Drug Detail:Irbesartan (Irbesartan [ ir-be-sar-tan ])
Drug Class: Angiotensin receptor blockers
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension
Initial dose: 150 mg orally once a day
- Maintenance 150 to 300 mg orally once a day
Comments:
- May be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
Use: Treatment of hypertension.
Usual Adult Dose for Diabetic Nephropathy
300 mg orally once a day
Comments:
- This drug has been shown to reduce the rate of progression of nephropathy as measured by the occurrence of doubling of serum creatinine or ESRD (need for dialysis or renal transplantation).
Use: Treatment of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension with an elevated serum creatinine and proteinuria (greater than 300 mg/day).
Renal Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended
- Consider withholding or discontinuing therapy in patients who develop a clinically significant decrease in renal function during therapy
Liver Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended
Dose Adjustments
Volume and/or salt depleted patients:
- Correct volume or salt depletion prior to therapy OR use a lower starting dose: 75 mg orally once a day
Precautions
US BOXED WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY:
- If pregnancy is detected, discontinue this drug as soon as possible.
- Drugs that act directly on the RAS can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Hypersensitivity to the active component or any of the ingredients
- Concomitant use of aliskiren in patients with diabetes
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Hemodialysis: Initial dose: 75 mg orally once a day
Peritoneal dialysis: Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- Take orally once a day with or without food
Monitoring:
- Monitor serum potassium and renal function periodically.
Patient advice:
- Patients should be instructed to read the US FDA-approved patient labeling.
- Females of childbearing age should be informed of the consequences of exposure to this drug during pregnancy; ask these patients to report pregnancies as soon as possible.
- Patients should be advised not to use potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without consulting their healthcare provider.
