Aliskiren

Aliskiren is licensed to treat high blood pressure and works by preventing certain enzymes from narrowing the blood vessels. It can be used alone or in combination with other high blood pressure medications. The drug comes in tablet form, and is generally taken once a day. Possible side effects of aliskiren include coughing, diarrhea, and a rash.

 

What Is Aliskiren?

Aliskiren hemifumarate (Tekturna®) is a prescription medication approved to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It can be used alone or in combination with other high blood pressure medications. Aliskiren is the first medication in its class.
 
(Click What Is Aliskiren Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Aliskiren Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with aliskiren.
 However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of aliskiren include but are not limited to:
 
(Click Side Effects of Aliskiren to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

Aliskiren: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

Talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking aliskiren if you have:
 
  • Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
  • High blood potassium (hyperkalemia)
  • Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
     
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Precautions and Warnings With Aliskiren to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
 

Dosing Information for Aliskiren

The dose of aliskiren your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • How you respond to aliskiren
  • Other medications you are taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Aliskiren Dosing for more information.)
 

Aliskiren Drug Interactions

Aliskiren can potentially interact with a few other medicines (see Drug Interactions With Aliskiren).
 

What If I Take an Overdose of Aliskiren?

It is not known what exactly to expect from an overdose with aliskiren. However, it is predicted that people who take too much will develop low blood pressure (hypotension).
 
If you happen to take too much aliskiren, seek immediate medical attention.
 
(Click Tekturna Overdose for more information.)
 

How Should Aliskiren Be Stored?

Aliskiren tablets should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep aliskiren and all other medications out of the reach of children.
 

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Aliskiren?

If you forget to take a dose of aliskiren, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
 

How Does Aliskiren Work?

Aliskiren is classified as a renin inhibitor. It is the first medication of its kind. Renin is an enzyme produced in the kidneys that acts throughout the body. It converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. A different enzyme (angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE) then converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a powerful substance that increases blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels and indirectly stimulating the kidneys to retain salt.
 
Various blood pressure medications work during different steps in this process (such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, known as ARBs). However, aliskiren is different; it acts at the beginning of the process, preventing renin from converting angiotensinogen to angiotensin I.
 

Effects of Aliskiren

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers -- for example, 120/80. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. Studies have shown that aliskiren lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressures when used alone or in combination with other blood pressure medications. In studies where aliskiren was used alone for the treatment of mild to moderate high blood pressure, it lowered systolic blood pressure by up to 11.2 mmHg on average and lowered diastolic blood pressure by up to 7.5 mmHg on average, compared to a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients).
 
Studies have also shown that a combination of aliskiren with hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) or with valsartan (an ARB blood pressure medication) can further reduce blood pressure, compared with any of the medications used alone.
 

When and How to Take Aliskiren

General considerations for when and how to take aliskiren include the following:
 
  • The medication comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once daily.
     
  • You should take aliskiren consistently, either with or without food (fatty meals may decrease the absorption of the drug). Whether you take it with food or not does not matter, as long as you are consistent (in other words, either always take it with food or never take it with food).
     
  • Make sure to take aliskiren at the same time each day to maintain an even level of in your blood.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Aliskiren will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Who Makes Aliskiren?

Aliskiren is made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
 

Strengths of Aliskiren

Aliskiren tablets are available in the following strengths:
 
  • Aliskiren 150 mg
  • Aliskiren 300 mg.
     

Generic Aliskiren

At this time, aliskiren is not available in generic form (see Generic Tekturna).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;