This medicine is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Telmisartan comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. To help you remember to take telmisartan, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take telmisartan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of telmisartan and gradually increase your dose.

Telmisartan controls high blood pressure but does not cure it. Continue to take telmisartan even if you feel well. Do not stop taking telmisartan without talking to your doctor.

Telmisartan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

runny nose
sore throat
back pain
sinus pain
diarrhea
Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
hoarseness
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
fainting
Telmisartan may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

•blood pressure medications
•digoxin
•hawthorn
•lithium
•potassium salts or potassium supplements
•warfarin
•water pills (especially potassium-sparing diuretics such as triamterene or amiloride)

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include sleepiness, tremors, seizures, difficulty breathing, stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, and slow heart rate.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Telmisartan is also used sometimes to treat congestive heart failure. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Keep out of the reach of children and in a container that small children cannot open.

Store your medicine at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Tablets should not be removed from the blisters until right before use. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Before taking telmisartan, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to telmisartan or any other medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); digoxin (Lanoxin); and diuretics ('water pills'). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure or kidney or liver disease.
Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Do not take telmisartan if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking telmisartan, call your doctor immediately. Telmisartan may harm the fetus.