On May 29, 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker that has significantly lowered both systolic and diastolic levels (the two values that make up a blood pressure reading) in clinical studies.
Angiotensin II is a chemical in the body that causes blood vessels to constrict, leading to an increase in blood pressure. Benicar lowers blood pressure by blocking the action of this chemical. Other angiotensin II receptor blockers currently available include: losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), irbesartan (Avapro), candesartan (Atacand), aprosartan (Teveten), and telmisartan (Micardis).
Benicar can be taken alone or in combination with other anti-hypertensive medications. Most people with hypertension will need to take a combination of drugs to achieve target blood pressure reductions. It is likely that the combination of Benicar with low dose thiazides (hydrochlorthiazide and others) will prove particularly efficacious with minimum side effects.
The Evidence
Benicar was extensively studied. The FDA considered seven placebo-controlled studies of the drug, which included more than 3,275 people with essential hypertension. Essential hypertension has no specific known cause, as opposed to secondary hypertension, which is due to an identified medical condition; when this condition is treated, blood pressure is usually lowered. The results of each of these studies showed that Benicar caused significant decreases in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure levels.
