General Information
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about OLMETEC.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking OLMETEC against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your OLMETEC tablets.
You may need to read it again. What OLMETEC is used for OLMETEC is used to treat high blood pressure which is sometimes called hypertension. Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps push blood all around your body. Your blood pressure changes at different times of the day, depending on how busy or worried you are. You have hypertension (high blood pressure) when your blood pressure stays higher than is needed, even when you are calm and relaxed. There are usually no symptoms of hypertension. The only way of knowing that you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If high blood pressure is not treated it can lead to serious health problems, including stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. How OLMETEC works
OLMETEC belongs to a group of medicines known as angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. Angiotensin-II is a substance produced in the body which causes blood vessels to tighten. OLMETEC blocks the action of angiotensin-II and therefore relaxes your blood vessels. This helps lower your blood pressure.
Your doctor may have prescribed OLMETEC for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why OLMETEC has been prescribed for you. OLMETEC is not addictive. This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription. Before you take OLMETEC When you must not take it
Do not take OLMETEC if:
you have an allergy to OLMETEC or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to OLMETEC may include skin rash, itchiness, shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, muscle pain or tenderness or joint pain.
Do not take OLMETEC if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
OLMETEC may enter your womb or it may pass into the breast milk and there is the possibility that your baby may be affected. If pregnancy is discovered OLMETEC should be discontinued as soon as possible. Do not take OLMETEC after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking OLMETEC, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
kidney problems
liver problems
heart problems
excessive vomiting or diarrhoea recently
high levels of potassium in your blood.
You must also tell your doctor if you:
are following a very low salt diet
you are or intend to become pregnant or plan to breastfeed.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking OLMETEC.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and OLMETEC may interfere with each other. These include:
other medicines used to treat high blood pressure
other diuretics, also known as fluid or water tablets
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or COX-2 inhibitors, medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis
potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes
lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression.
These medicines may be affected by OLMETEC, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you. In general, OLMETEC has been shown not to interfere with other medicines. However, it is important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medicines you are taking or plan to take. Use in children
The safety and effectiveness of OLMETEC in children has not been established.
How to take OLMETEC Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you which OLMETEC tablet you will need to take each day. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines. If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
For most patients, the usual starting dose of OLMETEC is 20 mg once a day. The dose may need to be increased to OLMETEC 40 mg once a day if necessary.
How to take it
Swallow OLMETEC whole with a full glass of water.
Do not chew the tablets. When to take it
Take OLMETEC at about the same time each day, with or without food.
Taking your tablets at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the tablets. It does not matter whether you take it with or without food. How long to take it
OLMETEC helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Therefore you must take OLMETEC every day. Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Australian Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much OLMETEC. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you take too much OLMETEC, you may feel light-headed, dizzy or you may faint. You may also have a fast heartbeat. While you are using OLMETEC Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are taking OLMETEC.
Make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when you are taking OLMETEC, especially if you sweat a lot.
If you do not drink enough water while taking OLMETEC, you may feel faint, light-headed or sick. This is because your blood pressure is dropping suddenly. If you continue to feel unwell, tell your doctor. If you have excess vomiting and/or diarrhoea while taking OLMETEC, tell your doctor.
You may lose too much water and salt and your blood pressure may drop too much. If you feel light-headed or dizzy after taking your first dose of OLMETEC, or when your dose is increased, tell your doctor immediately.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking OLMETEC.
Your blood pressure may drop suddenly. If you become pregnant while taking OLMETEC, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking OLMETEC.
OLMETEC may interfere with the results of some tests. Have your blood pressure checked when your doctor says, to make sure OLMETEC is working.
Go to your doctor regularly for a check-up.
Your doctor may occasionally do a blood test to check your potassium levels and see how your kidneys are working. Things you must not do
Do not give OLMETEC to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take OLMETEC to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Do not stop taking OLMETEC, or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how OLMETEC affects you.
As with other medicines in this class, OLMETEC may cause dizziness, light-headedness or tiredness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to OLMETEC before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed. If this occurs do not drive. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse. Things that would be helpful for your blood pressure
Some self help measures suggested below may help your condition. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these measures and for more information.
Alcohol - your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake.
Weight - your doctor may suggest losing some weight to help lower your blood pressure and help lessen the amount of work your heart has to do. Some people may need a dietician's help to lose weight.
Diet - eat a healthy diet which includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, cereals and fish.
Also eat less fat and sugar (especially saturated fat) which includes sausages, fatty meats, full cream dairy products, biscuits, cakes, pastries, chocolates, chips and coconut. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from olive oil, canola oil, avocado and nuts are beneficial in small quantities.
Salt - your doctor may advise you to watch the amount of salt in your diet. To reduce your salt intake you should avoid using salt in cooking or at the table and avoid cooked or processed foods containing high sodium (salt) levels.
Exercise - regular exercise, maintained over the long term, helps to reduce blood pressure and helps get the heart fitter. Regular exercise also improves your blood cholesterol levels, helps reduce your weight and stress levels, and improves your sleep, mood and ability to concentrate. However, it is important not to overdo it. Walking is good exercise, but try to find a route that is reasonably flat. Before starting any exercise, ask your doctor about the best kind of programme for you.
Smoking - your doctor may advise you to stop smoking or at least cut down. There are enormous benefits to be gained from giving up smoking. There are many professionals, organisations and strategies to help you quit. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further information and advice.
Side effects Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking OLMETEC.
OLMETEC helps most people with high blood pressure, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Following is a list of possible side effects. Do not be alarmed by this list. You may not experience any of them. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
feeling light-headed, dizzy or faint
cough
headache
feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
stomach pain
diarrhoea
an uncomfortable feeling in the stomach
unusual tiredness or weakness, fatigue
'flu-like' symptoms
runny or blocked nose, or sneezing
bronchitis
sore throat and discomfort when swallowing (pharyngitis)
back pain
urinary tract infection.
These are common side effects. They are generally mild. Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
skin rash or itchiness
aching, tender or weak muscles not caused by exercise
painful joints
fast heart beat
shortness of breath or tightness in the chest
swelling of the hands, feet or ankles
symptoms that may indicate high potassium levels in the blood, such as nausea, diarrhoea, muscle weakness, change in heart rhythm.
These may be serious side effects. You may need medical attention. Serious side effects are rare. If any of the following happen, stop taking OLMETEC and either tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
chest pain.
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
After using OLMETEC Storage
Keep your tablets in the box until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the box they will not keep well. Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 °C.
Do not store OLMETEC or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it on a windowsill or in the car on hot days.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines. Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking OLMETEC or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description What it looks like
OLMETEC tablets come in two strengths and each has a different appearance:
OLMETEC 20 mg - White, circular film coated tablet with characteristic odour approximately 8.5 mm in diameter, with C14 embossed on one side
OLMETEC 40 mg - White, oval film coated tablet with characteristic odour approximately 15 x 7 mm in size, with C15 embossed on one side.
A box of OLMETEC contains 10 or 30 tablets. Ingredients
Active ingredients:
OLMETEC 20 mg - 20 mg olmesartan medoxomil per tablet
OLMETEC 40 mg - 40 mg olmesartan medoxomil per tablet.
Other ingredients:
microcrystalline cellulose
low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose
lactose
hydroxypropylcellulose
magnesium stearate
Opadry OY-S-38956 that contains titanium dioxide, talc and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
OLMETEC does not contain sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes. Supplier
OLMETEC is supplied in Australia by:
Schering-Plough Pty Limited
Level 4, 66 Waterloo Road
North Ryde NSW 2113
Australian Registration Numbers
OLMETEC 20 mg - AUST R 102138
OLMETEC 40 mg - AUST R 102139
This leaflet was prepared in November 2007.
© Schering-Plough Pty Limited 2007
All rights reserved
® Registered trademark of Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd