Overview

Brand name: Micardis

Active ingredient: telmisartan

Medication class: Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)

Available strengths: 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg tablets

Conditions addressed: Hypertension and reduction of certain cardiovascular risks. Jump to details in What It Treats.

What It Treats

Micardis helps relax blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and making it easier for the heart to pump. It is:

  • Indicated for adults with high blood pressure.
  • Used to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke in high-risk adults, commonly age 55 and older with additional risk factors.
  • Suitable as a single agent or combined with other antihypertensives. For combination choices, see Alternatives and Similar Medicines.

Consistent use is important because high blood pressure often has no symptoms. Read about possible reactions in Side Effects.

How To Take Micardis

Use Micardis exactly as prescribed. Typical guidance includes:

  • Take once daily, at about the same time each day, with or without food.
  • Common starting dose for hypertension: 40 mg once daily. Some patients respond to 20 mg, while others may need up to 80 mg.
  • It can take up to 4 weeks to see the full blood pressure effect.
  • If also using a diuretic or other BP agent, your prescriber may adjust the dose.

Special situations:

  • Liver impairment: lower initial doses and careful monitoring may be needed.
  • Kidney impairment or volume depletion: start cautiously to avoid low blood pressure.
  • Pregnancy: do not use. See Who Should Not Use.

If you feel dizzy when standing up, rise slowly and discuss with your clinician. For drug combinations to avoid, review Interactions.

Precautions and Safety Tips

Before starting Micardis, inform your healthcare provider about:

  • Kidney, liver, or heart problems, or dehydration.
  • High potassium levels or use of potassium supplements or salt substitutes.
  • Allergies to telmisartan, other ARBs, or ACE inhibitors.
  • Current prescription drugs, OTC medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Practical advice:

  • Limit alcohol, which can enhance dizziness or drop blood pressure.
  • Be cautious with activities that require alertness until you know how you respond.
  • Tell your surgeon or dentist you take Micardis before any procedure.

Note: ARBs carry a boxed warning about fetal toxicity. See contradindications for details.

Who Should Not Use Micardis

  • Pregnancy at any stage or planning to become pregnant. ARBs can harm or end a pregnancy.
  • Allergy to telmisartan or its components.
  • Use of aliskiren in patients with diabetes due to increased risks.

Use with caution and close monitoring if you have severe kidney disease, liver impairment, bilateral renal artery stenosis, or high potassium. Discuss your situation with your prescriber.

Possible Side Effects

Seek urgent help for swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, severe dizziness, fainting, or trouble breathing. Other effects can occur. This is not a full list.

Common or reported reactions

  • Back pain
  • Sinus congestion or sinusitis
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Dry cough (less frequent than with ACE inhibitors)
  • Edema including ankle or leg swelling

Less common or serious effects

  • Hypotension including postural hypotension
  • Hyperkalemia
  • Chest pain
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Congestive heart failure exacerbation
  • Syncope
  • Abdominal pain or dyspepsia
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Hypersensitivity reactions or erythema
  • Muscle cramps, including leg cramps
  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Face or generalized swelling

If a symptom persists or worsens, contact your healthcare provider. For advice tailored to you, see Disclaimer.

Drug and Supplement Interactions

Tell your pharmacist or prescriber about everything you take. Interactions of note include:

  • Potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone, eplerenone, amiloride, and potassium supplements or salt substitutes - risk of high potassium.
  • Diuretics (water pills) - may increase risk of low blood pressure when starting therapy.
  • ACE inhibitors, other ARBs, or aliskiren - dual renin-angiotensin system blockade is generally not recommended; avoid aliskiren if you have diabetes.
  • NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen - may reduce BP-lowering effect and affect kidney function, especially in older adults or dehydrated patients.
  • Lithium - risk of lithium toxicity; monitor levels closely if combined.
  • Digoxin - monitor for changes in effect or side effects.

When in doubt, ask your pharmacist to check for interactions before starting anything new.

If You Miss a Dose

Take it when remembered unless it is almost time for the next dose. Do not double up. Resume your regular schedule.

Overdose

Too much Micardis can cause marked low blood pressure, dizziness, or fainting. Call your doctor, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Storage

Keep tablets at 25 C (77 F); brief excursions between 15 C and 30 C (59 F to 86 F) are permitted. Store in the original container, away from moisture and out of reach of children and pets.

Alternatives and Similar Medicines

Drugs with similar purposes include ARBs, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and diuretics. Suitability depends on your health profile and coexisting conditions. Examples:

  • ARBs: losartan, valsartan, olmesartan, candesartan, irbesartan. Comparable BP-lowering efficacy; dosing and side effect profiles differ slightly.
  • ACE inhibitors: lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril. Effective but more cough and rare angioedema compared with ARBs.
  • Calcium channel blockers: amlodipine, nifedipine ER. Useful for isolated systolic hypertension and in many combination regimens.
  • Thiazide-type diuretics: hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide. Strong outcome data, commonly combined with ARBs.
  • Beta blockers: metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol. Often used when there are specific indications such as coronary disease or heart failure.
  • Fixed-dose combinations: telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide; telmisartan-amlodipine. May simplify regimens when more than one agent is needed.

Ask your clinician which class is best for you. For pricing comparisons, see Prices in USD.

Prices in USD - Rough Comparison

Retail prices vary by pharmacy, region, and insurance. Discount programs and coupons can significantly change out-of-pocket costs. Approximate per-tablet cash prices in the USA:

  • Telmisartan generic 20-80 mg: about $0.10 to $0.60
  • Micardis brand 20-80 mg: about $7 to $12
  • Losartan generic 25-100 mg: about $0.04 to $0.20
  • Valsartan generic 40-320 mg: about $0.06 to $0.30
  • Olmesartan generic 5-40 mg: about $0.20 to $0.80
  • Amlodipine generic 2.5-10 mg: about $0.03 to $0.10
  • Hydrochlorothiazide generic 12.5-50 mg: about $0.03 to $0.10

Combination products usually cost more than single-ingredient generics. Confirm current pricing with your pharmacy.

Quick Facts

Active ingredient
Telmisartan
Relevant condition
Hypertension and prevention of select cardiovascular events
Typical daily schedule
Once daily, consistent timing

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Disclaimer

The information on this page is general and may not include every precaution, interaction, or instruction. It does not replace medical advice. Always follow your prescriber and pharmacist. If you experience severe side effects, call your doctor or seek emergency care. For personalized guidance, consult a licensed healthcare professional.