Benicar Tablets (R) olmesartan medoxomil
Benicar HCT Tablets (R) olmesartan medoxomil | hydrochlorothiazide
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Why Has My Doctor Prescribed Benicar/Benicar HCT?
Because there are many medicines that treat high blood pressure, you should find out why your doctor feels Benicar is the one that's right for you. The more you understand the reasons, the more eager you will be to stay on track with your medicine.
Ask Your Doctor
Print a customized list of questions to ask your doctor about high blood pressure and Benicar/Benicar HCT.
The choice of Benicar or Benicar HCT
Benicar, a medicine for treating high blood pressure, is an ARB, or angiotensin II receptor blocker. Angiotensin II is a natural substance in the blood that narrows or constricts blood vessel walls. Benicar blocks the action of angiotensin II by blocking the receptor so your blood vessels can relax, allowing blood to flow more easily, hence helping to lower blood pressure.
Benicar HCT is a medicine for treating high blood pressure that has two different medicines in one tablet. The first medicine is Benicar. The other medicine is hydrochlorothiazide, which lowers blood pressure by removing water from the bloodstream. The two medicines together help to provide additional blood pressure reductions in comparison to the individual medicines by themselves.
Ask questions before you take your first dose1
When your doctor gives you a prescription, be sure you can read it and understand what it says. Ask the doctor:
- What is the medicine for?
- How am I supposed to take it, and for how long?
- Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements I am taking?
- What food, drink, or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?
And when you pick up your prescription, be sure to check that this is really Benicar or Benicar HCT — the medicine that your doctor prescribed. Be sure you understand all the written instructions on the medicine bottle, too.
Did You Know?
When you start or stop taking medicines, have your BP taken
A lot of medicines raise blood pressure. Starting one of these medicines could increase your blood pressure; stopping one could decrease it. Either way, if you're taking medicine for blood pressure, your doctor may have to change the dose. So make sure your doctor is watching your blood pressure after stopping a medicine or starting a new one.
Source: The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National High Blood Pressure Education Program; August 2004. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/jnc7full.pdf. Accessed August 11, 2008.
Reference
1. American Heart Association. Medication Compliance. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2760. Accessed May 28, 2008.
