telmisartan
Brand names: Micardis
Telmisartan (Micardis) is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
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 →
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.
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.
How to Take It
Take telmisartan once a day. The usual starting dose for high blood pressure is 40 mg. Your doctor may increase the dose to 80 mg. You can take it with or without food.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Telmisartan can cause harm to your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. Do not breastfeed while taking telmisartan.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store telmisartan tablets at room temperature (68°F to 77°F) in a tightly closed container, protected from moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 17,481 FDA adverse event reports.
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
Death-Related Reports
3,166
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 |
| 3 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,884 |
| 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 |
| 14 | OFF LABEL USE | 1,396 |
| 15 | VOMITING | 1,353 |
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
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.
What to do: Do not take these drugs together if you have diabetes or kidney problems. Your doctor will need to monitor your kidney function and blood pressure very closely.
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.
What to do: This combination is not recommended and you should talk to your doctor about using a different treatment.
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.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your lithium blood levels closely to make sure they do not become too high.
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.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your digoxin blood levels when you start, change, or stop taking telmisartan.
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?
Is telmisartan safe during pregnancy?
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 →
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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 17,481 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 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: July 28, 2025
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