Olkem 40 Am Tablet

Composition of Olkem 40 Am Tablet

Olkem 40 Am Tablet contains Olmesartan Medoxomil (40mg) + Amlodipine (5mg). It belongs to the Angiotensin receptor blocker / ACE inhibitor and Calcium channel blocker class of medicines.

Uses of Olkem 40 Am Tablet

• This medicine is used in the treatment of high blood pressure
• heart failure
• diabetic kidney disease and angina.

Key benefits

• Protects the kidneys in diabetes
• Reduces the long-term risk of stroke and heart attack
• Usually taken once a day
• Effective and well tolerated for long-term blood pressure control
• Useful in angina as well as hypertension

How Olkem 40 Am Tablet works

This medicine combines 2 active ingredients: Olmesartan and Amlodipine. Olmesartan relaxes and widens your blood vessels by blocking a hormone that narrows them, so your heart does not have to push as hard and your blood pressure falls. Amlodipine relaxes the muscle in the walls of your blood vessels so they widen, which lowers blood pressure and eases the work of the heart.

How to take Olkem 40 Am Tablet

Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, crush or break it unless your doctor has told you to. Take it with or without food, at the same time each day. Taking it at about the same time each day helps you remember. Follow the dose and the duration written on your prescription.

Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed. Do not change the dose or stop early on your own.

Missed dose and overdose

If you miss a dose

Take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose is almost due, skip the one you missed — never take two doses together to catch up.

If you take too much

An overdose of this medicine can cause a severe fall in blood pressure, with dizziness, fainting and a fast or slow pulse. It can cause a severe fall in blood pressure and a dangerously slow or irregular heartbeat. Do not wait for symptoms to appear — go to the nearest emergency department and take the pack or strip with you.

Side effects of Olkem 40 Am Tablet

Most side effects of Olkem are mild and settle as the body adjusts. Reported side effects include:

• Dizziness on standing up
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Raised potassium
• Dry cough
• Swelling of the ankles and feet
• Flushing
• Palpitations
• Dizziness

Stop the medicine and seek help immediately for a rash, swelling of the face or lips, wheezing or difficulty breathing. Tell your doctor about any side effect that persists or worries you.

Safety advice for Olkem 40 Am Tablet

Warnings and precautions

Stand up slowly for the first few days — dizziness on rising is common when you start or your dose goes up. Stop and seek urgent care if your lips, tongue, face or throat swell, or you have difficulty breathing. A persistent dry, tickly cough can be caused by the ACE inhibitor group; tell your doctor rather than stopping on your own, as an alternative exists. Your doctor will check your kidney function and potassium after starting and after any dose change. Do not use salt substitutes containing potassium without asking your doctor. Ankle swelling is the commonest reason people stop this medicine — tell your doctor, as there are ways to manage it. Tell your doctor if your chest pain becomes more frequent or more severe after starting. Swollen, tender or overgrown gums should be reported; good brushing and regular dental care reduce the risk.

Do not take Olkem if

Not for anyone with a known allergy to this medicine or to any ingredient in the pack. Must not be used in pregnancy — it can seriously harm the developing baby. Not for people with narrowing of both kidney arteries, or a history of swelling of the face and throat caused by this group of medicines. Not for people with very low blood pressure or with severe narrowing of the aortic valve.

Interactions with other medicines

Anti-inflammatory painkillers reduce the effect and can harm the kidneys when combined. Potassium supplements, potassium-sparing water tablets and salt substitutes can push potassium too high. Lithium levels rise when taken with these medicines. Grapefruit juice raises the level of some of these medicines in the blood — avoid it. Tell your doctor about other blood pressure medicines, and about simvastatin in particular.

How to store Olkem 40 Am Tablet

Store below 30°C in the original pack, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.

Expert advice for Olkem 40 Am Tablet

Blood pressure medicines work only while you take them — do not stop because you feel well. Tell your doctor at once if you become pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. Keep a home blood-pressure record if your doctor has asked for one. Raising your legs when sitting, and reducing salt, helps with ankle swelling. Do not stop suddenly without asking your doctor.

Manufacturer and class

Manufacturer:

ALKEM LAB

Therapeutic class:

Anti-hypertensive

Drug class:

Angiotensin receptor blocker / ACE inhibitor and Calcium channel blocker