Candesartan cilexetil
Candesartan cilexetil (Atacand)
Candesartan cilexetil
( kan-deh- SAR-tan)
Pregnancy Category: C (first trimester), D (second and third trimesters) Atacand (Rx)

Classification: Antihypertensive, angiotensin II receptor blocker

See Also: See also Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists and Antihypertensive Drugs.

Action/Kinetics: Is rapidly and completely bioactivated to candesartan by ester hydrolysis during absorption from the GI tract. Food does not affect bioavailability. Effect somewhat less in blacks. t 1/2, elimination: 9 hr. Excreted mainly unchanged in the urine and feces.

Side Effects: GI: N&V, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis. CNS: Headache, dizziness, paresthesia, vertigo, anxiety, depression, somnolence. CV: Tachycardia, palpitation; rarely, angina pectoris, MI. Body as a whole: Fatigue, asthenia, fever, peripheral edema. Respiratory: URTI, pharyngitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, coughing, dyspnea, sinusitis, epistaxis. GU: Impaired renal function, hematuria. Dermatologic: Rash, increased sweating. Miscellaneous: Backpain, chest pain, arthralgia, myalgia, angioedema.

Laboratory Test Alterations: Creatine phosphatase. Albuminuria, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia.

How Supplied: Tablets: 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, 32 mg

Dosage
?Tablets Hypertension, monotherapy.
Adults, usual initial: 16 mg once daily for monotherapy in those not volume depleted. Can be given once or twice daily in doses from 8 to 32 mg.