Atacand vs. Benicar

• Are Atacand and Benicar the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Atacand?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Benicar?
• What Is Atacand?
• What Is Benicar?
• What Drugs Interact with Atacand?
• What Drugs Interact with Benicar?
• How Should Atacand Be Taken?
• How Should Benicar Be Taken?

Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) and Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) are angiotensin II receptor antagonists used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Side effects of Atacand and Benicar that are similar include dizziness, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, diarrhea, or headache.

Side effects of Atacand that are different from Benicar include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, tired feeling, feeling like you might pass out, chest pain, swelling in your hands or feet, slow heart rate, weak pulse, or tingly feeling.

Side effects of Benicar that are different from Atacand include lightheadedness, bronchitis, muscle pain, nausea, itching or skin rash, weakness, flu-like symptoms, blood in the urine, and sinus infections.

Common side effects of Atacand include:

• runny or stuffy nose,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• back pain,
• joint pain,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• tired feeling,
• feeling like you might pass out,
• chest pain,
• swelling in your hands or feet,
• slow heart rate,
• weak pulse, or
• tingly feeling.

Tell the doctor immediately if you notice any of these side effects.

Common side effects of Benicar include:

• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• bronchitis,
• back pain,
• joint or muscle pain,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• itching or skin rash,
• weakness,
• headache,
• flu-like symptoms,
• blood in the urine, and
• sinus infections.

Potentially serious side effects of Benicar include:

• difficulty with breathing or swallowing,
• chest pain,
• cough,
• vertigo,
• abdominal pain,
• hyperkalemia,
• renal failure, and
• muscle tissue breakdown (rhabdomyolysis).

Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) is a selective AT₁ subtype angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children 1 to less than 17 years of age.

Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to reduce and control hypertension (high blood pressure).

Atacand may interact with alcohol, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), lithium; or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Benicar may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Benicar may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The usual recommended starting dose of Atacand is 16 mg once daily when it is used as monotherapy in patients who are not volume depleted. Atacand can be administered once or twice daily with total daily doses ranging from 8 mg to 32 mg.

Benicar is available in strengths of 5, 20, or 40 mg of olmesartan medoxomil tablets. The usual recommended starting dose is 20 mg per day but dosage in pediatric patients needs to be calculated for each individual. Benicar should not be used in pregnancy due to possible fetal damage or death; breastfeeding women and their doctors need to weigh the advantages vs the possible harm if the drug is used. There is only one study in pediatric patients (ages 1-16 years) that suggests that Benicar is well tolerated with similar side effects seen in adults.