Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Medicare For Providers For Brokers For Employers Español For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families Medical Dental Other Supplemental Explore coverage through work How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics Shop for Medicare plans Member Guide Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna
Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library olmesartan

olmesartan

Pronunciation: OL me SAR tan

Brand: Benicar

Benicar

slide 1 of 7, Benicar,

5 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with Sankyo, C12

Image of Benicar
slide 1 of 7

Benicar

slide 2 of 7, Benicar,

20 mg, round, white, imprinted with Sankyo, C14

Image of Benicar
slide 2 of 7

Benicar

slide 3 of 7, Benicar,

40 mg, oval, white, imprinted with Sankyo, C 15

Image of Benicar
slide 3 of 7

Benicar

slide 4 of 7, Benicar,

5 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with Sankyo, C12

Image of Benicar
slide 4 of 7

Olmesartan Medoxomil

slide 5 of 7, Olmesartan Medoxomil,

20 mg, round, white, imprinted with FS2

Image of Olmesartan Medoxomil
slide 5 of 7

Olmesartan Medoxomil

slide 6 of 7, Olmesartan Medoxomil,

40 mg, oval, white, imprinted with FS3

Image of Olmesartan Medoxomil
slide 6 of 7

Olmesartan Medoxomil

slide 7 of 7, Olmesartan Medoxomil,

5 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with C

Image of Olmesartan Medoxomil
slide 7 of 7
What is the most important information I should know about olmesartan?

What is the most important information I should know about olmesartan?

Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using olmesartan and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

If you have diabetes, do not take olmesartan with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

What is olmesartan?

What is olmesartan?

Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (sometimes called an ARB).

Olmesartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children at least 6 years old. It is sometimes given together with other blood pressure medications.

Olmesartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking olmesartan?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking olmesartan?

You should not take olmesartan if you are allergic to it.

If you have diabetes, do not use olmesartan together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

You may also need to avoid taking olmesartan with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • a heart condition other than one being treated with olmesartan;
  • kidney disease; or
  • if you are on a low salt diet.

Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using the medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Olmesartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.

If you plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor for a safer medicine to use before and during pregnancy. Having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications in the mother and the baby.

You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

How should I take olmesartan?

How should I take olmesartan?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You may take olmesartan with or without food.

For a child who cannot swallow a tablet whole, a pharmacist can mix the medicine into a liquid.

Shake the liquid before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Olmesartan doses are based on weight in children and/or teenagers. Your child's dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight.

Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking olmesartan.

It may take up to 2 weeks before your blood pressure is under control. Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. Treatment may also include diet, exercise, lowering cholesterol, not smoking, and controlling diabetes.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked.

Store tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Store the liquid in a refrigerator. Throw away any liquid leftover after 4 weeks.

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include fast heartbeats or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking olmesartan?

What should I avoid while taking olmesartan?

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes, unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

What are the possible side effects of olmesartan?

What are the possible side effects of olmesartan?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • little or no urination;
  • severe diarrhea and weight loss; or
  • high potassium level --nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect olmesartan?

What other drugs will affect olmesartan?

If you take colesevelam, take your olmesartan dose 4 hours before you take colesevelam.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

  • lithium;
  • a diuretic (water pill) or other medicines that lower blood pressure; or
  • NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect olmesartan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about olmesartan.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

I want to...

Get an ID card File a claim View my claims and EOBs Check coverage under my plan See prescription drug list Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility Find a form Find 1095-B tax form information View the Cigna Glossary Contact Cigna

Audiences

Individuals and Families Medicare Employers Brokers Providers

Secure Member Sites

myCigna member portal Health Care Provider portal Cigna for Employers Client Resource Portal Cigna for Brokers

The Cigna Group Information

About The Cigna Group Company Profile Careers Newsroom Investors Suppliers The Cigna Group Third Party Administrators International Evernorth

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Privacy Legal Product Disclosures Cigna Company Names Customer Rights Accessibility Non-Discrimination Notice Language Assistance [PDF] Report Fraud Sitemap Cookie Settings

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details