Telmis-A 5/80mg Tablets

Amlodipine and telmisartan work together to lower high blood pressure. Keeping blood pressure under control lowers the chance of heart attacks and strokes.

• Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It relaxes and widens blood vessels so blood flows more easily.
• Telmisartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). It stops a natural hormone from narrowing the blood vessels.

The two medicines lower blood pressure in different ways, so together they can work better than either alone. Your doctor may use the combination when one medicine is not enough or when more than one is likely to be needed.

Take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, usually once a day at about the same time.

• You can take it with or without food.
• Keep the tablets in their blister pack until you are ready to take one, as they are sensitive to moisture.
• Keep taking it even if you feel well. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, and stopping suddenly can be dangerous.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless your next dose is close; then skip it. Never take two doses together.
• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice, which can increase side effects of amlodipine.

Common side effects include:

• swollen ankles, feet or legs
• dizziness or light-headedness, especially in the first few days
• headache, flushing or a pounding heartbeat
• back pain, sinus congestion or diarrhoea

Get medical help straight away if you have:

• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing
• fainting
• sudden, severe tummy pain that does not go away
• blistering, peeling skin or a severe rash
• chest pain that is new or getting worse

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• are pregnant, may become pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have heart failure, a narrowed heart valve or a recent heart attack
• have low blood pressure, diabetes or high potassium
• take potassium supplements, salt substitutes containing potassium, painkillers such as ibuprofen, or other blood pressure medicines
• take simvastatin, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, rifampicin or St John's wort

Store at room temperature, protected from moisture and light. Keep tablets in the blister until just before use, and keep out of the reach of children.

Pregnancy: do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. Telmisartan can seriously harm or kill an unborn baby. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor straight away. Do not breastfeed while taking it.

Dizziness: it can make you dizzy or faint, especially if you are dehydrated from sweating, vomiting or diarrhoea. If you feel faint, lie down and contact your doctor. Do not drive or use machinery until you know how it affects you.

Alcohol: limit alcohol, as it can make your blood pressure drop too low.