How long for atacand to take effect

You will have been prescribed candesartan either because your heart is not working as well as it should heart failure , or because your blood pressure is too high hypertension. People with high blood pressure usually feel well but, if left untreated, high blood pressure can harm the heart and damage blood vessels. Candesartan works by blocking the effect of a chemical called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes your blood vessels to narrow, so by blocking its effect, candesartan allows your blood vessels to relax and widen.

As this happens, the pressure within your blood vessels is reduced and it is easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking candesartan it is important that your doctor knows:. Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with candesartan.

You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the tablets, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice. Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else might have taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital. Take the container with you, even if it is empty.

This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking candesartan will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant. However, some types of hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch , aren't usually recommended for women with high blood pressure.

Talk to your doctor if you're taking a combined hormonal contraceptive. Candesartan can make some people feel dizzy - especially when you first start taking it or after taking a bigger dose.

If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery. You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have high blood pressure or heart failure. Page last reviewed: 13 December Next review due: 13 December Candesartan On this page About candesartan Key facts Who can and cannot take candesartan How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About candesartan Candesartan is a medicine widely used to treat high blood pressure hypertension and heart failure. This medicine is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets. NHS coronavirus advice If you have coronavirus, or think you might have it, keep taking your blood pressure medicines as usual.

Updated: 17 March Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Candesartan lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. It's often used as a second-choice treatment if you had to stop taking your first because it gave you a dry, irritating cough.

The main side effects of candesartan are dizziness, headache and cold or flu-like symptoms - but they're usually mild and short-lived. If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor. You may need to stop taking candesartan for a while until you feel better.

Candesartan is also called by the brand name Amias. Candesartan can be taken by adults aged 18 and over. Candesartan isn't suitable for some people. To make sure candesartan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: diarrhoea or if you've recently had it or you're being sick vomiting been on a low salt diet recently had a kidney transplant if you have had an allergic reaction to candesartan or any other medicines in the past severe liver disease or a problem with the drainage of the bile from your gall bladder biliary obstruction diabetes heart, liver or kidney problems low blood pressure hypotension are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or you're breastfeeding.

Dosage The dose of candesartan you take depends on why you need the medicine. As a general rule in adults, the dose to treat: high blood pressure is 8mg to 32mg once a day heart failure is 4mg to 32mg once a day In people with liver or kidney problems, the dose may be lower. As a general rule in children aged 6 years and over , the dose to treat high blood pressure is: for children weighing less than 50kg, the dose is 4mg to 8mg once a day for children weighing 50kg and more, the dose is 4mg to 16mg once daily Will my dose go up or down?

Important Take candesartan even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits of the medicine. What if I get sick while I'm taking it? What if I forget to take it?

What if I take too much? Common side effects These common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away: feeling dizzy or having a spinning sensation vertigo feeling sick nausea headaches being sick vomiting or diarrhoea pain in your joints or muscles Serious side effects It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects after taking candesartan.

Call a doctor straight away if you have: yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow - this can be a sign of liver problems pale skin, feeling tired, faint or dizzy, purple spots, any sign of bleeding, sore throat and fever - these can be signs of blood or bone marrow disorder weakness, an irregular heartbeat, pins and needles and muscle cramps - these can be signs of changes in the sodium and potassium levels in your blood Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, candesartan may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.

Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: feeling dizzy - if candesartan makes you feel dizzy when you stand up, try getting up very slowly or stay sitting down until you feel better. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you don't faint, then sit until you feel better.

Do not drive or use tools or machines if you feel dizzy, have muscle cramps or muscle pain, or if you just feel a bit shaky. It may also help if you don't eat rich or spicy food. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.

Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking candesartan. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe. If you're being sick try small, frequent sips.

Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration , such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. If you get severe vomiting or diarrhoea from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor. You may need a blood test to check what might be causing it. Candesartan and breastfeeding Small amounts of candesartan may get into breast milk. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:.

Some medicines interfere with the way candesartan works. Tell your doctor if you're taking: other medicines to help lower your blood pressure, including aliskiren, enalapril , captopril, lisinopril or ramipril painkillers such as ibuprofen , naproxen , diclofenac , celecoxib or etoricoxib aspirin if you're taking more than 3g a day potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium heparin a medicine for thinning the blood water tablets diuretics lithium a medicine for mental health problems spironolactone a medicine to treat heart failure Mixing candesartan with herbal remedies or supplements There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with candesartan.

Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does candesartan work? How long does it take to work? How long will I take it for?

Is candesartan safe to take for a long time? What will happen if I stop taking it? Can I come off candesartan now my blood pressure is lower? Can I drink alcohol with it? Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? Are there similar medicines to candesartan? There are also other types of blood pressure-lowering medicines such as: ACE inhibitors - for example ramipril calcium-channel blockers - for example amlodipine beta blockers - for example bisoprolol diuretics water tablets - for example bendroflumethiazide The blood pressure-lowering medicine you're prescribed depends on your age and ethnicity: if you're under 55 - you'll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker if you're 55 or older, or you're any age and of African Caribbean or black African origin - you'll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker Many people need to take a combination of different blood pressure-lowering medicines.

It belongs to a group of medicines called ARBs. Candesartan may be used for:. Candesartan can work quickly for high blood pressure hypertension. If you have heart failure it may be a few weeks before you notice an improvement in your symptoms. Once you have started candesartan you will generally keep taking it for life unless you have a side effect. In New Zealand candesartan is available as tablets. This is because candesartan can increase the amount of potassium salts in your blood, particularly if you are dehydrated.

Candesartan helps to protect your kidneys from damage if you have diabetes. In most cases candesartan is protective but if you are taking candesartan and diuretics water pills , the combination of these with NSAIDs anti-inflammatory pain relief medication can be very harmful to your kidneys.

It can cause acute kidney injury. This combination is called the dangerous trio or triple whammy.