Avapro (Irbesartan)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Avapro Used For?
Avapro contains irbesartan and belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. It works by blocking a substance in your body that causes blood vessels to narrow, helping to widen your blood vessels and make it easier for your heart to pump blood.
Primary Uses
Avapro is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and kidney disease in patients who have both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
How It Works
Avapro blocks angiotensin-II, a substance that causes blood vessels to narrow. By blocking this substance, Avapro widens your blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to pump blood and helping to lower blood pressure. It also slows the decrease of kidney function in patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
How to Take Avapro
Your doctor will tell you exactly how many tablets to take each day. Take Avapro at about the same time each day to help you remember.
Dosage Instructions
The usual starting dose is 150 mg once daily. Some patients may need a lower starting dose. Depending on how your blood pressure responds, your dose may be increased to 300 mg once daily. For patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, 300 mg once daily is the preferred dose. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food. The full blood pressure lowering effect should be reached about 4 to 6 weeks after starting treatment.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and continue with your normal schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose
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 or light-headedness
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Fatigue
- Nausea/vomiting
- Low blood glucose levels
- Decreased number of red blood cells (anemia)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Severe sudden onset of pinkish, itchy swellings on skin (hives)
- Skin rash or itchiness
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Symptoms of kidney disease (little or no urine, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, breathlessness)
- High potassium levels (nausea, diarrhea, muscle weakness, heart rhythm changes)
- Yellowing of skin and/or eyes (jaundice)
- Symptoms of liver disease (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, itching, yellowing of skin and eyes, dark urine)
- Buzzing or ringing in ears
Important Warnings
There are several important situations where Avapro should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Avapro
Do not take Avapro if you are allergic to irbesartan or any ingredients in the tablets, if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, if you are breastfeeding, or if you have diabetes or kidney problems and are already taking ACE inhibitors, aliskiren-containing medicines, or other angiotensin-II receptor antagonists.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, heart problems, liver problems, diabetes, high potassium levels in your blood, are on a strict salt-restricted diet, have had recent excessive vomiting or diarrhea, plan to have surgery requiring general anesthesia, or have allergies to any substances.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Avapro if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Avapro.
Pregnancy Warning: Avapro must not be used during pregnancy – tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with how Avapro works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.
Important: Taking Avapro with anti-inflammatory medicines may damage your kidneys and reduce Avapro’s blood pressure lowering effect
- Other medicines to treat high blood pressure
- Potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Medicines containing lithium
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac and ibuprofen
- COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib
- Diabetes medicines such as repaglinide
Alcohol & Driving
Avapro may cause dizziness or light-headedness, which can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Avapro affects you. If you experience dizziness or light-headedness, do not drive. Make sure you know how you react to Avapro before driving or doing anything that could be dangerous.
Storage
Keep Avapro tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Keep tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on windowsills. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not use after the expiry date. Keep out of reach of children.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Avapro, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Symptoms of overdose include feeling lightheaded or dizzy. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you don’t feel unwell.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full blood pressure lowering effect of Avapro should be reached about 4 to 6 weeks after starting treatment.
Yes, you can take Avapro with or without food. It doesn’t matter whether you take it before or after meals.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
You should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol may make dizziness or light-headedness worse while taking Avapro.
Do not stop taking Avapro or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Continue taking Avapro until your doctor tells you to stop.
Yes, make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when taking Avapro, especially if you sweat a lot. If you don’t drink enough water, you may faint or feel light-headed.
Avapro is specifically used to treat kidney disease in patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. However, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, and be aware that Avapro might lower your blood glucose levels.
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.