Candesartan is the chemical name of Atacand, a prescription drug used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension. It works by keeping blood vessels from constricting or closing.
Lowering high blood pressure is important because it prevents strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Candesartan relaxes blood vessels so blood can flow through them more freely. Candesartan is also prescribed as a treatment for congestive heart failure. It is sometimes also prescribed as a treatment for diabetic nephropathy, a type of kidney disease.
Does Candesartan Have Any Adverse Side Effects?
Some people who have taken candesartan have reported adverse effects on fetuses. Injury and death have been linked to mothers taking candesartan in the second and third trimesters. If a person is pregnant or may become pregnant, they should tell their doctor if they are taking candesartan or if their doctor is considering prescribing it.
Some of candesartan’s more common side effects are back pain, dizziness, and cold- or flu-like symptoms, such as sore throat and nasal congestion. Other possible issues are as follows:
- High blood potassium levels: Candesartan can increase the potassium level in a person’s blood. A person’s doctor should monitor their blood potassium levels while the person is being treated with candesartan;
- Risk of low blood pressure: This drug may cause low blood pressure. A person’s doctor should monitor their blood pressure to ensure it does not become too low, especially if the doctor changes a person’s dosage. A person should alert their doctor if they have low blood pressure, dizziness, or lightheadedness symptoms. A person’s risk of having low blood pressure may be increased if they do any of the following:
- Take water pills (diuretics);
- Follow a diet that is low in salt;
- Take other medications that affect their blood pressure;
- Become ill with vomiting or diarrhea;
- Do not consume a sufficient amount of fluid;
- Kidney damage: Candesaran has been known to cause damage to the kidneys. People with certain types of kidney damage or heart failure may have a higher risk of kidney damage while taking candesartan.
Again, a person’s doctor should monitor their kidney function while taking candesartan.
A person’s doctor should know about all the medications and supplements they take to manage the whole picture carefully.
Health experts also recommend that a person have all their prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. Then, their pharmacist can identify any possible drug interactions. Drugs that can interact with candesartan are as follows:
- Pain medications: Candesartan may not be as effective for reducing blood pressure if taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples of these drugs ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac;
- Seizure medications: Candesartan can have the effect of increasing the levels of seizure drugs to dangerous levels. This can cause negative side effects. Lithium is an example of a drug that should not be taken with candesartan;
- Blood pressure drugs: Taking other drug pressure medications and candesartan risks driving a person’s blood pressure too low.
Who Should Not Take Candesartan?
People with low blood pressure would not want to take candesartan as it lowers blood pressure. In addition, people who suffer from problems with their liver should not take the drug. Also, people who have decreased kidney function should not take it. And finally, people who have recently had operations are advised to avoid candesartan.
People taking medications that may interact with candesartan negatively should probably avoid it. So, a person needs to tell their doctor about other medications they take if their doctor wants to prescribe candesartan for them.
What Is the Current Status of Candesartan?
The federal Food and Drug Administration has issued revised warning labels for candesartan. They contain the following warnings:
- Allergy warning: Candesartan can cause a severe allergic reaction with swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat. A person should not take it again if they had an allergic reaction to it before;
- People with diabetes: If a person has diabetes and takes aliskiren, they should not take candesartan. It raises the risk of high blood potassium, worsening kidney function, and very low blood pressure;
- Warnings for certain groups
- Pregnant women: As noted above, pregnant women should not take candesartan except under exceptional circumstances. Studies show a risk of negative effects on the fetus when the mother takes the drug. The beneficial effect of the medication during pregnancy may outweigh the potential risks it poses in certain cases;
- Breastfeeding women: It is not known if candesartan passes into breast milk. If it does, it might cause serious effects on the breastfed infant;
- Seniors: Older adults may process drugs more slowly. A normal adult dose may cause higher medication levels in the bloodstream than for younger adults. If a person is a senior, they may need a lower dose or a different schedule;
- Children: The use of this drug in children depends on several factors. Candesartan has not been studied in young children as a treatment for high blood pressure. It should not be used in children under 1 to treat high blood pressure. The drug has not been studied as a treatment for heart failure in children. People under 18 should not use the drug as a treatment for heart failure.
What Should I Do If I Have Been Injured by Candesartan?
If a person thinks they have been injured by taking candesartan, they should consult a personal injury attorney. Their attorney can determine if a person has been injured by candesartan and, if so, why they were given the medication in the first place. There are several possibilities.
A doctor may have prescribed candesartan in error to a person who should not have taken it because of other health conditions they had or other medications they were taking simultaneously. There may be other reasons why a person should not have been given candesartan. If a doctor prescribed candesartan to a person in error, the person may have grounds for a lawsuit for medical malpractice.
If a person has all their prescriptions filled by the same pharmacist and fails to identify a possible drug interaction, then the pharmacist may be liable for pharmacist malpractice.
Other facts might support other claims for negligence or strict product liability on the part of the manufacturer or distributors of the medication. A lawsuit for malpractice, other kinds of negligence, or strict product liability would seek compensatory damages. Compensatory damages would reimburse a victim for medical care, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Do I Need the Help of a Lawyer with My Candesartan Issue?
If you believe you or a loved one has been injured from taking candesartan, contact a local class action lawyer in your area. Your lawyer can review the facts of your situation and enlist the help of an expert medical professional to determine why you may have been injured by taking candesartan.
It may be that your doctor should not have prescribed the medication for you. Or, there may be other factors that have resulted in your injury. Your attorney will know the best approach to seeking a remedy for your injury. Your lawyer can also keep you updated if there are any changes to personal injury laws that might affect your legal rights or options.
