Telmisartan Actavis

Product Overview

About Telmisartan Actavis

Telmisartan Actavis is a medicine that contains the active substance telmisartan. It is available as tablets (20 mg; 40 and 80 mg). Telmisartan Actavis is a ‘generic medicine’. This means that Telmisartan Actavis is similar to a ‘reference medicine’ already authorised in the European Union (EU) called Micardis.

What it is used for

Telmisartan Actavis is used to treat essential hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults. ‘Essential’ means that the hypertension has no obvious cause. Telmisartan Actavis is also used to prevent cardiovascular problems (problems with the heart and blood vessels) such as heart attacks or strokes. It is used in patients who have had problems due to blood clots in the past (such as heart disease, a stroke or artery disease) or who have type 2 diabetes that has damaged an organ (such as the eyes, heart or kidneys). The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

How it is used

For the treatment of essential hypertension, the usual recommended dose of Telmisartan Actavis is 40 mg once a day, but some patients may benefit from using 20mg once a day. If the target blood pressure is not reached, the dose can be increased to 80 mg, or another medicine for hypertension can be added, such as hydrochlorothiazide. For the prevention of cardiovascular problems, the recommended dose is 80 mg once a day. The doctor should monitor the patient’s blood pressure closely when starting Telmisartan Actavis, and may decide to adjust the patient’s blood-pressure-lowering medication. Patients with severely reduced kidney function should receive a lower starting dose of 20 mg once a day. Patients with mild or moderately reduced liver function should not receive doses higher than 40 mg a day.

How it works

The active substance in Telmisartan Actavis, telmisartan, is an ‘angiotensin II receptor antagonist’, which means that it blocks the action of a hormone in the body called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a powerful vasoconstrictor (a substance that narrows blood vessels). By blocking the receptors to which angiotensin II normally attaches, telmisartan stops the hormone having an effect, allowing the blood vessels to widen. This allows the blood pressure to drop, reducing the risks associated with high blood pressure, such as having a heart attack or stroke. It also allows the heart to pump blood more easily, which can help to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular problems.

Active substance: telmisartan

Source: EMA EPAR