Atacand® approved for hypertension treatment

Drug Store News, August 24, 1998

Following availability in a number of European countries since 1997, Astra Merck Inc.'s Atacand(r) (candesartan cilexetil), a non-peptide selective angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist, has been approved for treatment of hypertension. Shown to reduce blood pressures effectively over a 24-hour period, it is dosed once daily with dose-dependent pressure reductions in doses of 4 mg to 32 mg.

The agent presumably produces its beneficial effects by systemic reduction of vascular resistance caused by the dilatation of blood vessels. Side effects include back pain, dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis and rhinitis, and it is contraindicated in pregnancy. The dry cough and orthostatic hypertension often seen with peptide-based angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors does not seem to be a problem with Atracand, and it does not appear to affect fasting blood glucose or plasma insulin levels.