Atacand (Candesartan)

Atacand treats high blood pressure. It may also be used to treat heart failure in certain patients and for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Atacand is an angiotensin II receptor blocker. It works by helping to relax blood vessels. This helps to lower blood pressure.

Do not use Atacand if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Atacand;
• you are pregnant.

• Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Your blood pressure should be lower within 2 weeks. It may take 4 to 6 weeks for Atacand to produce its maximum effect.
• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
• Lifestyle changes (eg, not smoking, weight loss, exercise, a low-salt diet) may also help to lower blood pressure.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Atacand before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Lab tests, including blood pressure monitoring, may be performed while you use Atacand . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Atacand with caution in the elderly; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially kidney problems, low blood pressure, or high blood potassium levels.
• Atacand should be used with extreme caution in children; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Do not take Atacand after the third month of pregnancy. It may cause injury or death to the fetus. Stop taking Atacand as soon as possible if you become pregnant. It is not known if Atacand is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Atacand .

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

• dizziness; headache; runny nose; sore throat; upper respiratory tract infection.

• severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; decreased urination; fainting; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; irregular heartbeat; muscle pain or tenderness; severe or persistent dizziness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Atacand is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.