starting treatment, your doctor may increase your dose to 80 mg.
For the Prevention of Cardiovascular Complications, including Death due to Cardiovascular Causes
The usual dose of Micardis is one 80 mg tablet once a day.
Depending on how you respond to the treatment, your doctor may suggest a higher or lower dose.
It is important to take Micardis exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.
When to take it
Take Micardis at about the same time each day, either morning or evening.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
It does not matter if you take Micardis before or after food.
How to take it
Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
You can take Micardis with or without food.
How long to take it
Take Micardis every day until your doctor tells you to stop.
Micardis helps to control your high blood pressure, and/or prevents you from developing cardiovascular complications, but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking Micardis every day even if you feel well.
People who have high blood pressure often feel well and do not notice any signs of this problem.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting unwanted side effects.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Micardis.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Micardis you may feel dizzy, light-headed or faint. Your heartbeat may be faster or lower than usual. You may experience rapid, shallow breathing or cold, clammy skin. This is because your blood pressure is too low.
While you are taking Micardis
Things you must do
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Micardis.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Micardis.
If you feel that Micardis is not helping your condition, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not used Micardis exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Micardis.
You should not take this medicine while you are pregnant.
If you are going to have surgery, tell your doctor and anaesthetist that you are taking Micardis.
Micardis may affect some medicines you receive during surgery.
Things you must not do
Do not use Micardis to treat other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as yours.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery while you are taking Micardis until you know how it affects you.
Like other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, Micardis may cause sleepiness, dizziness or lightheadedness in some people.
If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
You may feel dizzy or light-headed when you begin to take Micardis, especially if you are also taking a diuretic (or fluid tablet) or if you are dehydrated.
If this medicine makes you feel dizzy or light-headed, be careful when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from a bed or chair, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
If you exercise, or if you sweat, or if the weather is hot, you should drink plenty of water.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Micardis even if you do not think it is connected with the medicine.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
dizziness or lightheadedness when you stand up especially when getting up from a sitting or lying position
dizziness or spinning sensation, fainting
tiredness or weakness
'flu-like' symptoms
pain in the chest
diarrhoea
indigestion
stomach pain or discomfort
wind or excessive gas in the stomach or bowel (flatulence)
upper respiratory tract infections
shortness of breath
back pain
aching muscles, not caused by exercise (myalgia)
muscle spasms or leg cramps or leg pain
painful joints (arthralgia)
tendon pain or tendinitis-like symptoms
urinary tract infections (including cystitis)
trouble sleeping (insomnia)
feeling anxious
depression
fast or slow heart beats
visual disturbance
increased sweating
dry mouth
allergic skin reactions including skin rash (eczema); itchiness (pruritus); redness of the skin (erythema)
symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar levels in the blood, such as sweating, weakness, hunger, dizziness, trembling, headache or numbness (especially in diabetic patients)
abnormal liver functions
symptoms that may indicate a worsening of the kidney function, such as passing little or no urine, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, breathlessness, loss of appetite and weakness
symptoms that may indicate high potassium levels in the blood, such as nausea, diarrhoea, muscle weakness and changes in heart rhythm
signs of anaemia such as tiredness, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal (thrombocytopenia)
symptoms that may indicate an infection of the blood, such as high fever, chills, headache, confusion and rapid breathing
changes in your red or white blood cell levels may occur (such changes are usually detected by a blood test)
Tell your doctor immediately or go to casualty at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
severe and sudden onset of itchy or raised skin rash, hives or nettle rash
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After taking Micardis
Storage
Leave the tablets in the blister strip until it is time to take them.
The blister pack protects the tablets from light and moisture.
Keep Micardis in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store Micardis or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep Micardis where young children cannot reach it.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using Micardis or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Micardis is the brand name of your medicine.
Micardis tablets are available in two strengths: 40 mg and 80 mg tablets.
Micardis 40 mg tablets are white to off-white oblong tablets, marked with the Boehringer Ingelheim logo on one face and '51H' on the other.
Micardis 80 mg tablets are white to off-white oblong tablets, marked with the Boehringer Ingelheim logo on one face and '52H' on the other.
Micardis tablets are available in blister packs of 28 tablets.
Ingredients
Each Micardis 40 mg tablet contains 40 mg telmisartan.
Each Micardis 80 mg tablet contains 80 mg telmisartan.
The other ingredients found in both strengths are:
povidone K25
meglumine
sodium hydroxide
sorbitol
magnesium stearate
Manufacturer
Micardis tablets are made in Germany and supplied in Australia by:
Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited
ABN 52 000 452 308
78 Waterloo Road
NORTH RYDE NSW 2113
Micardis is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim
This leaflet was updated on 5 January 2011.
© Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited 2011
Australian Registration Numbers :
AUST R 68052 for Micardis 40 mg tablets
AUST R 68053 for Micardis 80 mg tablets
