Irbesartan Vitória (Irbesartan)

Irbesartan acts on the renin‑angiotensin‑aldosterone system to control blood pressure and renal disease progression.

• Hypertension: lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults.
• Diabetic nephropathy: slows the decline of renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes.
• Proteinuria: reduces urinary protein excretion associated with diabetic kidney disease.

• Irbesartan selectively blocks angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors, preventing angiotensin II from inducing vasoconstriction and aldosterone release. This inhibition leads to vasodilation, reduced peripheral resistance, and decreased sodium‑water retention, thereby lowering blood pressure and mitigating renal damage in diabetic patients.

Common Side Effects

• Dizziness: sensation of light‑headedness, especially after standing.
• Headache: mild to moderate head pain.
• Fatigue: feeling unusually tired or weak.
• Upper respiratory tract infection: nasopharyngitis or mild cold symptoms.

Serious or Rare Side Effects

• Angioedema: swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat that may compromise breathing.
• Hyperkalemia: elevated blood potassium levels that can affect heart rhythm.
• Acute renal impairment: sudden worsening of kidney function.
• Hepatic injury: signs of liver dysfunction such as jaundice or elevated enzymes.

Before initiating therapy, consider the following precautions.

• Blood pressure monitoring: check regularly to avoid hypotension.
• Renal function assessment: evaluate serum creatinine and eGFR at baseline and during treatment.
• Serum potassium monitoring: watch for hyperkalemia, especially with concomitant potassium‑sparing agents.
• Hepatic impairment: use with caution in patients with severe liver disease.
• Pregnancy: avoid use during pregnancy due to potential fetal toxicity.
• Store at ambient temperature: keep below 25 °C in the original packaging, protect from moisture and direct sunlight.

Irbesartan may interact with several medicines; categorize as follows.

Major Interactions (Avoid)

• Aliskiren (in diabetes): combined use can increase renal risk.
• Dual ARB/ACE inhibitor therapy: heightened risk of hypotension and kidney injury.
• Potassium‑sparing diuretics: may cause dangerous hyperkalemia.
• Lithium: can raise lithium concentrations, leading to toxicity.
• NSAIDs (high dose): increase risk of renal impairment.

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely)

• Thiazide diuretics: may enhance antihypertensive effect, requiring dose adjustment.
• CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., azole antifungals): may increase irbesartan plasma levels.
• Cyclosporine: can raise serum creatinine, necessitating renal monitoring.