Manufacturer: Sun Pharma
Pharmaceutical name: Olmesartan Medoxomil
Pack: 10 pills (20 mg)
Olmezest is an angiotensin II receptor blocker used to manage hypertension in individuals with elevated blood pressure who are at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, aiming to prevent strokes and heart attacks. By lowering blood pressure to normal resting levels, Olmezest enables the heart to function more effectively and diminishes the chances of cardiovascular issues and damage to vital organs. It can be prescribed as a standalone treatment or alongside other antihypertensive medications, such as diuretics (water pills).
Olmezest comprises Olmesartan Medoxomil, which is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). It functions by inhibiting the attachment of the hormone angiotensin II to its receptor in various tissues, such as vascular smooth muscle (the heart and blood vessel walls) and renal cells. Angiotensin II is a hormone produced by the body that plays multiple roles in controlling blood pressure—the force required to circulate blood throughout the body—as well as fluid balance, which pertains to the volume of water excreted from the blood by the kidneys. This hormone leads to the retention of salt (sodium and potassium) and water by the kidneys while also constricting blood vessels (narrowing them); this combination elevates blood volume while simultaneously reducing the volume inside the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure. The Olmesartan in Olmezest inhibits the binding of angiotensin II to its receptor, blocking its blood pressure-raising effects, which causes the blood vessels to dilate (widen) and enhances the elimination of salt and water by the kidneys into the urine, ultimately resulting in lower blood pressure.
The most frequently reported side effects associated with Olmezest include upper respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis or bronchitis, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, cough, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, headaches, fatigue, back pain, peripheral edema, and alterations in blood salt levels.