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Micardis (Telmisartan) - Indications and Dosage

 
 



INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Hypertension

MICARDIS is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including the class to which this drug principally belongs.

Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management, including, as appropriate, lipid control, diabetes management, antithrombotic therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, and limited sodium intake. Many patients will require more than one drug to achieve blood pressure goals. For specific advice on goals and management, see published guidelines, such as those of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program’s Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC).

Numerous antihypertensive drugs, from a variety of pharmacologic classes and with different mechanisms of action, have been shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and it can be concluded that it is blood pressure reduction, and not some other pharmacologic property of the drugs, that is largely responsible for those benefits. The largest and most consistent cardiovascular outcome benefit has been a reduction in the risk of stroke, but reductions in myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality also have been seen regularly.

Elevated systolic or diastolic pressure causes increased cardiovascular risk, and the absolute risk increase per mmHg is greater at higher blood pressures, so that even modest reductions of severe hypertension can provide substantial benefit. Relative risk reduction from blood pressure reduction is similar across populations with varying absolute risk, so the absolute benefit is greater in patients who are at higher risk independent of their hypertension (for example, patients with diabetes or hyperlipidemia), and such patients would be expected to benefit from more aggressive treatment to a lower blood pressure goal.

Some antihypertensive drugs have smaller blood pressure effects (as monotherapy) in black patients, and many antihypertensive drugs have additional approved indications and effects (e.g., on angina, heart failure, or diabetic kidney disease). These considerations may guide selection of therapy.

It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents [see Clinical Studies ] .

CardiovascularRisk Reduction

MICARDIS is indicated for reduction of the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes in patients 55 years of age or older at high risk of developing major cardiovascular events who are unable to take ACE inhibitors.

High risk for cardiovascular events can be evidenced by a history of coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or high-risk diabetes (insulin-dependent or non-insulin dependent) with evidence of end-organ damage [see Clinical Studies ] .  MICARDIS can be used in addition to other needed treatment (such as antihypertensive, antiplatelet or lipid-lowering therapy) [see Clinical Studies ] .

Studies of telmisartan in this setting do not exclude the possibility that telmisartan may not preserve a meaningful fraction of the effect of the ACE inhibitor to which it was compared. Consider using the ACE inhibitor first, and, if it is stopped for cough only, consider re-trying the ACE inhibitor after the cough resolves.

Use of telmisartan with an ACE inhibitor is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions ] .

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Hypertension

Dosage must be individualized.  The usual starting dose of MICARDIS tablets is 40 mg once a day.  Blood pressure response is dose-related over the range of 20 to 80 mg [see Clinical Studies ] .

Most of the antihypertensive effect is apparent within 2 weeks and maximal reduction is generally attained after 4 weeks.  When additional blood pressure reduction beyond that achieved with 80 mg MICARDIS is required, a diuretic may be added.

No initial dosage adjustment is necessary for elderly patients or patients with renal impairment, including those on hemodialysis. Patients on dialysis may develop orthostatic hypotension; their blood pressure should be closely monitored.

MICARDIS tablets may be administered with other antihypertensive agents.

MICARDIS tablets may be administered with or without food.

CardiovascularRisk Reduction

The recommended dose of MICARDIS tablets is 80 mg once a day and can be administered with or without food. It is not known whether doses lower than 80 mg of telmisartan are effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

When initiating MICARDIS therapy for cardiovascular risk reduction, monitoring of blood pressure is recommended, and if appropriate, adjustment of medications that lower blood pressure may be necessary.

DOSAGE FORMS ANDSTRENGTHS

  • 20 mg, white or off-white, round, uncoated tablets imprinted with BI logo on one side and 50 H on the other side
  • 40 mg, white or off-white, oblong, uncoated tablets imprinted with BI logo on one side and 51 H on the other side
  • 80 mg, white or off-white, oblong, uncoated tablets imprinted with BI logo on one side and 52 H on the other side

HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGEAND HANDLING

MICARDIS is available as white or off-white, uncoated tablets containing telmisartan 20 mg, 40 mg, or 80 mg. Tablets are marked with the BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM logo on one side, and on the other side, with either 50H, 51H, or 52H for the 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg strengths, respectively. Tablets are provided as follows:

MICARDIS tablets 20 mg are round and individually blister-sealed in cartons of 30 tablets as 3 x 10 cards (NDC 0597-0039-37).

MICARDIS tablets 40 mg are oblong shaped and individually blister-sealed in cartons of 30 tablets as 3 x 10 cards (NDC 0597-0040-37).

MICARDIS tablets 80 mg are oblong shaped and individually blister-sealed in cartons of 30 tablets as 3 x 10 cards (NDC 0597-0041-37).

Storage
Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Tablets should not be removed from blisters until immediately before administration.

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