Compare Benicar vs. Micardis
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers blood pressure.
Benicar (olmesartan) is a good blood pressure-lowering medicine that protects your kidneys, but with fewer side effects.
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3.9/ 5 average rating with 118 reviewsforBenicar
Lowers blood pressure.
Micardis (telmisartan) is a good blood pressure-lowering medicine that protects your kidneys and has few side effects.
Upsides
- A first-choice blood pressure treatment for many people.
- Lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Similar to ACE inhibitors (like lisinopril), with fewer side effects like cough and swelling.
- Protects kidney function, which is especially useful for people with diabetes or mild-to-moderate kidney disease.
- Available by itself and in combination with different blood pressure medicines in a single pill.
- Micardis (telmisartan) lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- It's similar to ACE inhibitors (like lisinopril), but it doesn't cause the same side effects like coughing.
- Protects kidney function, which is especially useful for people with diabetes or mild-to-moderate kidney disease.
Downsides
- Requires regular blood tests to see how the medicine is affecting your body.
- Not safe to use if you're pregnant.
- Recently became a generic, though still relatively expensive.
- You'll need to get regular blood tests while taking Micardis (telmisartan) to see how it is affecting your body.
- It's not safe to use Micardis (telmisartan) if you're pregnant.
- Micardis (telmisartan) can cause the level of potassium in your blood to go up.
- You'll need to get medical help if you notice any unusual swelling around your head and neck.
- Micardis (telmisartan) is eliminated by the liver, so people who have liver problems should use it carefully.
Used for
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack prevention
- Stroke prevention
- Protect the kidney
- Protect the heart from a repeat heart attack
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$10.98
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$17.11
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Reviews
118 reviews so far
65%
saidit'sworth it
63%
saiditworked well
12%
saidit'sa big hassle
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Side effects
4possible side effects
- Common cold7%
- Back pain3%
- Sinus infection3%
- Diarrhea3%
Risks and risk factors
- Birth defects
- Women of childbearing age
- Worsening kidney problems
- History of kidney problems
- Swelling in the face and head
- African descent
- High potassium levels
- Current kidney problems
- Using medicines that increase potassium
- Using salt substitutes
- Low blood pressure
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that lower your blood pressure
- Severe diarrhea
- Harm to fetus
- Women of childbearing age
- Worsening kidney problems
- History of kidney problems
- Swelling of face and head
- African descent
- Heart problems due to high potassium
- Current kidney problems
- Medicine that increase potassium
- Use of salt substitutes
- Low blood pressure
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that lower your blood pressure