Sandoz Canada announced the launch of Sandoz Olmesartan (olmesartan medoxomil), a generic version of OLMETEC, for the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. This follows the expiry, on April 29, 2017, of market exclusivity for OLMETEC*, the brand-name version.
“We are delighted to be making a generic version of olmesartan medoxomil available to patients in Canada with high blood pressure,” says Martin Arès, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Generics and Specialty Products. “This is in keeping with our aspiration of improving patient access to medicines and optimizing costs for both patients and the healthcare system in Canada.”
Hypertension is the persistent elevation of blood pressure and is a leading global risk factor for disease, causing 9.4 million deaths a year due to complications. In Canada, approximately 7.5 million people have hypertension. High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and arteries. If this condition continues for a long time, damage to the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys can occur, and may eventually result in stroke, or heart or kidney failure. High blood pressure also increases the risk of heart attacks. Reducing your blood pressure decreases your risk of developing these illnesses.
Olmesartan belongs to a class of medications called angiotensin II receptor blockers. It is used to reduce blood pressure by inhibiting the actions of an hormone (angiotensin II) that causes blood vessels to constrict.
Sandoz Olmesartan is offered in 20 mg and 40 mg formulations, available in blister packs of 30 tablets and bottles of 100 tablets. The usual recommended starting dose of Sandoz Olmesartan for adult patients is 20 mg once daily when used as monotherapy in patients who are not volume depleted. For patients requiring further reduction in blood pressure after two weeks of therapy, the dose of Sandoz Olmesartan may be increased to 40 mg.
Sandoz Olmesartan is now available by prescription in most pharmacies in Canada.