SUMMARY CMI
CANDESARTAN-WGR
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I taking CANDESARTAN-WGR?
CANDESARTAN-WGR contains the active ingredient candesartan cilexetil. CANDESARTAN-WGR is used to treat high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
CANDESARTAN-WGR is also used to treat heart failure. It is used in combination with other medicines to treat your condition. For more information, see Section 1. Why am I taking CANDESARTAN-WGR? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I take CANDESARTAN-WGR?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to CANDESARTAN-WGR or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I take CANDESARTAN-WGR? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with CANDESARTAN-WGR and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How do I take CANDESARTAN-WGR?
- Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day. The usual dose is 8 mg or 16 mg once daily. This dose may be increased to 32 mg once daily.
- Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water at about the same time each day.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I take CANDESARTAN-WGR? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while taking CANDESARTAN-WGR?
| Things you should do |
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| Things you should not do |
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| Driving or using machines |
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| Drinking alcohol |
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| Looking after your medicine |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while taking CANDESARTAN-WGR? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
Less serious side effects are chest or throat infection, flu-like symptoms, feeling sick (nausea/vomiting), back pain, headache and dizziness.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
FULL CMI
CANDESARTAN-WGR
Active ingredient: candesartan cilexetil
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about taking CANDESARTAN-WGR. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about taking CANDESARTAN-WGR.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking CANDESARTAN-WGR?
2. What should I know before I take CANDESARTAN-WGR?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I take CANDESARTAN-WGR?
5. What should I know while taking CANDESARTAN-WGR?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I taking CANDESARTAN-WGR?
CANDESARTAN-WGR contains the active ingredient candesartan cilexetil.
Candesartan cilexetil is a type of medicine called an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (or blocker). Candesartan cilexetil lowers blood pressure by dilating (expanding) small blood vessels from the heart, letting the blood be pumped around the body more easily.
CANDESARTAN-WGR is used to treat:
- high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
- heart failure, in combination with other medicines to treat your condition.
2. What should I know before I take CANDESARTAN-WGR?
Warnings
Do not take CANDESARTAN-WGR if:
- you are allergic to any medicine containing candesartan cilexetil, any medicine containing an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (blocker) or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can take this medicine.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin. - you have severe liver disease and/or conditions associated with impaired bile flow (cholestasis).
- you are taking blood pressure medicine containing aliskiren, especially if you have diabetes mellitus or have kidney problems.
Check with your doctor if you:
- have any other medical conditions:
- kidney problems
- liver problems
- heart problems
- recent excessive vomiting or diarrhoea
- a condition called primary hyperaldosteronism.
You may have to take a lower dose of CANDESARTAN-WGR if you have these conditions.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Use in children
CANDESARTAN-WGR is not recommended for children.
There is no information about its use in children.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do not take CANDESARTAN-WGR if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
It may affect your baby if you take it during pregnancy.
Do not take CANDESARTAN-WGR if you are breastfeeding.
It is not known if CANDESARTAN-WGR passes into breast milk.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and CANDESARTAN-WGR may interfere with each other. These include:
- Any medicines containing potassium, including salt substitutes.
- Diuretics (fluid tablets).
- Lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis.
- Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, medicines used to help lower blood pressure, especially if you have diabetes related kidney problems.
- Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), such as spironolactone and eplerenone, medicines used to treat heart failure.
These medicines may be affected by CANDESARTAN-WGR >or may affect the way CANDESARTAN-WGR works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
It may be necessary to have regular blood tests done if you take any of these medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking CANDESARTAN-WGR.
4. How do I take CANDESARTAN-WGR?
How much to take
The usual dose is one 8 mg tablet or one 16 mg tablet taken daily. Sometimes an increase in dose to 32 mg tablet once daily is needed. Your doctor will tell you the dose of CANDESARTAN-WGR you should take.
Follow all instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the carton, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
When to take CANDESARTAN-WGR
CANDESARTAN-WGR should be taken once a day, at about the same time each day. Keeping a regular time for taking CANDESARTAN-WGR will help to remind you to take it.
How to take CANDESARTAN-WGR
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. It does not matter whether you take CANDESARTAN-WGR with food or on an empty stomach.
How long to take CANDESARTAN-WGR
Continue taking CANDESARTAN-WGR for as long as your doctor tells you. CANDESARTAN-WGR helps to control your condition but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking CANDESARTAN-WGR even if you feel well.
If you forget to take CANDESARTAN-WGR
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it is at least 12 hours before your next dose is due. Then go back to taking it as you would normally.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much CANDESARTAN-WGR
If you think that you have taken too many CANDESARTAN-WGR tablets, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
- phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26), or - contact your doctor, or
- go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you take too many CANDESARTAN-WGR tablets you may get a headache, feel sick (nausea), dizzy and very tired.
5. What should I know while taking CANDESARTAN-WGR?
Things you should do
- Take CANDESARTAN-WGR exactly as your doctor has told you to. Your blood pressure will not be well controlled if you do not.
- If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are taking CANDESARTAN-WGR.
- If you plan to have surgery (even at the dentist) that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking CANDESARTAN-WGR.
- Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor will check your progress and may want to take some tests (e.g. blood tests, blood pressure) from time to time. These tests may help to prevent side effects.
- Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking CANDESARTAN-WGR.
Call your doctor straight away if you:
- become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking CANDESARTAN-WGR. You should not take CANDESARTAN-WGR if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. Your doctor can discuss different treatment options with you.
Things you should not do
- Do not take CANDESARTAN-WGR to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
- Do not give CANDESARTAN-WGR to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
- Do not stop taking CANDESARTAN-WGR unless you have discussed it with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
- Move slowly when getting out of bed or standing up if you feel faint, dizzy or light-headed.
- If you are taking CANDESARTAN-WGR for high blood pressure, drink plenty of water during exercise and hot weather, especially if you sweat a lot.
- If you do not drink enough water while taking CANDESARTAN-WGR, you may faint or feel light-headed or sick. This is because your body does not have enough fluid and your blood pressure is low. If you continue to feel unwell, tell your doctor.
- If you are taking CANDESARTAN-WGR for heart failure, restricted fluid intake is generally recommended.
Speak with your doctor about how much water you should drink.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how CANDESARTAN-WGR affects you.
CANDESARTAN-WGR may cause dizziness and tiredness when you start taking it due to the drop in your blood pressure.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Alcohol may interfere with CANDESARTAN-WGR.
Looking after your medicine
- Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
- If you take CANDESARTAN-WGR out of the blister pack, it will not keep well.
- Keep it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:
- in the bathroom or near a sink, or
- in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
| Less serious side effects | What to do |
| Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. |
Serious side effects
| Serious side effects | What to do |
| Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects. |
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What CANDESARTAN-WGR contains
| Active ingredient (main ingredient) |
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| Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) |
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| Potential allergens | Contains sugars as lactose. |
This medicine does not contain gluten, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What CANDESARTAN-WGR looks like
CANDESARTAN-WGR 4 mg Tablet
Light pink, mottled, round biconvex uncoated tablet with ‘291’ on one side and a scoreline on the other side.
AUST R 431730.
CANDESARTAN-WGR 8 mg Tablet
Light pink, mottled, round biconvex uncoated tablet with ‘292’ on one side and a scoreline on the other side.
AUST R 431750.
CANDESARTAN-WGR 16 mg Tablet
Light pink, mottled, round biconvex uncoated tablet with ‘L293’ on one side and a scoreline on the other side.
AUST R 431751.
CANDESARTAN-WGR 32 mg Tablet
Light pink, mottled, round biconvex uncoated tablet with ‘L294’ on one side and a scoreline on the other side.
AUST R 431830.
Available in blister pack of 30 tablets.
*Not all strengths may be available.
Who distributes CANDESARTAN-WGR
Wagner Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
6 Albert Street
Preston VIC 3072
Tel: 1800 936 140
This leaflet was prepared in September 2024.
Published by MIMS February 2025