Exforge vs. Atacand

• Are Exforge and Atacand the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Exforge?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Atacand?
• What Is Exforge?
• What Is Atacand?
• What drugs interact with Exforge?
• What drugs interact with Atacand?
• How Should Exforge Be Taken?
• How Should Atacand Be Taken?

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) and Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

Both Exforge and Atacand contain angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Exforge also contains a calcium channel blocker.

Side effects of Exforge and Atacand that are similar include dizziness, lightheadedness or feeling like you might pass out, and cold symptoms (such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat).

Side effects of Exforge that are different from Atacand include spinning sensation and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Side effects of t Atacand hat are different from Exforge include cough, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, tired feeling, chest pain, swelling in your hands or feet, slow heart rate, weak pulse, or tingly feeling.

Both Exforge and Atacand may interact with alcohol, other medications that lower blood pressure, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), lithium, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Exforge may also interact with heart medications, vitamin or mineral supplements that contain potassium, "statins" or other cholesterol medications, cyclosporine, ritonavir, antibiotics, and antifungals.

Side effects of Exforge include:

• dizziness,
• spinning sensation, or lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Other side effects of Exforge include flushing, and cold symptoms such as runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Exforge including:

• swelling hands/ankles/feet,
• fainting,
• fast heartbeat,
• unusual change in the amount of urine,
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat), or
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat).

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.

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) is a combination of a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

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.

Exforge may interact with heart medication, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), or other medications that lower blood pressure. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. Exforge is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to a fetus. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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.

Exforge (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Exforge (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Exforge Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Exforge is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.

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.