Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide has been evaluated for safety in more than 1700 patients, including 716 treated for hypertension for longer than 6 months and 420 for more than 1 year. Adverse reactions have been limited to those that have been previously reported with telmisartan and/or hydrochlorothiazide.
Adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of ≥2% in patients treated with telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide and at a greater rate than in patients treated with placebo, are presented in Table 1 [see Clinical Studies (14)].
Table 1 Adverse Reactions Occurring at an Incidence of ≥2% in Patients Treated with Telmisartan/Hydrochlorothiazide and at a Greater Rate Than in Patients Treated with Placebo*
| Telmisartan/ Hydrochlorothiazide (n = 414)
| Placebo (n = 74)
| Telmisartan (n = 209)
| Hydrochlorothiazide (n = 121)
|
Body as a whole Fatigue
| 3%
| 1%
| 3%
| 3%
|
Influenza-like symptoms
| 2%
| 1%
| 2%
| 3%
|
Central/Peripheral nervous system Dizziness
|
5%
|
1%
|
4%
|
6%
|
Gastrointestinal system Diarrhea
| 3%
| 0%
| 5%
| 2%
|
Nausea
| 2%
| 0%
| 1%
| 2%
|
Respiratory system disorder Sinusitis
| 4%
| 3%
| 3%
| 6%
|
Upper respiratory tract infection
| 8%
| 7%
| 7%
| 10%
|
* includes all doses of telmisartan (20 to 160 mg), hydrochlorothiazide (6.25 to 25 mg), and combinations thereof
Other adverse reactions observed for telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide were: pain (including back and abdominal), dyspepsia, erythema, vomiting, bronchitis, and pharyngitis.
Adverse reactions occurred at approximately the same rates in men and women, older and younger patients, and black and non-black patients.
Telmisartan
Other adverse events that have been reported with telmisartan are listed below:
Autonomic Nervous System: impotence, increased sweating, flushing
Body as a Whole: allergy, fever, leg pain, chest pain
Cardiovascular: palpitation, angina pectoris, abnormal ECG, hypertension, peripheral edema
Central Nervous System: insomnia, somnolence, migraine, paresthesia, involuntary muscle contractions, hypoesthesia
Gastrointestinal: flatulence, constipation, gastritis, dry mouth, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux, toothache
Hepato-biliary: elevations of liver enzymes or serum bilirubin
Metabolic: gout, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus
Musculoskeletal: arthritis, arthralgia, leg cramps, myalgia
Psychiatric: anxiety, depression, nervousness
Resistance Mechanism: infection, abscess, otitis media
Respiratory: asthma, rhinitis, dyspnea, epistaxis
Skin: dermatitis, eczema, pruritus
Urinary: micturition frequency, cystitis
Vascular: cerebrovascular disorder
Special Senses: abnormal vision, conjunctivitis, tinnitus, earache
Hydrochlorothiazide
Other adverse events that have been reported with hydrochlorothiazide are listed below:
Body as a Whole: weakness
Digestive: pancreatitis, jaundice (intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice), sialadenitis, cramping, gastric irritation
Hematologic: aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia
Hypersensitivity: purpura, photosensitivity, urticaria, necrotizing angiitis (vasculitis and cutaneous vasculitis), fever, respiratory distress including pneumonitis and pulmonary edema, anaphylactic reactions
Metabolic: hyperglycemia, glycosuria
Musculoskeletal: muscle spasm
Nervous System/Psychiatric: restlessness
Renal: interstitial nephritis
Skin: erythema multiforme including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis including toxic epidermal necrolysis
Special Senses: transient blurred vision, xanthopsia
Clinical Laboratory Findings
Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): Increases in BUN (≥11.2 mg/dL) and serum creatinine (≥0.5 mg/dL) were observed in 2.8% and 1.4%, respectively, of patients with essential hypertension treated with telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in controlled trials. No patient discontinued treatment with telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets because of an increase in BUN or creatinine [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].