Telmisartan Actavis Side Effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Some side effects can be serious and need immediate medical attention: The patient should see the doctor immediately if he/she experiences any of the following symptoms: Sepsis* (often called "blood poisoning", is a severe infection with whole-body inflammatory response), rapid swelling of the skin and mucosa (angioedema); these side effects are rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) but are extremely serious and patients should stop taking the medicine and see their doctor immediately. If these effects are not treated they could be fatal.
Possible side effects of Telmisartan: Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): Low blood pressure (hypotension) in users treated for reduction of cardiovascular events.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): Urinary tract infections, upper respiratory tract infections (e.g. sore throat, inflamed sinuses, common cold), deficiency in red blood cells (anaemia), high potassium levels, difficulty falling asleep, feeling sad (depression), fainting (syncope), feeling of spinning (vertigo), slow heart rate (bradycardia), low blood pressure (hypotension) in users treated for high blood pressure, dizziness on standing up (orthostatic hypotension), shortness of breath, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, vomiting, itching, increased sweating, drug rash, back pain, muscle cramps, muscle pain (myalgia), kidney impairment including acute kidney failure, pain in the chest, feeling of weakness, and increased level of creatinine in the blood.
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): Sepsis* (often called "blood poisoning", is a severe infection with whole-body inflammatory response which can lead to death), increase in certain white blood cells (eosinophilia), low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction), allergic reaction (e.g. rash, itching, difficulty breathing, wheezing, swelling of the face or low blood pressure), low blood sugar levels (in diabetic patients), feeling anxious, somnolence, impaired vision, fast heart beat (tachycardia), dry mouth, upset stomach, abnormal liver function (Japanese patients are more likely to experience these side effect), rapid swelling of the skin and mucosa which can also lead to death (angioedema also with fatal outcome), eczema (a skin disorder), redness of skin, hives (urticaria), severe drug rash, joint pain (arthralgia), pain in extremity, tendon pain, flu-like-illness, decreased haemoglobin (a blood protein), increased levels of uric acid, increased hepatic enzymes or creatine phosphokinase in the blood.
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people): Progressive scarring of lung tissue (interstitial lung disease)**.
* The event may have happened by chance or could be related to a mechanism currently not known.
** Cases of progressive scarring of lung tissue have been reported during intake of telmisartan. However, it is not known whether telmisartan was the cause.
If the patient gets any side effects, talk to the doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed.