How Does Benicar Work?

 Benicar® (olmesartan medoxomil) has been shown to significantly lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in clinical trials. But how does Benicar work?
 
Benicar is part of a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs for short. As the name implies, this medication blocks angiotensin II receptors. This action decreases the effectiveness of a chemical known as angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict). As a result, Benicar causes blood vessels to relax, which can lower blood pressure.
 
(Click Benicar Uses for more information on how Benicar works, to learn more about the specific effects of this medicine, and to find out if it is approved for use in children.)
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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