Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - AG-Candesartan Tablets
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Candesartan cilexetil.
What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:
Calcium carboxymethylcellulose, maize starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, iron oxide red, lactose monohydrate, macrogol 8000 and magnesium stearate.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Tablets: 8 mg, 16 mg and 32 mg.
What the medication is used for:
AG-Candesartan Tablets 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 Tablets 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 Tablets 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 Tablets if you:
- Are allergic to candesartan cilexetil or to any non- medicinal 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 Tablets during pregnancy can cause injury and even death to your baby.
- Are breastfeeding. It is possible that AG-Candesartan Tablets passes into breast milk.
Are less than 1 year old
Before you use AG-Candesartan Tablets 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 AG-Candesartan Tablets 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.
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Serious Warnings and Precautions - Pregnancy AG-Candesartan Tablets should not be used during pregnancy. If you discover that you are pregnant while taking AG-Candesartan Tablets, stop the medication and contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist as soon as possible.
Driving and using machines: Before you perform tasks which may require special attention, wait until you know how you respond to AG-Candesartan Tablets. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting can especially occur after the first dose and when the dose is increased.
If you are currently taking AG-Candesartan Tablets and are going to have an operation, be sure to tell your doctor or dentist about your medication before you are given an anaesthetic.
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 Tablets:
- 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.
The dosage of AG-Candesartan Tablets is individualized.
Take AG-Candesartan Tablets exactly as prescribed. It is recommended to take your dose at about the same time everyday.
AG-Candesartan Tablets 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 Tablets may be taken with food or on an empty stomach but it should be taken consistently the same way each day.
Swallow AG-Candesartan Tablets with a glass of water.
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
AG-Candesartan Tablets 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.
Overdose:
Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose of AG-Candesartan Tablets 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 Tablets to make up for missed tablets. If you are still unsure, check with your doctor or pharmacist to see what you should do. PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
If you think you have taken too much AG-Candesartan Tablets, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
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.
AG-Candesartan Tablets can cause abnormal blood test results. Your doctor will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.
| 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 | √ | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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) | √ | |||
| 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 | √ | |||
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.
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking AG-Candesartan Tablets, contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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 Tablets tablets are protected in their package, it is best to keep the tablets in their original package at normal room temperature (15°C to 30°C) and in a dry place. Do not keep AG-Candesartan Tablets 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 Tablets 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.
Remember to get a new prescription from your doctor
or a refill from your pharmacy a few days before all your tablets are taken.
If you want more information about AG-Candesartan Tablets:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Consumer information section by visiting the Health Canada website (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); or by calling the sponsor at 450-449-9272.
Angita Pharma Inc.
1310 rue Nobel
Boucherville, Québec
J4B 5H3
Last revised: June 19, 2020
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN | THEY | ||
| HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT T | HEM | ||
Symptom / efffect Talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist Only if severe In all cases Stroke (cerebrovascular accident): face or arm weakness, abnormal speech and blurred vision, loss of consciousness √ | Stop taking drug and seek immediate medical help | ||