candesartan vs telmisartan
Side-by-side comparison of candesartan and telmisartan Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Atacand
Micardis
Candesartan is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help treat heart failure.
Telmisartan (Micardis) is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
Candesartan is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children ages 1 to 17. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Candesartan also treats heart failure by reducing the risk of death and hospitalization.
Telmisartan is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It can also lower cardiovascular risk if you cannot take ACE inhibitors. Controlling high blood pressure is important for overall heart health.
Candesartan blocks a substance in your body that tightens blood vessels. This helps blood vessels relax and widens them. As a result, blood pressure is lowered and the heart can pump blood more easily.
Telmisartan blocks a substance in your body that tightens blood vessels. This helps blood vessels relax and widens them. As a result, blood pressure is lowered.
- • Dizziness
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Back pain
- • Pharyngitis (sore throat)
- • Rhinitis (runny nose)
- • Back pain
- • Sinus infection
- • Diarrhea
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Sore throat
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 3,515
- Shortness of breath 3,169
- Tiredness 3,158
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,989
- Loose stools 2,764
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,059
- Feeling tired 2,001
- Medicine not working 1,884
- Loose stools 1,794
- Difficulty breathing 1,783
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, stop taking this medicine right away. Candesartan can harm or cause death to your unborn baby.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, stop taking this medicine right away. Telmisartan can harm or cause death to your unborn baby.
Candesartan can cause serious harm to an unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medicine.
Telmisartan can cause harm to your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. Do not breastfeed while taking telmisartan.
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How to Read This candesartan vs telmisartan Comparison
candesartan is classified in the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) drug class, while telmisartan sits within the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, candesartan has 15,595 submissions while telmisartan has 9,521. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between candesartan and telmisartan — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.