Micardis Plus 40/12.5 mg

Contains the active ingredient : Telmisartan 40 mg, which is a type of medicine called an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. It works by preventing the action of a hormone in the body called angiotensin II and Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg is a type of medicine called a thiazide diuretic.These are both medicines used to lower high blood pressure.

Angiotensin II normally acts on special receptors in the body, with two main results. Firstly, it causes the peripheral blood vessels to narrow, and secondly, it stimulates the production of another hormone called aldosterone. Aldosterone causes salt and water to be retained by the kidneys, which increases the volume of fluid in the blood vessels.

Telmisartan blocks the receptors that angiotensin II acts on, and so prevents its actions. The main result of this is that the peripheral blood vessels are allowed to widen, which means that there is more space and less resistance in these blood vessels. This is the main mechanism by which the pressure in the blood vessels is lowered.

Blocking the actions of angiotensin II also reduces the action of aldosterone on the kidneys. The result of this is an increase in the amount of fluid removed from the blood by the kidneys. This decreases the amount of fluid in the blood vessels, which also lessens the resistance and pressure in the blood vessels.

The combined overall effect of these changes is to lower the blood pressure.

Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide are sometimes referred to as ‘water tablets’. They remove excess fluid from the body by increasing the production of urine.

Diuretics act in the kidneys. They work by causing the kidneys to increase the amount of salts, such as potassium and sodium, that are filtered out of the blood and into the urine. When these salts are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, they draw water alongside them. As diuretics increase the removal of salts from the blood, they also cause more water to be drawn out of the blood and into the urine.

Removing water from the blood decreases the volume of fluid circulating through the blood vessels. This subsequently decreases the pressure within the blood vessels. Diuretics can therefore be used to lower high blood pressure.

The combination of captopril with hydrochlorothiazide is used when blood pressure has not been lowered sufficiently using captopril on its own.

What is it used for?

High blood pressure with no known cause (essential hypertension).

Reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with a history of coronary heart disease, previous stroke or type 2 diabetes that has caused damage to any organs.

Size : 30 tablets / box