Prescription medication · Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
telmisartan
Also sold as Micardis. Telmisartan is used to treat high blood pressure.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 33,611
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 4
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 97% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $4.49
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
telmisartan (Micardis) is a prescription Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB), reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (33,611 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 97% 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.
telmisartan (Micardis) is a prescription Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB). Telmisartan is used to treat high blood pressure.
Telmisartan (Micardis) is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$4.49/unit
Generic Price
$0.12/unit
Generic Savings
97%
Generic Available
Yes (23 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: TELMISARTAN 20 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -38.4% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.1915/EA | - | 2 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.1179/EA | -38.4% | 19 |
What it does
Telmisartan is used to treat high blood pressure.
Common side effects
Back pain, Sinus infection, Diarrhea
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 telmisartan's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 33,611 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for telmisartan, by number of reports
- Nausea
Nausea
2,059 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
2,001 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
1,794 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
1,785 reports
- Headache
Headache
1,715 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
1,682 reports
- Fall
Fall
1,594 reports
- Blood Pressure Increased
Blood Pressure Increased
1,510 reports
- Hypertension
Hypertension
1,460 reports
- Arthralgia
Arthralgia
1,428 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 telmisartan 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 telmisartan sits
telmisartan 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 telmisartan; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 33,611 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2001–2025.
Total Reports
33,611
Reports Mentioning Death
3,166
9.4% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
14,967
Top Indication
Hypertension
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 2,059 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 2,001 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 1,794 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 1,785 |
| 6 | HEADACHE | 1,715 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 1,682 |
| 8 | FALL | 1,594 |
| 9 | BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED | 1,510 |
| 10 | HYPERTENSION | 1,460 |
| 11 | ARTHRALGIA | 1,428 |
| 12 | MALAISE | 1,424 |
| 13 | ASTHENIA | 1,408 |
| 15 | VOMITING | 1,353 |
| 16 | PAIN | 1,310 |
| 17 | COUGH | 1,234 |
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. Telmisartan can harm or cause death to your unborn baby.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Aliskiren: Do not co-administer aliskiren with telmisartan in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with telmisartan in patients with renal impairment (GFR <60 mL/min). NSAIDs : Increased risk of renal impairment and loss of anti-hypertensive effect ( 7 ) Do not co-administer aliskiren with telmisartan in patients with diabetes ( 7 )
Mechanism: Both of these medicines work on the same system to lower blood pressure, which can cause serious stress on the kidneys and high potassium levels.
In a large-scale, long-term clinical efficacy study, the combination of telmisartan and ramipril resulted in an increased incidence of clinically important renal dysfunction (death, doubling of serum creatinine, dialysis) compared with groups receiving either drug alone. Therefore, concomitant use of telmisartan and ramipril is not recommended [see Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System ( 5.7 ) ].
Mechanism: Taking these two types of blood pressure medicines together can put too much stress on your kidneys and increase the risk of kidney damage.
Lithium: Reversible increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity have been reported during concomitant administration of lithium with angiotensin II receptor antagonists including telmisartan. Therefore, monitor serum lithium levels during concomitant use.
Mechanism: Telmisartan can make it harder for your kidneys to get rid of lithium, leading to a buildup of lithium in your blood.
Digoxin: When telmisartan was co-administered with digoxin, median increases in digoxin peak plasma concentration (49%) and in trough concentration (20%) were observed. Therefore, monitor digoxin levels when initiating, adjusting, and discontinuing telmisartan for the purpose of keeping the digoxin level within the therapeutic range.
Mechanism: Telmisartan can raise the amount of digoxin in your blood by changing how your body processes and removes it.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take telmisartan with food?
What should I do if I feel dizzy after taking telmisartan?
Can I drink alcohol while taking telmisartan?
How long does it take for telmisartan to lower my blood pressure?
What is the most common dose of telmisartan?
Can I take telmisartan if I have kidney problems?
Can I take telmisartan if I have diabetes?
What should I do if I experience swelling of my face, tongue, or throat?
Does telmisartan interact with other medications?
Can I stop taking telmisartan if my blood pressure is under control?
What are the common side effects of telmisartan?
Does telmisartan interact with other medications?
What drug class is telmisartan?
Is there a generic version of telmisartan?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for telmisartan?
Related Medications in Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
Other drugs grouped near telmisartan - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats.
Compare with telmisartan →
aliskiren
Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
Compare with telmisartan →
amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
Compare with telmisartan →
amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
Compare with telmisartan →
amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
Compare with telmisartan →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for telmisartan: 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: 33,611.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 9.42%.
- dutasteride Δ 0.01 pts · 20,677 reports · 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor 9.43%death share
- fosinopril Δ 0.03 pts · 4,213 reports · ACE Inhibitor 9.45%death share
- gabapentin Δ 0.04 pts · 351,750 reports · Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent 9.38%death share
- sitagliptin Δ 0.05 pts · 70,292 reports · DPP-4 Inhibitor 9.47%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 telmisartan
The FDA label for telmisartan (sold under brand names such as Micardis) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) class. Telmisartan is used to treat high blood pressure. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Back pain, Sinus infection, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 33,611 voluntary reports. The database also lists 4 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 $0.12 versus $4.49 for the brand - a 97% 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: July 28, 2025
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