Benicar vs. Bystolic
Are Benicar and Bystolic the Same Thing?
Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) and Bystolic (nebivolol) are used to reduce and control high blood pressure (hypertension).
Benicar and Bystolic belong to different drug classes. Benicar is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist and Bystolic is a beta-blocker.
Side effects of Benicar and Bystolic that are similar include dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, skin rash, and headache.
Side effects of Benicar that are different from Bystolic include lightheadedness, bronchitis, back pain, joint or muscle pain, itching, weakness, flu-like symptoms, blood in the urine, and sinus infections.
Side effects of Bystolic that are different from Benicar include tiredness, fatigue, slow heartbeat, sleep problems (insomnia), numbness or a cold feeling in your hands and feet, shortness of breath, and fluid retention in the legs.
Benicar may interact with colesevelam, lithium, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alcohol, and potassium supplements or salt substitutes.
Bystolic may interact with cimetidine, clonidine, digitalis, isoniazid, methimazole, reserpine, ropinirole, ticlopidine, other beta-blockers, antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-malaria medications, heart or blood pressure medicines, heart rhythm medicines, HIV or AIDS medicines, and medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Benicar?
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).
What Are Possible Side Effects of Bystolic?
Common side effects of Bystolic include:
- agitation,
- nervousness,
- anxiety,
- seizures (convulsions),
- skin rash,
- dizziness,
- spinning sensation,
- hallucinations,
- fever,
- fast heart rate,
- overactive reflexes,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- upset stomach,
- diarrhea,
- constipation,
- loss of coordination,
- headache,
- drowsiness, and
- fainting.
What Is Benicar?
Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to reduce and control hypertension (high blood pressure).
What Is Bystolic?
Bystolic (nebivolol) is a beta-blocker indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension).
What Drugs Interact With Benicar?
Benicar may interact with other blood pressure medications.
Benicar may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
What Drugs Interact With Bystolic?
Bystolic may interact with other heart or blood pressure medications.
Bystolic may also interact with cimetidine, clonidine, digitalis, isoniazid, methimazole, reserpine, ropinirole, ticlopidine, other beta-blockers, antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-malaria medications, heart rhythm medicines, HIV or AIDS medicines, and medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.
How Should Benicar Be Taken?
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.
How Should Bystolic Be Taken?
The dose of Bystolic is individualized to the needs of the patient. For most patients, the recommended starting dose of Bystolic is 5 mg once daily, with or without food, as monotherapy or in combination with other agents.