What Is Eprosartan Used For?

If you are an adult with high blood pressure, you may benefit from eprosartan. This prescription medicine works by blocking a certain chemical in the body, allowing blood vessels to relax. Although the drug cannot cure high blood pressure, it can lower the long-term health risks associated with the condition. Occasionally, eprosartan can be used off-label to treat kidney disease and congestive heart failure.

Eprosartan Drug Information

An Overview of Uses for Eprosartan

Eprosartan mesylate (Teveten^®) is a prescription medication licensed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It belongs to a group of medications known as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).

Eprosartan Use for High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is a measure of the force inside your blood vessels while the heart is beating and while it is relaxed. High blood pressure, known medically as hypertension, is when the force is too high. When high blood pressure occurs, the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the body.

There are two numbers in a blood pressure reading. The top number is the systolic pressure, or the pressure when the heart is beating. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when the heart is relaxed.

High blood pressure is usually defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90 over multiple blood pressure readings. However, in some cases, your healthcare provider may consider a lower blood pressure reading to be too high, which might be the case if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes.

Most people with high blood pressure will not have any symptoms. However, if left untreated, it can damage the body's vital organs, including the eyes, heart, brain, and kidneys. Over time, untreated high blood pressure may lead to serious health problems, including:

Eye damage and vision loss
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
Heart attack
Stroke
Kidney failure.

(Click Effects of High Blood Pressure for more information.)

In clinical studies, eprosartan has been shown to lower blood pressure in people with hypertension more than a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients). By lowering blood pressure, eprosartan can decrease the risk of developing health problems associated with long-term hypertension.

Eprosartan will lower blood pressure, but it is not a cure for high blood pressure. If you stop taking the medication, your blood pressure will likely increase. Most people with high blood pressure need to take medications their entire lives.

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