aliskiren
Brand names: Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It helps lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$12.70/unit
Generic Price
$4.36/unit
Generic Savings
66%
Generic Available
Yes (1 manufacturer)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Tekturna is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children who weigh at least 110 pounds and are 6 years or older.
Common side effects
Diarrhea
Key warnings
Tekturna can harm your unborn baby, even causing death.
How It Works
Tekturna works by blocking a substance in your body called renin. Renin helps to control your blood pressure. By blocking renin, Tekturna helps to lower your blood pressure.
How to Take It
Take Tekturna once a day, at the same time each day. You can take it with or without food, but try to take it the same way each time. High-fat meals can affect how well the medicine works. Your doctor may start you on 150 mg and increase it to 300 mg if needed.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tekturna can cause serious harm or death to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Tekturna.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store Tekturna at room temperature, away from moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,083 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,229 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2007–2025.
Total Reports
2,229
Death-Related Reports
558
Hospitalization Reports
1,137
Top Indication
Hypertension
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASTHENIA | 367 |
| 2 | FALL | 356 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 336 |
| 4 | DYSPNOEA | 315 |
| 5 | HEADACHE | 301 |
| 6 | MALAISE | 290 |
| 7 | BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED | 287 |
| 8 | VOMITING | 280 |
| 9 | FATIGUE | 277 |
| 10 | COUGH | 276 |
| 11 | PYREXIA | 269 |
| 12 | DIZZINESS | 252 |
| 13 | DIARRHOEA | 232 |
| 14 | SYNCOPE | 225 |
| 15 | DECREASED APPETITE | 218 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Tekturna can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. If you become pregnant, stop taking Tekturna right away and tell your doctor.
Known Drug Interactions
Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS): Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not coadminister aliskiren with Lotrel in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with Lotrel in patients with renal impairment [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 mL/min].
Mechanism: Both of these drugs target the same system that controls blood pressure, which can cause your blood pressure to drop too low. This combination also increases the risk of kidney damage and high potassium levels.
What to do: Avoid taking these drugs together, especially if you have diabetes or kidney disease. Your doctor will likely choose a different treatment to protect your kidneys.
Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS): Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not coadminister aliskiren with valsartan in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with valsartan in patients with renal impairment (GFR < 60 mL/min).
Mechanism: Using these two medicines together can over-block the system that regulates blood pressure and kidney health. This can lead to dangerously low blood pressure, high potassium, or sudden kidney failure.
What to do: Do not use this combination if you have diabetes or existing kidney problems. Your provider will monitor your blood pressure and kidney health very closely if these drugs are used.
7.2 Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not coadminister aliskiren with Edarbyclor in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with Edarbyclor in patients with renal impairment (GFR <60 mL/min).
Mechanism: Both drugs block the same system that controls blood pressure, which can cause your blood pressure to drop too low and strain your kidneys. This can also lead to dangerously high potassium levels in your blood.
What to do: Do not take these together if you have diabetes or kidney problems. Your doctor will likely prescribe only one of these to protect your health.
7.4 Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) Dual Blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not coadminister aliskiren with benazepril hydrochloride in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with benazepril hydrochloride in patients with renal impairment (GFR < 60 ml/min).
Mechanism: These medicines both target the same pathway for blood pressure control, which increases the risk of kidney failure and high potassium. Using them together can cause your blood pressure to fall to unsafe levels.
What to do: This combination should not be used in patients with diabetes or kidney disease. Talk to your doctor about using only one of these medications to protect your kidneys.
7.4 Combination Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not co-administer aliskiren with candesartan cilexetil in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with candesartan cilexetil in patients with renal impairment (GFR <60 ml/min) [see Contraindications (4)].
Mechanism: Both drugs work on the same system to lower blood pressure, which can lead to severe kidney problems and high potassium levels. This double-blocking effect makes side effects much more likely than taking just one drug.
What to do: Avoid this combination, especially if you have diabetes or kidney issues. Your doctor should monitor your kidney function and blood pressure closely.
Common Questions
Can I take Tekturna if I have diabetes?
What should I do if I have swelling while taking Tekturna?
Can I take Tekturna with other blood pressure medicines?
Does Tekturna interact with pain relievers?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can Tekturna cause allergic reactions?
Will Tekturna cause diarrhea?
How long does it take for Tekturna to work?
What dose of Tekturna will I take?
Are there any foods I should avoid?
What are the common side effects of aliskiren?
Does aliskiren interact with other medications?
What drug class is aliskiren?
Is there a generic version of aliskiren?
Is aliskiren safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Direct Renin Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near aliskiren — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats.
Compare with aliskiren →
amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
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amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
Compare with aliskiren →
amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
Compare with aliskiren →
amlodipine/valsartan
Exforge
Exforge HCT is a combination medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
Compare with aliskiren →
Medication Guides
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Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for aliskiren
The FDA label for aliskiren (sold under brand names such as Tekturna) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Direct Renin Inhibitor class. Tekturna is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children who weigh at least 110 pounds and are 6 years or older. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,083 voluntary reports. The database also lists 28 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $4.36 versus $12.70 for the brand — a 66% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 7, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages