Olmezest 20: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also in: हिन्दी தமிழ் मराठी తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ বাংলা ગુજરાતી മലയാളം ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ଓଡ଼ିଆ
Also known as: Olmezest, Olmezest 20 mg, Olmezest 20 tablet, Olmesartan 20 mg, Olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg
Olmezest 20 is a prescription tablet containing 20 mg of olmesartan medoxomil, used to treat high blood pressure. It belongs to a group called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). It is taken only on a doctor's prescription, is usually taken once a day for a long time, and must not be started or stopped without a doctor. It must not be taken during pregnancy.
- Active ingredient
- Olmesartan 20 mg
- Type of medicine
- Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Used for
- High blood pressure
- Starts working in
- Blood pressure begins to fall within hours of a dose; the full effect can take a few weeks
- Effect lasts
- About 13 hours is the half-life, and it is usually taken once a day
- With or without food
- Can be taken with or without food; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- Alcohol can lower blood pressure further and cause dizziness; ask your doctor
- Pregnancy
- No. It can seriously harm the developing baby; tell your doctor at once if you are or may be pregnant
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Olmezest 20 used for?
- How does Olmezest 20 work?
- How to take Olmezest 20
- Side effects of Olmezest 20
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Olmezest 20
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Olmezest 20 used for?
Olmezest 20 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat high blood pressure, on its own or with other blood pressure medicines.
- Treating high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults, alone or together with other blood pressure medicines
How does Olmezest 20 work?
Your body makes a hormone called angiotensin II that narrows blood vessels and makes the body hold on to salt and water, which raises blood pressure. Olmesartan blocks the receptor that angiotensin II attaches to, so the vessels relax and widen and blood pressure falls.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet dissolves in the gut. Olmesartan medoxomil is a pro-drug, which the body converts into the active medicine olmesartan.
It travels in the blood
Olmesartan is carried around the body and reaches the blood vessels and the kidneys.
It blocks the angiotensin II receptor
On the walls of blood vessels, olmesartan attaches to the AT1 receptor that angiotensin II would normally switch on, and stops the hormone from acting.
Vessels relax and widen
With the narrowing signal blocked, the blood vessels relax and blood pressure falls.
The body clears it
Olmesartan is removed from the body with a half-life of about 13 hours, so one dose a day keeps the effect going. Blood pressure can rise again if doses are missed or stopped.
How to take Olmezest 20
Take Olmezest 20 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.
- It is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day.
- It can be taken with or without food. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
- High blood pressure usually gives no symptoms, so you may feel well. Do not stop taking it on your own; talk to your doctor first.
- Your doctor may ask for blood tests and blood pressure checks from time to time, especially to check potassium and kidney function.
Side effects of Olmezest 20
Most people take olmesartan without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Dizziness, especially when standing up quickly
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Nausea or an upset stomach
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Fainting, or very low blood pressure with severe dizziness
- Severe or long-lasting diarrhoea with weight loss, which can start months or years after beginning the medicine
- A high potassium level, which can cause weakness, tiredness or an irregular heartbeat
- Passing much less urine than usual, or sudden swelling of the legs and feet
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Olmezest 20, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to olmesartan or any ingredient of the tablet
- Pregnancy (it can seriously harm the unborn baby)
- Diabetes together with aliskiren
- Pregnancy: do not take it if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, because medicines of this type can seriously harm the unborn baby. If you become pregnant, tell your doctor straight away
- Breastfeeding: it is not recommended; ask your doctor
- Kidney disease: blood tests may be needed
- Dehydration from vomiting, diarrhoea or heavy sweating, a low-salt diet or high-dose water tablets: blood pressure can fall too far
- High potassium levels, or taking potassium supplements or salt substitutes
- Diabetes if you also take aliskiren: this combination is not allowed
- Surgery or dental work: tell the doctor or dentist that you take it
Medicines and things that interact with Olmezest 20
Olmezest 20 can change how other medicines work, and some medicines change its effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies and painkillers bought over the counter.
- Other blood pressure medicines and water tablets: blood pressure may fall too low
- ACE inhibitors, other ARBs and aliskiren: higher risk of low blood pressure, high potassium and kidney problems; usually avoided
- Potassium supplements, salt substitutes and potassium-sparing water tablets: potassium can become too high
- NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen or diclofenac: they can weaken its effect and strain the kidneys
- Lithium: its level in the blood can rise to a harmful level
- Colesevelam (a cholesterol medicine): ask your doctor about timing
- Alcohol: can add to dizziness and low blood pressure
If someone takes too much
Taking one extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to be serious, but larger amounts can cause very low blood pressure, dizziness and fainting. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient olmesartan is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act; only a three-ingredient combination (olmesartan with hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone) is banned. Olmezest 20 contains olmesartan only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Olmesartan tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some products also contain other medicines, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Olmesartan is sold in different strengths, and in combination tablets with other medicines such as amlodipine or a water tablet. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Olmezest 20 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Olmesartan is a prescription-only medicine in India. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice. Keep taking it as directed even when you feel well.
Why do I need Olmezest 20 even when I feel fine?
High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms, but over the years it can damage the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. The medicine keeps blood pressure down only while you take it. Do not stop on your own, even if readings are normal.
Can I take Olmezest 20 during pregnancy?
No. Medicines of this type can seriously harm an unborn baby, and the label advises stopping them as soon as pregnancy is found. If you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are planning a baby, tell your doctor right away. Do not stop it without speaking to your doctor.
Can Olmezest 20 cause long-lasting diarrhoea?
Rarely, severe diarrhoea with weight loss has been reported, sometimes months or years after starting. Tell your doctor if this happens. Do not stop the medicine yourself; the doctor will check for other causes.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Olmezest 20?
Alcohol can lower blood pressure further and add to dizziness, especially when you stand up. Keep alcohol low and ask your doctor what is reasonable for you.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Olmezest 20?
Take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and carry on as usual. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed one. If you often forget, ask your doctor or pharmacist for tips.
What is the difference between Olmezest 20 and Olmesartan?
Olmezest is a brand name, and olmesartan is the medicine inside it. Generic tablets of the same strength contain the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching products.
Sources
- Olmesartan medoxomil tablets: prescribing information (Umedica). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- ATC/DDD Index: C09CA Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)