Karvea (Irbesartan)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Karvea Used For?
Karvea contains the active ingredient irbesartan and belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. It helps treat high blood pressure and protects kidney function in certain patients.
Primary Uses
Karvea is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and 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. Karvea 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 Karvea
Your doctor will determine the right dose for you. Take Karvea at about the same time each day to help you remember.
Dosage Instructions
The usual starting dose is 150 mg tablet once a day, though some patients may need a lower starting dose. Depending on how your blood pressure responds, your daily dose may be increased. Most patients take either 150 mg or 300 mg once a day. For patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, 300 mg once a day is the preferred maintenance dose. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. It doesn’t matter whether you take it before or after 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 it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. If it’s not almost time for your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to taking your tablets as you normally would.
Important: Do not 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 or light-headedness
- Unusual tiredness or weakness, fatigue
- Nausea/vomiting
- Low blood glucose levels
- Decreased number of red blood cells (anemia – symptoms include tiredness, headaches, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Skin rash or itchiness
- Aching muscles not caused by exercise
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Swelling in the gut with symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Buzzing, ringing or other persistent noise in the ears
- Symptoms that may indicate kidney disease (passing little or no urine, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, breathlessness, loss of appetite and weakness)
- Symptoms that may indicate high potassium levels (nausea, diarrhea, muscle weakness, change in heart rhythm)
- Symptoms that may indicate liver disease (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes and dark colored urine)
- Yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice)
- Symptoms that may indicate low platelet count (easy or excessive bruising, bleeding from gums or nose, prolonged bleeding from cuts and blood in urine or stools)
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
- Severe and sudden onset of pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin (hives or nettle rash)
Important Warnings
There are certain situations where Karvea should not be taken, and medical conditions that require special monitoring.
Who Should Not Take Karvea
Do not take Karvea if you are allergic to irbesartan or any ingredients listed; if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or planning to become pregnant; if you are breast-feeding; or if you have diabetes or kidney problems and are being treated with ACE inhibitors, medicines containing aliskiren, or other Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have: kidney problems or have had a kidney transplant or dialysis; heart problems; liver problems or have had liver problems in the past; diabetes; high levels of potassium in your blood; are strictly restricting your salt intake; have had recent excessive vomiting or diarrhea; plan to have surgery that needs a general anesthetic; or have allergies to any substances.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Karvea if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Do not take Karvea if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Karvea.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Karvea and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines 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 like celecoxib
- Medicines taken to treat diabetes such as repaglinide
Alcohol & Driving
Karvea 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 Karvea affects you. Karvea may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive. Make sure you know how you react to Karvea before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed.
Storage
Keep Karvea 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. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Do not take this medicine after the expiry date. Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Overdose Information
If you think you have used too much Karvea, you may need urgent medical attention. If you take too many Karvea tablets you will probably 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 Karvea should be reached about 4 to 6 weeks after starting treatment.
Yes, it doesn’t matter whether you take Karvea tablets before or after food. Just swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
No, do not stop taking Karvea or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Continue taking Karvea until your doctor tells you to stop.
You should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness caused by Karvea may be worse.
Make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when taking Karvea, especially if you sweat a lot. If you don’t drink enough water, you may faint or feel light-headed or sick because your body doesn’t have enough fluid and your blood pressure is low.
Yes, tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Karvea. If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Karvea as your blood pressure may drop suddenly.
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.