Adesan (Candesartan Cilexetil)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Adesan Used For?
Adesan contains candesartan cilexetil and belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It helps treat cardiovascular conditions by affecting how your blood vessels work.
Primary Uses
Adesan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure. For heart failure, it’s used alongside other medicines to treat your condition. High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can lead to serious problems like stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure if left untreated.
How It Works
For high blood pressure: Adesan lowers blood pressure by expanding small blood vessels from the heart, allowing blood to be pumped around the body more easily. For heart failure: It widens blood vessels so your heart doesn’t have to pump as hard to move blood around your body. This may help you cope better during exercise and reduce shortness of breath.
Good to know: Adesan is not addictive.
How to Take Adesan
Your doctor will determine the right dose for you. Take Adesan exactly as prescribed to ensure it works effectively for your condition.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is one 8 mg or 16 mg tablet taken once daily. Sometimes your doctor may increase the dose to 32 mg once daily if needed. Take it at the same time each day for best results. Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water – don’t crush or chew them. You can take Adesan with or without food.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it’s at least 12 hours before your next scheduled dose. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Tiredness or weariness
- Chest or throat infection
- Flu-like symptoms
- Feeling sick (nausea, vomiting)
- Back pain
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet or ankles
- Harsh sounds when breathing
- Rash, itching or hives
- Yellowing of skin and/or eyes
- Easy bruising or bleeding more than normal
- Extreme fatigue, tiredness, weakness
- Signs of frequent infections (fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers)
- Passing little or no urine
- Awareness of heartbeat
- Muscle aching, tenderness or weakness
Important Warnings
Before taking Adesan, it’s important to discuss your medical history and current medications with your doctor to ensure it’s safe for you.
Who Should Not Take Adesan
Don’t take Adesan if you’re allergic to candesartan cilexetil or any ingredients in the medicine, have severe liver disease or bile flow problems (cholestasis), are taking blood pressure medicine containing aliskiren and have diabetes or kidney problems, or if the medicine has expired or packaging is damaged.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, liver problems, heart problems, recent excessive vomiting or diarrhea, a condition where your adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone (primary hyperaldosteronism), or if you take any other medicines. You may need a lower dose if you have these conditions.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Adesan if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as it may affect your baby. Do not breastfeed while taking Adesan, as it’s not known if the medicine passes into breast milk and could potentially affect the baby.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with how Adesan works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you’re taking.
- Medicines containing potassium, including salt substitutes
- Diuretics (fluid tablets)
- Lithium (for psychiatric conditions)
- NSAIDs (pain and inflammation medicines like aspirin, etoricoxib, celecoxib)
- Blood pressure medicines including aliskiren and ACE inhibitors (enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril, captopril)
- Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (spironolactone, eplerenone)
- Heparin (blood thinner)
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic)
Alcohol & Driving
Adesan may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Be aware of how the medicine affects you before engaging in activities requiring alertness.
Alcohol
The source material does not provide specific information about alcohol interactions with Adesan. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about alcohol consumption while taking this medicine.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Adesan affects you. The medicine may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people during treatment.
Storage
Store Adesan below 25°C and protect from light. Keep tablets in their original pack until it’s time to take them, as removing them may affect how well they keep. Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight – not in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you think you or someone else has taken too much Adesan, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if there are no obvious symptoms. Overdose symptoms may include headache, nausea, dizziness, and extreme tiredness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source doesn’t specify exact timing, but Adesan helps control your condition rather than cure it. It’s important to keep taking it even if you feel well, as prescribed by your doctor.
Yes, it doesn’t matter if you take Adesan with food or on an empty stomach. Take it with a full glass of water.
No, Adesan is not addictive.
Don’t stop taking Adesan or change the dosage unless you’ve discussed it with your doctor. Your blood pressure will not be well controlled if you don’t take it as prescribed.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy, or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. This is a known effect of the medication.
If taking Adesan for high blood pressure, drink plenty of water during exercise and hot weather, especially if you sweat a lot. If taking it for heart failure, restricted fluid intake is generally recommended – speak with your doctor about how much water you should drink.
No, do not give Adesan to children. There is no information about its use in children, so it’s not recommended for pediatric patients.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.