Telmisartan and Hydrochlorothiazide
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 Plus is used for
Micardis Plus 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 is needed, 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 Plus works
Micardis Plus contains telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide in one single tablet. These two active ingredients help to reduce blood pressure in different ways:
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.
Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to the group of medicines called diuretics. Diuretics help to reduce the amount of excess fluid in the body by increasing the amount of urine produced. They help with lowering blood pressure particularly when used with other blood pressure lowering medicines.
Your doctor may have prescribed Micardis Plus for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Micardis Plus has been prescribed for you.
Micardis Plus is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Use in Children
The safety and effectiveness of Micardis Plus in children and teenagers up to 18 years of age have not been established.
Before you take Micardis Plus
When you must not take it
Do not take Micardis Plus if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking:
Telmisartan or hydrochlorothiazide (the two active ingredients in Micardis Plus),
Other sulfonamide-derived medicines
any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Micardis Plus 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 Plus if you have a rare hereditary condition of fructose intolerance.
The maximum recommended daily dose of Micardis Plus contains 169 mg of sorbitol (in the 40/12.5 mg tablets) and approximately 338 mg of sorbitol (in the 80/12.5 mg and 80/25 mg tablets).
Do not take Micardis Plus if you have a rare hereditary condition of galactose intolerance.
The maximum recommended daily dose of Micardis Plus contains 112 mg of lactose (in the 40/12.5 mg and 80/12.5 mg tablets) and 99 mg of lactose (in the 80/25 mg tablets).
Do not take Micardis Plus if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Micardis Plus 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 breast-feed if you are taking Micardis Plus.
It is not known if telmisartan or hydrochlorothiazide, the active ingredients in Micardis Plus, pass into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.
Do not take Micardis Plus if you have any of the following medical conditions:
severe liver disease
severe kidney disease
cholestasis or biliary obstructive disorders (problem with the flow of bile from the gall bladder)
low potassium levels in the blood
high calcium levels in the blood.
Do not take Micardis Plus after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not take Micardis Plus if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Micardis Plus, 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)
diabetes
gout
fructose intolerance
galactose intolerance
a low salt diet
recent severe diarrhoea or vomiting
asthma
systemic lupus erythematosus (a disease affecting the skin, joints and kidney)
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 Plus.
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 Plus may interfere with each other. These include:
any other medicines used to treat high blood pressure such as beta-blockers
heart medicines such as digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure or antiarrhythmic medicines
lithium, a medicine used to treat certain mental illnesses
other diuretics or fluid tablets medicines used to help the kidneys get rid of salt and water by increasing the amount of urine produced
laxatives
potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes
medicines or salt substitutes which may increase your potassium levels
alcohol
sleeping tablets
strong pain killing medicines
medicines for diabetes (oral tablets or capsules or insulin)
powder or granules used to help reduce cholesterol
corticosteroid medicines such as prednisolone, cortisone or ACTH
aspirin
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation including arthritis)
medicines used to treat gout
calcium supplements or medicines containing calcium
anticholinergic medicines, which can be used to treat Parkinson's disease, relieve stomach cramps or prevent travel sickness
amantadine, a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease or to prevent influenza
medicines used to treat cancer (cytotoxic medicines)
These medicines may be affected by Micardis Plus, or may affect the way it works. Also, other medicines used to treat high blood pressure may have an additive effect with Micardis Plus in lowering your blood pressure. Therefore, you may need different amounts of your medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Micardis Plus.
How to take Micardis Plus
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
The usual dose for adults is one Micardis Plus 40/12.5 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 one Micardis Plus 80/12.5 mg tablet once a day.
If your blood pressure is still not satisfactorily controlled with Micardis Plus 80/12.5 mg, your doctor may increase your dose to one Micardis Plus 80/25 mg tablet once a day.
It is important to take Micardis Plus exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.
When to take it
Take Micardis Plus 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 Plus before or after food.
How to take it
Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
You can take Micardis Plus with or without food.
How long to take it
Take Micardis Plus every day until your doctor tells you to stop.
Micardis Plus helps control your high blood pressure but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking Micardis Plus 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 Plus.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Micardis Plus you may feel dizzy, light-headed or faint. Your heartbeat may be faster or lower than usual. You may experience dehydration, nausea, drowsiness and muscle spasm.
While you are taking Micardis Plus
Things you must do
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Micardis Plus.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Micardis Plus.
If you feel that Micardis Plus is not helping your condition, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not used Micardis Plus 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 Plus.
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 Plus.
Micardis Plus may affect some medicines you receive during surgery.
Things you must not do
Do not use Micardis Plus 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 you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how Micardis Plus affects you.
Like other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, Micardis Plus 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 Plus, 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 Plus 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:
'flu-like' symptoms
fainting, dizziness or spinning sensation
a feeling of tension or fullness in the nose, cheeks and behind the eyes, sometimes with a throbbing ache (sinusitis)
infections of the air passages
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
abnormal or blurred vision
back pain
changes in heart rhythm or increased heart rate
rash or redness or itchiness of skin
increased sweating
dizziness or lightheadedness when you stand up (postural hypotension)
stomach pain or discomfort (abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastritis)
wind or excessive gas in the stomach or bowel
vomiting
diarrhoea or constipation
dry mouth
pins and needles
sleep disturbances or trouble sleeping
feeling anxious
depression
impotence
leg pain or cramps in legs
aching muscles or aching joints not caused by exercise or muscle spasms
chest pain
pain
liver problems
changes in the levels of potassium or sodium or uric acid in your blood (such changes are usually detected by a blood test)
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any side effects during or after taking Micardis Plus, so that these may be properly treated.
Symptoms such as feeling very thirsty, sleepy, sick or vomiting, a dry mouth, general weakness, muscle pain or cramps, a very fast heart rate, may mean that the hydrochlorothiazide part of Micardis Plus is having an excessive effect.
You should tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
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 pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin, also called hives or nettle rash
developing or worsening of a disease called systemic lupus erythematosus which affects the skin, joints and kidney
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 Plus
Storage
Leave the tablets in the blister strip until it is time to take a dose.
The blister pack protects the tablets from light and moisture.
Keep Micardis Plus in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Micardis Plus 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 Plus where young children cannot reach it.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using Micardis Plus 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 Plus is the brand name of your medicine.
Micardis Plus tablets are available in three strengths: 40/12.5 mg, 80/12.5 mg and 80/25 mg tablets.
Micardis Plus 40/12.5 mg tablets are red and white oval shaped two layer tablets. The white face is marked with the Boehringer Ingelheim logo and 'H4'.
Micardis Plus 80/12.5 mg tablets are red and white oval shaped two layer tablets. The white face is marked with the Boehringer Ingelheim logo and 'H8'.
Micardis Plus 80/25 mg tablets are yellow and white oval shaped two layer tablets. The white face is marked with the Boehringer Ingelheim logo and 'H9'.
Micardis Plus tablets are available in blister packs of 28 tablets.
The following Australian Registration Numbers appear on the carton:
AUST R 82416 for Micardis Plus 40/12.5 mg tablets
AUST R 82418 for Micardis Plus 80/12.5 mg tablets
AUST R 143761 for Micardis Plus 80/25 mg tablets
Ingredients
Each Micardis Plus 40/12.5 mg tablet contains 40 mg telmisartan and 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide.
Each Micardis Plus 80/12.5 mg tablet contains 80 mg telmisartan and 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide.
Each Micardis Plus 80/25 mg tablet contains 80 mg telmisartan and 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide.
The other ingredients found in the tablets are:
starch-maize
iron oxide red CI77491 (in Micardis Plus 40/12.5 mg tablet and Micardis Plus 80/12.5 mg tablets)
or
iron oxide yellow CI77492 (in Micardis Plus 80/25 mg tablets)
magnesium stearate
meglumine
cellulose-microcrystalline
povidone (K25)
lactose
sodium hydroxide
sodium starch glycollate type A
sorbitol
Manufacturer
Micardis Plus 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 Plus is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim
This leaflet was last updated on 5 January 2011.
© Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited 2011
