Benicar HCT Uses

Benicar HCT Uses: An Overview

Benicar HCT^® (olmesartan medoxomil hydrochlorothiazide) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to control high blood pressure (hypertension).

 

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers -- for example, 120/80. The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure is defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90, with multiple blood pressure readings.

 

Based on clinical studies, Benicar HCT has been shown to significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The higher the dose of Benicar HCT, the greater the drop in blood pressure tends to be. By lowering blood pressure, Benicar HCT can decrease the chance of health problems, such as a stroke or heart attack, that often occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure). However, Benicar HCT is not a cure for high blood pressure.

 

How Does Benicar HCT Work?

Benicar HCT is a combination of two medicines -- Benicar^® and hydrochlorothiazide. Benicar is a newer type of blood pressure medicine known as an angiotensin II receptor blocker, or ARB for short. As the name implies, Benicar blocks angiotensin II receptors. This decreases the effectiveness of a chemical known as angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict). By blocking the effects of angiotensin II, Benicar causes blood vessels to relax.

 

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic, which is commonly referred to as a "water pill." It works by increasing the amount of salt and water the kidneys remove from the blood. This extra salt and water is passed out through the urine. By increasing the amount of water removed from the blood, hydrochlorothiazide causes a decrease in blood volume.

 

Because of the effects of both Benicar and hydrochlorothiazide, Benicar HCT can lower blood pressure. Benicar HCT causes a greater drop in blood pressure than when either medicine is used alone.