Irbesartan

💊 What is Irbesartan used for?

• •High blood pressure (hypertension), to lower blood pressure. The label says lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, mainly strokes and heart attacks.
• •Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease caused by diabetes) in hypertensive adults with type 2 diabetes, an elevated serum creatinine, and proteinuria (protein in the urine).

How it works

The label describes irbesartan as an angiotensin II receptor (AT1 subtype) antagonist. It blocks the effect of angiotensin II, a substance that narrows blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure. The label does not describe further mechanisms.

How it is usually taken

• •The label says irbesartan is usually taken once a day. It may be taken with or without food, and it may be used together with other blood pressure medicines. Follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Comes as

• •75 mg tablets
• •150 mg tablets (white to off-white, oval, marked 'HH' on one side and '330' on the other)
• •300 mg tablets

⚠️ Irbesartan side effects

🛑 Who should not take Irbesartan, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You are allergic to any ingredient in irbesartan tablets. The label lists this as a contraindication.
• 🚨You have diabetes and take aliskiren. The label says these should not be used together.

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •Tell your prescriber about any pregnancy, or plans to become pregnant. The label says to discuss treatment options with women planning pregnancy.
• •Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium unless your healthcare provider says it is okay. The label advises this.
• •Tell your provider if you are dehydrated or losing a lot of salt. The label says to correct volume or salt depletion before starting irbesartan.
• •Tell your provider if you have kidney artery narrowing, chronic kidney disease, severe heart failure, or volume depletion. The label says these patients may be at particular risk and need periodic kidney checks.
• •Tell your provider about all medicines you take, especially lithium, NSAID pain relievers, and aliskiren, because these can interact with irbesartan.

🔀 Irbesartan with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

• •Lithium: The label says irbesartan can increase lithium levels and cause lithium toxicity. Lithium levels should be monitored.
• •NSAIDs, including COX-2 inhibitors: The label says these can increase the risk of kidney problems and can weaken irbesartan's blood pressure effect. Kidney function should be checked periodically.
• •Other medicines that raise potassium levels: The label says this may cause high potassium, sometimes severe, and potassium should be monitored.
• •Other renin-angiotensin system medicines (such as ACE inhibitors or aliskiren): The label says combining them increases the risks of low blood pressure, high potassium, and kidney changes. The label says to avoid combined use in general.

Alcohol and food

The label does not say.

🤰 Irbesartan in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label says irbesartan can cause fetal harm when given to a pregnant woman. Use of these medicines in the second and third trimesters reduces fetal kidney function and increases fetal and neonatal illness and death. When pregnancy is detected, the label says to stop irbesartan as soon as possible.

Breastfeeding

The label notes there is a potential for adverse effects in infants. The provided label text does not give further details.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Short excursions to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) are permitted, according to the label.

If a dose is missed

The label does not say.

If too much is taken

The label says no human overdose data are available. The most likely effects are expected to be low blood pressure and a fast heart rate, and a slow heart rate might also occur. The label says irbesartan is not removed by hemodialysis. Contact a doctor, poison control, or emergency services right away if an overdose is suspected.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Irbesartan

• Should I have a pregnancy test or talk about pregnancy before starting irbesartan?
• What should I do if I think I might be pregnant while taking irbesartan?
• Are my kidney function and potassium levels going to be checked, and how often?
• Can I use salt substitutes or potassium supplements with this medicine?
• Is it safe for me to take NSAID pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, with irbesartan?
• What should I do if I feel dizzy or faint when I stand up?

❓ Irbesartan: frequently asked questions