Get Informed: Candesartan
Active Ingredient(s)
Candesartan
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of high blood pressure and Congestive Heart Failure. It antagonizes angiotensin II AT1 receptors, which in turn then stops constriction of the blood vessels.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:59 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:02 PM
Other Names
- Atacand
- Candesartan
- Candesartan Cilexetil
- Amias
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- D
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to an increased risk of fetal death.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 04 Jun 1998
- Est US Patients*
- 269,300
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Candesartan or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Candesartan
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Candesartan during the past year.
Candesartan Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Candesartan interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Candesartan used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 1,700 patients that use Candesartan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | 97% | 
|
| Heart Failure/Edema | 3% | 
|
How well does Candesartan work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 1,700 users taking Candesartan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 87%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Candesartan outweigh the bad things.
- 12%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Candesartan.
Common Side Effects of Candesartan
iGuard regularly polls our more than 1,700 users taking Candesartan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
30% of patients experience side-effects on Candesartan
6% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Candesartan
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Chest Pain/Tightness
-
Dryness
-
Muscle Pain/Cramps
-
Drowsiness
-
Numbness/Tingling
-
Fatigue
-
Dizziness
-
Nasal/Sinus Congestion
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Candesartan ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
THE DR. ORDERED 8MG ATACAND FOR MY MILD HBP. MY DIASTOLIC PRESSURE GOES DOWN LIKE 57, 54, 58 AND THE SYSTOLIC IS 120,115,108. MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS ALWAYS HIGH WHEN I GO TO THE DR. OFFICE EVEN WHEN I'M TAKING THE PILL. IN MY HOUSE IS ALWAYS NORMAL. I CHECKED THE MONITOR AGAINST THE DR, MONITOR AND THE LECTURE IS THE SAME. I'M SCARE TO TAKE MEDICINE FOR HBP.
THANKS, NYDIA
72 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2008-11-20 17:08:43
iGuard Answer/Reply:
I have found my blood pressure goes down if I do not look sideways or down at the cuff... we tend to watch them take our pressure and not sure why it changes but i gett a much better reading looking up and straight forward... also... breathing deep and slowly seems to help the heart slow down too!!! Have them check it when you get there and just before your leaving!
Best wishes
Posted: 2008-12-18 00:52:48
Question/Comment:
I have labile hypertension and have been on atacand for 1yr. It helps the BP slightly with the addition of atenolol; however when it peaks to 180-200 it is not too effective.
In my research, I had discovered that studies have been done in Italy and now at Hopkins re: taking meds in AM & PM. I split the pills and this has helped in controlling the very high 200 peaks.
My problem is that it is very difficult to find a Dr. with expertise in this field. My present one has been trying for a yr. in Philly.
81 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2008-11-13 05:08:02
Question/Comment:
CAN I TAKE ASPIRIN WITH MY ATACAND HCT 16-12.5MG MEDICATION
44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2008-10-08 08:34:04
iGuard Answer/Reply:
I have been on atacand for over 15 years ans I also take an aspirin everyday with absolutely NO problems. I am also diabetic and take a beta blocker in addition to the atacand. I still haven't experienced any trouble.
Posted: 2009-01-20 12:58:27
Question/Comment:
Ihave been put on amias 16mg instead of 30mg lisinopril .In the last week my legs and feet have swollen so badly i have a struggle to put my shoes on. I also find my feet are painfull and it hurts to walk . Could this be a side effect of amias tabs?
66 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2008-09-22 16:11:00
iGuard Answer/Reply:
I am taking 16mg of atacand and had a colonoscopy with sodium biphospate. Since the colonoscopy my shoulders and back of my arms ache. Could there be a connection? Female, age 72
Posted: 2008-11-01 16:09:58
Question/Comment:
I am a 74 yr old male. I went on atacand in April and am now experiencing
erectile dysfunction. I find nothing in the literature referring to this as a side effect,
but am still wondering if it is. I also take plavix, aspirin, lipitor, toprol and protonix.
76 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2008-07-05 09:35:50
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Atacand (candesartan) was not linked to causing erectile dysfunction in iGuard's available database. However, there have been a few reports of decrease libido or male impotence in patients taking Toprol-XL - although there really haven't been enough cases to suggest that these side effects were caused by exposure to Toprol-XL.
If you think your side effect may be related to any of your medication use, it's worth a talk with your doctor to discuss your concern and explore potential treatment options.
Posted: 2008-07-10 15:13:40
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Candesartan