Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - AG-Candesartan
What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:
Calcium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, iron oxide (except 4 mg tablets), lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch and polyethylene glycol.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Tablets: 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg and 32 mg.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
What the medication is used for:
AG-CANDESARTAN is used to treat: High Blood Pressure in Adults
High Blood Pressure in Children (6 to 17 years of age) Heart Failure in Adults
What it does:
AG-CANDESARTAN is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). You can recognize an ARB because its medicinal ingredient ends in “-SARTAN”
This medicine does not cure your disease. It helps to control it. Therefore, it is important to continue taking AG-CANDESARTAN regularly even if you feel fine.
Its main action is to relax the arteries, letting the blood flow more freely, thereby lowering the blood pressure.
When it should not be used:
Do not take AG-CANDESARTAN if you:
- Are allergic to candesartan cilexetil or to any nonmedicinal ingredient in the formulation.
- Have experienced an allergic reaction (angioedema) with swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles, face, lips, tongue, throat, or sudden difficulty breathing or swallowing, to any ARB. Be sure to tell your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist that this has happened to you.
- Are already taking a blood pressure-lowering medicine that contains aliskiren (such as Rasilez) and you have diabetes or kidney disease.
Are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Taking AG-CANDESARTAN during pregnancy can cause injury and even death to your baby.
- Are breastfeeding. It is possible that candesartan cilexetil passes into breast milk.
- Are less than 1 year old
Have one of the following rare hereditary diseases:
- Galactose intolerance
- Lapp lactase deficiency
- Glucose-galactose malabsorption
Because lactose is a non-medicinal ingredient in AG- CANDESARTAN.
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Candesartan cilexetil
Before you use AG-CANDESARTAN talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you:
- Have experienced an allergic reaction to any drug used to lower blood pressure, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
- Have narrowing of an artery or a heart valve.
- Have had a heart attack or stroke.
- Have heart failure.
- Have diabetes, heart, liver or kidney disease.
- Are on dialysis.
- Are dehydrated or suffer from excessive vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating.
- Are taking a salt substitute that contains potassium, potassium supplements, or a potassium-sparing diuretic (a specific kind of “water pill” that makes your body keep potassium) or other drugs that may increase potassium levels (e.g., heparin, co- trimoxazole).
- Are on a low-salt diet.
- Are taking a medicine that contains aliskiren, such as Rasilez, used to lower high blood pressure. The combination with candesartan cilexetil is not recommended.
- Are taking an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. You can recognize ACE inhibitors because their medicinal ingredient ends in “-PRIL”.
- Are taking an ACE-inhibitor together with a medicine which belongs to the class of medicines known as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (for example, spironolactone, eplerenone). These medicines are for the treatment of heart failure.
Driving and using machines: Before you perform tasks which may require special attention, wait until you know how you respond to AG-CANDESARTAN. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting can especially occur after the first dose and when the dose is increased.
If you are currently taking AG-CANDESARTAN and are going to have an operation, be sure to tell your doctor or dentist about your medication before you are given an anaesthetic.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
Serious Warnings and Precautions – Pregnancy AG-CANDESARTAN should not be used during pregnancy. If you discover that you are pregnant while taking AG-CANDESARTAN stop the medication and contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist as soon as possible.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
As with most medicines, interactions with other drugs are possible. Tell your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including drugs prescribed by other doctors, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements, or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with AG-CANDESARTAN:
- Agents increasing serum potassium, such as a salt substitute that contains potassium, potassium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretic (a specific kind of “water pill”), or other drugs that may increase potassium levels (e.g., heparin, co-trimoxazole).
- Lithium used to treat bipolar disease.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to reduce pain and swelling. Examples include ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib.
- Blood pressure-lowering drugs, including diuretics (“water pills”), aliskiren-containing products (e.g. Rasilez) or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
- Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (for example, spironolactone, eplerenone) and ACE inhibitors used in Heart failure.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
The dosage of AG-CANDESARTAN is individualized.
Take AG-CANDESARTAN exactly as prescribed. It is recommended to take your dose at about the same time everyday.
AG-CANDESARTAN is taken once a day. Even if your doctor has prescribed 2 tablets a day, both should be taken at the same time, unless otherwise indicated.
AG-CANDESARTAN may be taken with food or on an empty stomach but it should be taken consistently the same way each day.
Swallow AG-CANDESARTAN with a glass of water.
How to use the blister packs:
- As an aid to help you keep track of your doses, AG-CANDESARTAN comes in a blister pack. The days of the week are printed on the back of the blister. To start, take the tablet that matches the day of the week. Continue taking the tablets in order, until they are all finished.
- There are 14 days of labeled tablets in each blister, with one extra to make 15. All 15 tablets, including the one labeled “Take this tablet last”, are exactly the same. Once you have finished the 14 labeled tablets, take the one marked "Take this tablet last" before starting your next blister pack.
Usual Dose:
Lower doses may be required based on the other medications you take and the presence of other disease conditions.
High Blood Pressure in Adults: Recommended Initial Dose: 16 mg once a day. Total Daily Dose: 8 mg to 32 mg once a day.
High Blood Pressure in Children (6 to 17 years of age):
For children who weigh less than 50 kg: Recommended Starting Dose: 4 mg once a day. Maximum Dose: 8 mg once a day
For children who weigh 50 kg or more: Recommended Starting Dose: 8 mg once a day. Maximum Dose: 16 mg once a day
Candesartan cilexetil must not be given to children under 1 year of age due to the potential risk to the developing kidneys.
Heart Failure in Adults:
Usual Recommended Initial Dose: 4 mg once a day.
If tolerated by the patient, this dose is gradually doubled (approximately every 2 weeks) until the target dose is reached.
Target Dose: 32 mg once a day.
Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose of AG-CANDESARTAN and remember within 12 hours, you should take your usual dose as soon as possible. Then go back to your regular schedule. But if it is more than 12 hours when you remember, do not take the missed dose. Just take the next dose on time.
Never take a double dose of AG-CANDESARTAN to make up for missed tablets. If you are still unsure, check with your doctor or pharmacist to see what you should do.
Side effects may include:
- Dizziness, falls
- drowsiness, insomnia
- rash
- diarrhea, vomiting
- headache
- back or leg pain, muscle cramps
- cough
- sore throat
- dry mouth
- cold symptoms
- pneumonia
- fainting spells
- confusion
Side effects in adults and children are similar, but may occur more often in children.
If any of these affects you severely, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
Overdose:
In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
AG-CANDESARTAN can cause abnormal blood test results. Your doctor will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking AG-CANDESARTAN, contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
When you first open the package, if you find any damage to the plastic seal or foil which exposes the tablet, ask your pharmacist to check the package.
AG-CANDESARTAN is protected in their package, it is best to keep the tablets in their original package at normal room temperature and in a dry place. Do not keep AG-CANDESARTAN in the bathroom.
Keep out of sight and reach of children. Never take medicine in front of small children as they will want to copy you.
Do not keep or use AG-CANDESARTAN after the expiry date indicated on the package. Unused medicines which you know you will no longer need should be carefully discarded. You may wish to seek advice from your pharmacist.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||||
| Symptom / effect | Talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and seek immediate medical help | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||
| Rare | Rhabdomyolysis: muscle pain that you cannot explain, muscle tenderness or weakness, dark brown urine | √ | ||
| Very rare | Decreased Platelets: bruising, bleeding, fatigue and weakness | √ | ||
| Unknown | Inflammation of the Pancreas: abdominal pain that lasts and gets worse when you lie down, nausea and vomiting | √ | ||
| Chest Pain | √ | |||
| Stroke (cerebrovascular accident): face or arm weakness, abnormal speech and blurred vision, loss of consciousness | √ | |||
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||||
| Symptom / effect | Talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and seek immediate medical help | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||
| Common | Low Blood Pressure: dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness | √ | ||
| Fast, Slow or Irregular Heart Beat | √ | |||
Increased levels of potassium in the blood: irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness and generally feeling unwell | √ | |||
| Uncommon | Allergic Reaction: rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing | √ | ||
Kidney Disorder: change in frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, swelling of extremities, fatigue. | √ | |||
| Hematuria (blood in urine) | √ | |||
| Liver Disorder: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite | √ | |||
| Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing (Dyspnea, Pulmonary edema) | √ | |||
Remember to get a new prescription from your doctor or a refill from your pharmacy a few days before all your tablets are taken.
NOTE: This CONSUMER INFORMATION leaflet provides you with the most current information at the time of printing. For the most current information, the Consumer Information Leaflet plus the full Product Monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found at:
Angita Pharma Inc.
1310 Nobel Street
Boucherville, Québec
J4B 5H3
Phone: 450-449-9272
Last revised: January 17, 2019
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
REPORTING SIDE EFFECTS
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
- Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.