Olmesartan
Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker taken once a day to lower high blood pressure, sold as Benicar tablets in 10mg, 20mg and 40mg.
A cuff reading at a routine check
Most people meet hypertension (high blood pressure) at a routine check, when the cuff gives a number that nothing in their day had hinted at. Olmesartan is the daily answer: a tablet swallowed at a time you can keep to, with or without food, as a long-term habit rather than a short course. It is an angiotensin receptor blocker, in the same group as losartan and candesartan. Angiotensin II is the hormone that narrows vessels and makes the kidneys hold on to salt and water, and olmesartan occupies its receptor, so vessels widen and the heart pushes against less. Pulse rate is not usually changed.
Benicar is the version sold here, in 10mg, 20mg and 40mg, and it sits in the heart and blood pressure range. The drop is gradual, with the full effect after roughly two weeks. Readings stay down only while the tablets are taken; stop them and the underlying tendency shows itself again.
Side effects to expect
Side effects are usually light. The commonest is a woozy feeling on standing too quickly, which tends to fade within a week or two; headache, back pain and tiredness are also reported. Rarely the face, lips or throat puff up and breathing gets hard, which calls for emergency treatment. After months of use a few people develop lasting diarrhoea with weight loss, a bowel problem tied to olmesartan that clears once it is stopped. Pregnancy rules it out: olmesartan can harm a developing baby, most of all in the last six months.
Other medicines, alcohol and everyday painkillers
Potassium is the first thing to watch: supplements, and salt substitutes that use potassium chloride, can lift it to unsafe levels alongside olmesartan. Painkillers of the ibuprofen and naproxen type blunt the tablet's effect and, used regularly, strain the kidneys. Alcohol adds to the fall in pressure and can leave you unsteady on your feet. Olmesartan is often taken alongside other pressure-lowering drugs; the one pairing best avoided is aliskiren in people who also have diabetes.
Benicar tablets and strengths
Benicar is the olmesartan sold here, as plain tablets in 10mg, 20mg and 40mg. Keep the foil strips in a dry place, clear of heat and direct sun. The number on the pack is simply how much olmesartan each tablet holds, and which strength suits depends on how far the pressure has to fall. It is the same medicine at every strength, so a change of tablet is a change of dose, nothing more.
Sources
- Olmesartan: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- High blood pressure - NHS — NHS
Is Olmesartan available to order in Hong Kong?
Olmesartan can be ordered online for delivery to Hong Kong. The range is generic Benicar tablets in 10mg, 20mg and 40mg. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much do Olmesartan products cost in Hong Kong?
Benicar is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Do I need a prescription to order Olmesartan?
You will not be asked to upload one. Olmesartan goes in the basket like anything else here, and the ordering FAQ walks through the rest.
What are the brand names for olmesartan?
Benicar is a brand name of olmesartan, which is also sold as Olmetec and Olsar. Here, olmesartan can be bought online as generic Benicar. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does olmesartan take to lower blood pressure?
Two weeks is the point at which to judge it, not before. A single tablet covers the whole day, which is why one a day is enough, and the fall in blood pressure arrives gradually across that fortnight.
Can I drink alcohol with olmesartan?
A glass with a meal now and then sits comfortably alongside the tablets. A nightly habit does not: sustained heavy drinking pushes blood pressure up over time and undoes the work olmesartan is doing.
Does olmesartan cause a dry cough?
Rarely. The dry, tickly cough that bothers some people on ACE inhibitors such as ramipril is uncommon with olmesartan, which blocks the same system one step further along. That difference is one reason this class gets chosen.
What is the difference between Benicar 10mg, 20mg and 40mg?
Just how much olmesartan is in each tablet: 10mg, 20mg and 40mg are the three sizes sold here. They treat the same condition, and the size chosen matches how much the pressure needs to fall; 40mg is the largest.
Can I take ibuprofen with olmesartan?
For a headache on the odd day, ibuprofen is not a concern. It becomes one when ibuprofen or naproxen is taken most days, because they raise blood pressure and can wear on the kidneys over time. Paracetamol leaves both alone.