Candesartan at a glance
Medicine class
Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).
Main licensed uses
High blood pressure and selected cases of adult heart failure.
Food
May be taken with or without food.
Monitoring
Blood pressure, kidney function and potassium usually require monitoring.
What is Candesartan used for?
Licensed uses include:
Essential hypertension in adults.
Heart failure in adults with impaired left-ventricular systolic function when an ACE inhibitor is not tolerated, or in specified circumstances as additional treatment under specialist oversight.
Candesartan is sometimes prescribed to prevent migraine, but this is not an approved UK indication.
How does Candesartan work?
Candesartan cilexetil is converted in the body to candesartan. It blocks angiotensin II at AT1 receptors, reducing blood-vessel tightening and aldosterone effects. This lowers vascular resistance and reduces strain on the heart.
Candesartan preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, 32 mg
How to take Candesartan
Swallow the tablet with water, with or without food. Do not chew it. Check the pack leaflet because whether a tablet can be split depends on the product.
Take it consistently as prescribed.
Do not stop without discussing this with the prescriber.
Dizziness can occur; avoid driving or using machinery until it has passed.
Candesartan side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Headache
- Respiratory infection
- Low blood pressure, particularly in people treated for heart failure
- Raised potassium or worsening kidney function, particularly in heart failure
Get urgent medical advice
- Face, tongue or throat swelling, or breathing difficulty
- Severe abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin
- Marked kidney problems or greatly reduced urine output
- Unexplained fever, sore throat or recurrent infections
Candesartan in pregnancy
Candesartan should not normally be started during pregnancy and is contraindicated during the second and third trimesters because later exposure can harm fetal kidney development and amniotic-fluid levels. Discuss alternatives before planning pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, contact the prescriber promptly rather than changing treatment without advice.
Candesartan while breastfeeding
Cautious use is permitted when specifically indicated, but a medicine class with more breastfeeding evidence is usually preferred, especially for newborn or premature babies. If used, monitor the baby for unusual sleepiness, pallor, poor feeding, inadequate weight gain and, in younger infants, fewer wet nappies.
Candesartan interactions
Check all medicines, supplements and salt substitutes with a pharmacist or prescriber. Important examples include:
Potassium supplements, potassium salt substitutes, potassium-sparing diuretics or heparin
May raise blood potassium; laboratory monitoring may be required.
Lithium
May increase lithium concentrations and toxicity; the combination is generally avoided or closely monitored.
NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and COX-2 inhibitors
May reduce the blood-pressure effect and increase the risk of kidney impairment and raised potassium.
Common questions about Candesartan
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is candesartan cilexetil the same as candesartan?
Candesartan cilexetil is the prodrug in the tablet; the body converts it to active candesartan during absorption.
Can it be taken with food?
Yes. Food does not meaningfully affect candesartan bioavailability.
Can the tablets be split?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.