Olmesartan medoxomil 10mg/5ml oral solution
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Olmesartan belongs to the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) family of drugs, which also includes [telmisartan], [candesartan], [losartan], [valsartan], and [irbesartan].
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1 branded products available
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
20 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary BNF/ATC mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
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Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 19 · Randomised trials: 4 · 2001–2025
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
Gianluca Ianiro, Stefano Bibbò, Massimo Montalto, et al.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2014
- Atrophy
- Celiac Disease
- Diagnosis, Differential
N. Burbure, Benjamin Lebwohl, Carolina Argüelles-Grande, et al.
Human Pathology, 2015
- Biopsy
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Diarrhea
A. Almarjan, Sara Abdulaziz Almarjan, A. Masoud
High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention, 2023
Tiffney Tyara Setyoko, William Ricardo
Journal of Hypertension, 2025
Sun Y, Yang H
2024
- Hypertension
- Biphenyl Compounds
- Tetrazoles
Ali M. Nasr, Ahmed R. Gardouh, Mamdouh Ghorab
Pharmaceutics, 2016
Bryan Williams, John R. Cockcroft, Kazuomi Kario, et al.
Hypertension, 2017
- Valsartan
- Aminobutyrates
- Biphenyl Compounds
Di Zhao, Hui Liu, P. Dong
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -), 2018
Bakris, George, Deedwania, Prakash, Reimitz, Paul-Egbert, et al.
Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 2017
Ye R, Yang X, Zhang X, et al.
2025
- Hypertension
- Amlodipine
- Antihypertensive Agents
ImportanceNocturnal blood pressure is difficult to manage in clinical practice. Antihypertensive chronotherapy may offer a potential approach for better control. However, the clinical evidence supporting this approach remains controversial.ObjectiveTo compare the effects of morning vs bedtime antihypertensive medication administration on nocturnal blood pressure reduction and circadian rhythm among patients with hypertension.Design, setting, and participantsThis randomized clinical trial was conducted at 15 hospitals in China from June 1, 2022, to April 30, 2024, with a 12-week follow-up. Patients with hypertension without prior antihypertensive treatment or who had discontinued antihypertensive agents for 2 weeks were randomized to the morning (6:00-10:00 am) or bedtime (6:00-10:00 pm) dosing group.InterventionsPatients received a single pill containing olmesartan, 20 mg, and amlodipine, 5 mg, daily for 12 weeks, with dosage adjustments based on ambulatory and office blood pressure measurements at week 4 and week 8.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was the change in nighttime systolic blood pressure from baseline to 12 weeks. Key secondary outcomes included changes in office and other ambulatory blood pressure indicators. The primary and secondary outcomes were analyzed in the intention-to-treat and the per-protocol populations.ResultsA total of 720 patients (mean [SD] age, 55.5 [10.6] years; 409 men [56.8%]) were randomized to morning (n = 352) or bedtime (n = 368) dosing groups. The mean (SD) baseline blood pressure values for morning vs bedtime dosing at 24 hours were 148.0 (11.1)/91.4 (9.0) mm Hg vs 147.6 (11.0)/91.6 (9.2) mm Hg, for daytime were 152.3 (11.0)/94.0 (9.2) mm Hg vs 151.5 (11.6)/94.0 (9.8) mm Hg, for nighttime were 138.4 (15.1)/85.4 (10.4) mm Hg vs 138.3 (13.0)/85.8 (9.4) mm Hg, and in the office were 154.4 (12.1)/94.6 (10.3) mm Hg vs 154.3 (12.5)/95.1 (11.1) mm Hg. Compared with patients in the morning dosing group, those in the bedtime dosing group showed significantly greater reductions in nighttime systolic blood pressure (between-group difference, -3.0 mm Hg [95% CI, -5.1 to -1.0 mm Hg]; P = .004), and nighttime diastolic blood pressure (between-group difference, -1.4 mm Hg [95% CI, -2.8 to -0.1 mm Hg]; P = .04), with better nocturnal systolic blood pressure control (79.0% [244 of 309] vs 69.8% [208 of 298]; P = .01) and improved circadian rhythm. The incidence of nocturnal hypotension did not differ.Conclusions and relevanceIn this randomized clinical trial of antihypertensive chronotherapy, bedtime dosing provided better control of nocturnal blood pressure and improved the circadian rhythm, without reducing the efficacy on mean daytime or 24-hour blood pressure, or increasing the risk of nocturnal hypotension. These findings support the potential advantages of bedtime administration and offer new evidence to guide future research on antihypertensive chronotherapy.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2200059719.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
54 found
Half-life
10-15 hours
Mechanism
Olmesartan belongs to the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) family of drugs,…
Food interactions
1 warning
Human targets
1 target
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
4.5%
Half-life
10-15 hours
[A175330]
Protein binding
99%
[L5566]
Volume of distribution
17 L
Metabolism
Elimination
10-16%
Clearance
1.3 L/h
[L5566]
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Olmesartan also affects the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), which plays an important role in hemostasis and regulation of kidney, vascular, and cardiac functions. Pharmacological blockade of RAAS via AT1 receptor blockade inhibits negative regulatory feedback within RAAS, which is a contributing factor to the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and renal disease. In particular, heart failure is associated with chronic activation of RAAS, leading to inappropriate fluid retention, vasoconstriction, and ultimately a further decline in left ventricular function. ARBs have been shown to have a protective effect on the heart by improving cardiac function, reducing afterload, increasing cardiac output and preventing ventricular hypertrophy and remodelling.[A174154]
By comparison, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) class of medications (which includes drugs such as [ramipril], [lisinopril], and [perindopril]) inhibit the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II through inhibition of the ACE enzyme. However, this does not prevent the formation of all angiotensin II within the body. The angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) family of drugs unique in that it blocks all angiotensin II activity, regardless of where or how it was synthesized.
Olmesartan is commonly used for the management of hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes-associated nephropathy, particularly in patients who are unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors. ARBs such as olmesartan have been shown in a number of large-scale clinical outcomes trials to improve cardiovascular outcomes including reducing risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, the progression of heart failure, and hospitalization.[A174124][A178153][A173869][A185324][A185327][A185333][A185342][A185345] Like other ARBs, olmesartan blockade of RAAS slows the progression of diabetic nephropathy due to its renoprotective effects.[A185906][A185909][A185912]
Orally available olmesartan is produced as the prodrug olmesartan medoxomil which is rapidly converted in vivo to the pharmacologically active olmesartan.[A175330] It was developed by Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceuticals and approved in 2002.[A175345][L12882]
Olmesartan is also used off-label for the management Type 2 Diabetes-associated nephropathy, heart failure, and post-myocardial infarction, particularly in patients who are unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors.
[A178153][A185912][A185915]
ARBs such as olmesartan have been shown in a number of large-scale clinical outcomes trials to improve cardiovascular outcomes including reducing risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, the progression of heart failure, and hospitalization.
[A174124][A178153][A173869][A185324][A185327][A185333][A185342][A185345]
Like other ARBs, olmesartan blockade of RAAS slows the progression of diabetic nephropathy due to its renoprotective effects.
[A185906][A185909][A185912]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 823 interactions
Olmesartan was shown to be safe on carcinogenic and fertility studies.
However, in in vitro mutagenic studies showed a potential to induce chromosomal aberrations in cells and it tested positive for thymidine kinase mutations in the mouse lymphoma assay.[FDA label]
Olmesartan also effects on the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in hemostasis and regulation of kidney, vascular, and cardiac functions. Pharmacological blockade of RAAS via AT1 receptor blockade inhibits negative regulatory feedback within RAAS, which is a contributing factor to the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and renal disease. In particular, heart failure is associated with chronic activation of RAAS, leading to inappropriate fluid retention, vasoconstriction, and ultimately a further decline in left ventricular function. ARBs have been shown to have a protective effect on the heart by improving cardiac function, reducing afterload, increasing cardiac output and preventing ventricular hypertrophy and remodelling.[A174154]
Hypotension in Volume- or Salt-Depleted Patients
In patients with an activated renin-angiotensin aldosterone system, such as volume-and/or salt-depleted patients (e.g., those being treated with high doses of diuretics), symptomatic hypotension may be anticipated after initiation of treatment with olmesartan. Initiate treatment under close medical supervision. If hypotension does occur, place the patient in the supine position and, if necessary, give an intravenous infusion of normal saline. A transient hypotensive response is not a contraindication to further treatment, which usually can be continued without difficulty once the blood pressure has stabilized.[F4709,F4712]
Valvular Stenosis: there is concern on theoretical grounds that patients with aortic stenosis might be at a particular risk of decreased coronary perfusion, because they do not develop as much afterload reduction.F4712
Impaired Renal Function
As a consequence of inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, changes in renal function may be anticipated in susceptible individuals treated with olmesartan. In patients whose renal function may depend upon the activity of the renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system (e.g., patients with severe congestive heart failure), treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists has been associated with oliguria and/or progressive azotemia and rarely with acute renal failure and/or death. Similar results may be anticipated in patients treated with olmesartan.
In studies of ACE inhibitors in patients with unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis, increases in serum creatinine or blood urea nitrogen (BUN) have been reported. There has been no long-term use of olmesartan medoxomil in patients with unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis, but similar results may be expected.[F4709,F4712]
Sprue-like Enteropathy
Severe, chronic diarrhea with substantial weight loss has been reported in patients taking olmesartan months to years after drug initiation. Intestinal biopsies of patients often demonstrated villous atrophy. If a patient develops these symptoms during treatment with olmesartan, exclude other etiologies. Consider discontinuation of olmesartan medoxomil in cases where no other etiology is identified.[F4709,F4712]
Electrolyte Imbalances
Olmesartan medoxomil contains olmesartan, a drug that inhibits the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Drugs that inhibit the RAS can cause hyperkalemia. Monitor serum electrolytes periodically.[F4709,F4712]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A175330]
Oral administration of 10-160 mg of olmesartan has been shown to reach peak plasma concentration of 0.22-2.1 mg/L after 1-3 hours with an AUC of 1.6-19.9mgh/L.
[A175342]
The pharmacokinetic profile of olmesartan has been observed to be nearly linear and dose-dependent under the therapeutic range.
[A175330]
The steady-state level of olmesartan is achieved after once a day dosing during 3 to 5 days.
[L5566]
[A175330]
[L5566]
[A175330]
This first-pass metabolism is not driven by cytochrome enzymes and hence it is not expected to interact with other drugs via this mechanism.
[A175342]
The pharmacologically active moiety does not appear to undergo further metabolism.
[A175330][L12882]
[A175330]
[L5566]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:15611106 PMID:1567413 PMID:25913193 PMID:26420482 PMID:30639100 PMID:32079768 PMID:8987975
The activated receptor in turn couples to G-alpha proteins G(q) (GNAQ, GNA11, GNA14 or GNA15) and thus activates phospholipase C and increases the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations, which in turn triggers cellular responses such as stimulation of protein kinase C PMID:15611106
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:10220572 PMID:10421658 PMID:11500505 PMID:16332456
Mediates hepatobiliary excretion of mono- and bis-glucuronidated bilirubin molecules and therefore play an important role in bilirubin detoxification .
PMID:10421658
Also mediates hepatobiliary excretion of others glucuronide conjugates such as 17beta-estradiol 17-glucosiduronic acid and leukotriene C4 .
PMID:11500505
Transports sulfated bile salt such as taurolithocholate sulfate .
PMID:16332456
Transports various anticancer drugs, such as anthracycline, vinca alkaloid and methotrexate and HIV-drugs such as protease inhibitors .
PMID:10220572 PMID:11500505 PMID:12441801
Confers resistance to several anti-cancer drugs including cisplatin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, methotrexate, etoposide and vincristine PMID:10220572 PMID:11500505
PMID:10779507 PMID:15159445 PMID:17412826
Shows broad substrate specificity, can transport both organic anions such as bile acid taurocholate (cholyltaurine) and conjugated steroids (17-beta-glucuronosyl estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and estrone 3-sulfate), as well as eicosanoid leukotriene C4, prostaglandin E2 and L-thyroxine (T4) .
PMID:10779507 PMID:11159893 PMID:12568656 PMID:15159445 PMID:17412826 PMID:19129463
Hydrogencarbonate/HCO3(-) acts as the probable counteranion that exchanges for organic anions .
PMID:19129463
Shows a pH-sensitive substrate specificity towards sulfated steroids, taurocholate and T4 which may be ascribed to the protonation state of the binding site and leads to a stimulation of substrate transport in an acidic microenvironment .
PMID:19129463
Involved in the clearance of bile acids and organic anions from the liver .
PMID:22232210
Can take up bilirubin glucuronides from plasma into the liver, contributing to the detoxification-enhancing liver-blood shuttling loop .
PMID:22232210
Transports coproporphyrin I and III, by-products of heme synthesis, and may be involved in their hepatic disposition .
PMID:26383540
May contribute to regulate the transport of organic compounds in testes across the blood-testis-barrier (Probable). Can transport HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins) such as pitavastatin, a clinically important class of hypolipidemic drugs .
PMID:15159445
May play an important role in plasma and tissue distribution of the structurally diverse chemotherapeutic drugs methotrexate and paclitaxel .
PMID:23243220
May also transport antihypertension agents, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prodrug enalapril, and the highly selective angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist valsartan, in the liver PMID:16624871 PMID:16627748
PMID:10358072 PMID:15159445 PMID:17412826
Shows broad substrate specificity, can transport both organic anions such as bile acid taurocholate (cholyltaurine) and conjugated steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone 3-sulfate, 17-beta-glucuronosyl estradiol, and estrone 3-sulfate), as well as eicosanoids (prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, leukotriene C4, and leukotriene E4), and thyroid hormones (T4/L-thyroxine, and T3/3,3',5'-triiodo-L-thyronine) .
PMID:10358072 PMID:10601278 PMID:10873595 PMID:11159893 PMID:12196548 PMID:12568656 PMID:15159445 PMID:15970799 PMID:16627748 PMID:17412826 PMID:19129463 PMID:26979622
Can take up bilirubin glucuronides from plasma into the liver, contributing to the detoxification-enhancing liver-blood shuttling loop .
PMID:22232210
Involved in the clearance of endogenous and exogenous substrates from the liver .
PMID:10358072 PMID:10601278
Transports coproporphyrin I and III, by-products of heme synthesis, and may be involved in their hepatic disposition .
PMID:26383540
May contribute to regulate the transport of organic compounds in testes across the blood-testis-barrier (Probable). Can transport HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins), such as pravastatin and pitavastatin, a clinically important class of hypolipidemic drugs .
PMID:10601278 PMID:15159445 PMID:15970799
May play an important role in plasma and tissue distribution of the structurally diverse chemotherapeutic drug methotrexate .
PMID:23243220
May also transport antihypertension agents, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prodrug enalapril, and the highly selective angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist valsartan, in the liver .
PMID:16624871 PMID:16627748
Shows a pH-sensitive substrate specificity towards prostaglandin E2 and T4 which may be ascribed to the protonation state of the binding site and leads to a stimulation of substrate transport in an acidic microenvironment .
PMID:19129463
Hydrogencarbonate/HCO3(-) acts as the probable counteranion that exchanges for organic anions PMID:19129463
PMID:15791618 PMID:16332456 PMID:18985798 PMID:19228692 PMID:20010382 PMID:20398791 PMID:22262466 PMID:24711118 PMID:29507376 PMID:32203132
Transports taurine-conjugated bile salts more rapidly than glycine-conjugated bile salts .
PMID:16332456
Also transports non-bile acid compounds, such as pravastatin and fexofenadine in an ATP-dependent manner and may be involved in their biliary excretion PMID:15901796 PMID:18245269
Involved compounds
ATC C09DA08
ATC C09DX03
ATC C09CA08
ATC C09DB02
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Olmesartan
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
20396
ChemSpider
139674
BindingDB
50241364
PDB
OLM
ZINC
ZINC000000538621
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:336
GenAtlas
AGTR1
GeneCards
AGTR1
GenBank Gene Database
M91464
GenBank Protein Database
179122
Guide to Pharmacology
34
UniProt Accession
AGTR1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:53
GenAtlas
ABCC2
GeneCards
ABCC2
GenBank Gene Database
U63970
GenBank Protein Database
1764162
Guide to Pharmacology
780
UniProt Accession
MRP2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10961
GeneCards
SLCO1B3
GenBank Gene Database
AJ251506
GenBank Protein Database
9187497
Guide to Pharmacology
1221
UniProt Accession
SO1B3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10959
GenAtlas
SLCO1B1
GeneCards
SLCO1B1
GenBank Gene Database
AF060500
GenBank Protein Database
5051630
Guide to Pharmacology
1220
UniProt Accession
SO1B1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:42
GenAtlas
ABCB11
GeneCards
ABCB11
GenBank Gene Database
AF091582
GenBank Protein Database
3873243
Guide to Pharmacology
778
UniProt Accession
ABCBB_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications:
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Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
Wikipedia article
angiotensin II receptor antagonist which has been used for the treatment of high blood pressure
Read on WikipediaATC classifications (Wikidata)
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q421156), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication. WHO INN from the World Health Organization.