Atacand Precautions and Warnings

Some Atacand precautions and warnings include being aware of drug interactions, watching for extremely low blood pressure, avoiding Atacand while pregnant, and looking for possible declines in kidney function. There are several situations where Atacand should not be taken, as well as a number of warnings and precautions that people should be aware of with Atacand. Before taking Atacand, you should discuss your medical history with your healthcare provider.

 

Atacand: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Atacand® (candesartan cilexetil) if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
  • On dialysis
  • Having surgery or anesthesia.
     
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medications you are currently taking, including prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Some Atacand Warnings and Precautions

Some Atacand warnings and precautions to be aware of include:
 
 
  • There are a number of medicines that Atacand can interact with (see Atacand Drug Interactions).
     
  • Atacand may cause extreme low blood pressure in some people. Extreme low blood pressure is more likely to happen in people who are taking a diuretic, who are on dialysis, who have diarrhea or vomiting, who have excessive sweating, or who have congestive heart failure. This is why it is important to drink fluids regularly while taking Atacand. If you have any possible symptoms of low blood pressure, such as dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting, contact your healthcare provider. If you have fainted, stop taking Atacand until you have talked to your healthcare provider.

Also, make sure not to drive, operate any heavy machinery, or perform any other tasks that require alertness before you know how Atacand affects you.

  • Atacand is a pregnancy Category C medicine for the first trimester and a pregnancy Category D medicine for the second and third trimester, meaning that Atacand has health risks to your unborn child. Let your healthcare provider know if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Atacand, contact your healthcare provider immediately (see Atacand and Pregnancy for more information).
     
  • While taking Atacand, do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes with potassium unless you have discussed this with your doctor. This is because in some people taking Atacand, potassium in the blood can increase to dangerous levels.
     
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers, including Atacand, have been known to cause a decrease in kidney function, especially in certain groups such as those with severe congestive heart failure. Let your healthcare provider know if you have symptoms such as a decrease in urine output, drowsiness, headache, or back pain. Your healthcare provider will also regularly check your kidney function with a blood test.
     
  • If you have moderate to severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis, your body may metabolize the Atacand differently than intended. Therefore, your healthcare provider will monitor your situation more closely.
     
  • If you are nursing, it is not known whether or not Atacand passes through your breast milk. Therefore, if you are nursing, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should stop taking Atacand or stop breastfeeding.
     
(Atacand Precautions and Warnings Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;