Abisart (Irbesartan)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Abisart Used For?
Abisart contains irbesartan, which belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. These medications help lower blood pressure and protect kidney function.
Primary Uses
Abisart is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is also used to treat kidney disease in patients who have both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
How It Works
Angiotensin II is a substance your body produces that causes blood vessels to narrow. Abisart blocks angiotensin-II, which widens your blood vessels and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. This helps lower your blood pressure and slows the decrease of kidney function in patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
How to Take Abisart
Your doctor will determine the right dose for you. Take Abisart at about the same time each day to help you remember.
Dosage Instructions
The usual starting dose is one 150 mg tablet once daily. Some patients may need a lower starting dose. Depending on how your blood pressure responds, your daily 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 maintenance 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 regular time. If it’s not almost time for your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to 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. Continue taking Abisart until your doctor tells you to stop.
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:
- Skin rash or itchiness
- Aching muscles not caused by exercise
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Buzzing, ringing or other persistent noise in the ears
- Symptoms of kidney disease (passing little or no urine, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, breathlessness, loss of appetite and weakness)
- Symptoms of high potassium levels (nausea, diarrhea, muscle weakness, change in heart rhythm)
- Yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice)
- Symptoms of liver disease (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of skin and eyes, dark colored urine)
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Severe and sudden onset of pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin (hives or nettle rash)
Important Warnings
Before taking Abisart, make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and other medications you’re taking.
Who Should Not Take Abisart
Do not take Abisart if you are allergic to irbesartan or any ingredients in the tablets. Do not take it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Do not take it if you have diabetes or kidney problems and are already taking ACE inhibitors, medicines containing aliskiren, 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, or if you strictly restrict salt intake. Also inform your doctor if you’ve had recent excessive vomiting or diarrhea, if you’ve had a kidney transplant or dialysis, or if you plan to have surgery requiring general anesthesia.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Abisart if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Abisart. Do not take Abisart if you are breastfeeding, as it is not known if the medicine passes into breast milk.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Abisart and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medications you’re taking.
- 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 (such as diclofenac, ibuprofen) and COX-2 inhibitors (such as celecoxib)
- Medicines to treat diabetes such as repaglinide
Alcohol & Driving
Abisart may cause dizziness or light-headedness, which can be made worse by alcohol and may affect your ability to drive 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 Abisart affects you. Abisart may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive. Make sure you know how you react to Abisart before driving a car, operating machinery, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed.
Storage
Keep Abisart tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. Store in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Do not use after the expiry date. Keep where young children cannot reach it.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Abisart, you may need urgent medical attention. Taking too many tablets will probably make you feel lightheaded or dizzy. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full blood pressure lowering effect of Abisart should be reached about 4 to 6 weeks after starting treatment.
Yes, you can take Abisart with or without food. It doesn’t matter whether you take the tablets before or after eating.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. If it’s not almost time, 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 Abisart.
Do not stop taking Abisart or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Continue taking Abisart until your doctor tells you to stop.
Yes, make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when taking Abisart, especially if you sweat a lot. If you don’t drink enough water, you may faint or feel light-headed because your blood pressure may become too low.
No, Abisart should not be given to children.
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.