Azilsartan

Key facts

• Azilsartan (sold as Edarbi, and combined with chlorthalidone as Edarbyclor) is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) that relaxes blood vessels to lower blood pressure.
• It is taken once daily as a tablet; the full blood-pressure-lowering effect develops over about four weeks.
• It can cause serious injury or death to a developing baby, so it must never be used in pregnancy and should be stopped as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.
• Seek urgent care for facial or throat swelling, fainting, or a marked drop in urine output.

What azilsartan treats

Azilsartan treats high blood pressure (hypertension), used alone or together with other blood-pressure medicines such as chlorthalidone. It is not used to relieve chest pain or to control heart rhythm.

How azilsartan works

Azilsartan blocks angiotensin II from attaching to its receptor on blood vessels. Angiotensin II would otherwise make vessels tighten and cause the body to retain salt and water; blocking it lets vessels relax and widen, so blood flows more easily and pressure falls.

Before you take it

• Do not take azilsartan if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy; stop immediately and tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking it.
• Avoid combining it with aliskiren if you have diabetes or kidney disease.
• Tell your prescriber about narrowed kidney arteries, kidney or liver disease, or if you take potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics, which can raise blood potassium too high alongside azilsartan.
• Dehydration, vomiting, or a very low-salt diet can cause a sharp drop in blood pressure when you start treatment.

Side effects

Common effects include dizziness, light-headedness on standing, tiredness, and mild diarrhoea.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
• Fainting or severe dizziness.
• Signs of kidney trouble, such as little or no urine output, or new swelling.
• Signs of high potassium, such as muscle weakness or an irregular heartbeat.

Safety essentials

• Fetal harm is the defining risk: azilsartan must not be used at any point during pregnancy, and treatment should switch to a pregnancy-safe alternative as soon as pregnancy is planned or confirmed.
• Periodic checks of blood pressure, kidney function and potassium levels are recommended, especially after starting or changing the dose.
• Tell every prescriber and pharmacist you take azilsartan, since combining it with certain diuretics or anti-inflammatory painkillers can affect kidney function and blood pressure control.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.