What each one is for, how to take it, side effects and warnings, side by side from the official labels.
| Telmisartan | Valsartan | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A blood pressure medicine (ARB) | A blood pressure medicine (ARB) |
| Used for | Telmisartan tablets, USP are an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infa… | Valsartan tablets are an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Hypertension, to lower blood pressure in adults and children 1 year and older. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes… |
| Usual adult dose | Not on the label | Indication Starting Dose Dose Range * Hypertension Adult 80-160 mg once daily 80-320 mg once daily 1-16 years 1 mg/kg once daily Up to 40 mg daily 1-4 mg/kg once daily Up to 160 mg daily Heart Failure 40 mg twice daily 40-160 mg twice daily Post-Myocardial Inf… |
| Children | Use of the oral suspension is recommended: in pediatric patients aged 1 to 5 years in patients >5 years of age who cannot swallow tablets and in pediatric patients for whom the calculated dose (mg/kg) does not correspond to the available tablet strengths of va… | |
| Prescription (U.S.) | Yes | Yes |
| Common side effects | The following adverse reaction is described elsewhere in labeling: Renal dysfunction upon use with ramipril [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Hypertension: The most common adverse events (≥1%) reported in hypertension trials a… | Hypertension: Most common adverse reactions are headache, dizziness, viral infection, fatigue and abdominal pain ( 6.1 ) Heart Failure: Most common adverse reactions are dizziness, hypotension, diarrhea, arthralgia, back pain, fat… |
| Serious warning | When pregnancy is detected, discontinue telmisartan as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin sy… | When pregnancy is detected, discontinue valsartan as soon as possible. ( 5.1 ) Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. ( 5.1 ) WARNI… |
| Pregnancy | 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Telmisartan can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Use of drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system during the second and third trimesters of pregn… | Lactation: Breastfeeding is not recommended ( 8. 2) Pediatrics : Use of valsartan tablets is not recommended in children less than 1 year of age ( 6.1 , 8.4 , 13.2 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Valsart… |
From the official U.S. labels. Brands and strengths differ between countries.
Neither official label mentions the other. That does not prove they are safe together: ask a pharmacist, and use the free interaction checker.
Check them togetherTelmisartan is a blood pressure medicine (ARB) and Valsartan is a blood pressure medicine (ARB). Telmisartan is used for: Telmisartan tablets, USP are an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infa… Valsartan is used for: Valsartan tablets are an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Hypertension, to lower blood pressure in adults and children 1 year and older. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes…
Neither official label mentions the other. That does not prove they are safe together: ask a pharmacist, and use the free interaction checker.
It depends on what you are treating, your health and other medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you which one suits you; this page shows what each official label says.