Prescription medication · Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
candesartan
Also sold as Atacand. Candesartan is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children ages 1 to 17.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 33,477
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 94% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $7.80
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
candesartan (Atacand) is a prescription Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB), reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (33,477 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 94% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
candesartan (Atacand) is a prescription Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB). Candesartan is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children ages 1 to 17.
Candesartan is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help treat heart failure.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$7.80/unit
Generic Price
$0.48/unit
Generic Savings
94%
Generic Available
Yes (9 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Candesartan is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children ages 1 to 17.
Common side effects
Dizziness, Upper respiratory tract infection, Back pain
Key warnings
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, stop taking this medicine right away.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from candesartan's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 33,477 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for candesartan, by number of reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
3,169 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
3,159 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
2,989 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
2,764 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
2,677 reports
- Headache
Headache
2,506 reports
- Pain
Pain
2,454 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
2,251 reports
- General Physical Health Deterioration
General Physical Health Deterioration
2,177 reports
- Arthralgia
Arthralgia
2,146 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for candesartan each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where candesartan sits
candesartan has more FDA adverse-event reports than 66% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is candesartan; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 33,477 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
33,477
Reports Mentioning Death
4,308
12.9% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
17,659
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DYSPNOEA | 3,169 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 3,159 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 2,989 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 2,764 |
| 6 | DIZZINESS | 2,677 |
| 7 | HEADACHE | 2,506 |
| 8 | PAIN | 2,454 |
| 10 | VOMITING | 2,251 |
| 11 | GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION | 2,177 |
| 12 | ARTHRALGIA | 2,146 |
| 13 | ASTHENIA | 1,979 |
| 14 | MALAISE | 1,951 |
| 15 | HYPERTENSION | 1,922 |
| 16 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 1,912 |
| 17 | PNEUMONIA | 1,781 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
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.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS · Lithium: Increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity (7). 7.2 Lithium Increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity have been reported during concomitant administration of lithium with angiotensin II receptor antagonists, including candesartan cilexetil. Monitor serum lithium levels.
Mechanism: Candesartan can make it harder for your body to get rid of lithium, which can cause the drug to reach toxic levels.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take candesartan if I have diabetes?
Can I take candesartan if I have kidney problems?
Can I take candesartan with other blood pressure medicines?
How long does it take for candesartan to work?
Can I drink alcohol while taking candesartan?
What should I do if I feel dizzy after taking candesartan?
Can candesartan cause any changes in my potassium levels?
Can I take NSAIDs like ibuprofen with candesartan?
Is there a generic version of candesartan?
What should I tell my doctor before starting candesartan?
What are the common side effects of candesartan?
Does candesartan interact with other medications?
What drug class is candesartan?
Is there a generic version of candesartan?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for candesartan?
Related Medications in Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
Other drugs grouped near candesartan - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats.
Compare with candesartan →
aliskiren
Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
Compare with candesartan →
amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
Compare with candesartan →
amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
Compare with candesartan →
amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
Compare with candesartan →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for candesartan: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 33,477.
- diltiazem Δ 143 reports · Calcium Channel Blocker 33,620reports
- clarithromycin Δ 230 reports · Macrolide Antibiotic 33,247reports
- tapentadol Δ 423 reports · Opioid / Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor 33,054reports
- paroxetine Δ 811 reports · Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) 32,666reports
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 12.87%.
- hydrocortisone Δ 0.04 pts · 84,725 reports · Corticosteroid 12.83%death share
- ranolazine Δ 0.06 pts · 10,014 reports · Late Sodium Current Inhibitor (Antianginal) 12.93%death share
- trimethoprim Δ 0.07 pts · 11,380 reports · Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitor 12.93%death share
- denosumab Δ 0.08 pts · 196,342 reports · RANK Ligand Inhibitor 12.79%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for candesartan
The FDA label for candesartan (sold under brand names such as Atacand) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) class. Candesartan is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children ages 1 to 17. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Upper respiratory tract infection, Back pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 33,477 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 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 $0.48 versus $7.80 for the brand - a 94% 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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: October 4, 2021
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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