You should know the risks and warnings of Qsartan to prevent its misuse.
There are some specific circumstances under which the use of certain medications is contraindicated or considered dangerous. So if you are taking any medicine its always a good practice to familiarize yourself with its risks and warnings.
The risks and warnings associated with Qsartan are:
1. Hypersensitivity
If you are hypersensitive to Angiotensin II receptor blockers, do not take Qsartan or any other medicine with a similar generic name, as it can result in a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock. Always inform your healthcare provider about the documented allergies you have.
2. Pregnancy
You should take Qsartan during pregnancy only if your health care provider prescribes it. They may decide based on the risk versus benefit ratio. Otherwise, taking Angiotensin II receptor blockers during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimester can be injurious to your baby's health.
3. Breastfeeding
Mothers who are breastfeeding their child should take Qsartan only on the advice of their healthcare provider as some of its concentration can be present in breast milk and affect your child's health.
4. Conditions that lower blood pressure
If you are on medications like diuretics or having a health condition like diarrhea, volume depletion, heatstroke, or infections that lower blood pressure, take Qsartan with caution, as it can lead to severely low blood pressure that can be life-threatening.
5. Heart conditions
If you have heart diseases like ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease in which blood pressure may fall below normal levels, you should be cautious while taking Qsartan or any other Angiotensin II receptor blocker. Before taking any medicine that lowers blood pressure, it would be better if you check the blood pressure reading once.
6. Heart failure
In people with heart failure who have normal blood pressure, taking Qsartan can cause a blood pressure drop. The low blood pressure in patients with heart failure taking Qsartan can adversely affect renal function too. Therefore, you should be cautious while taking an Angiotensin II receptor blocker if you have heart failure with normal blood pressure.
7. Aortic or mitral valve stenosis
If you have aortic or mitral valve stenosis or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that obstructs the outflow of the left ventricle, angiotensin II receptor blockers should be taken with extreme caution.
8. Renal function impairment
Patients with renal impairment must be cautious while taking an Angiotensin II receptor blocker. Your healthcare provider will test serum creatinine and potassium levels frequently if you take Qsartan with compromised renal functions.
Patients with diabetic nephropathy taking angiotensin II receptor blockers should also not take an Angiotensin II receptor blocker like Qsartan.
9. Liver diseases
Patients with liver disease should take Qsartan with caution. It is because your liver helps in the metabolism and excretion of drugs. When it does not work efficiently due to any disease, it can cause accumulation of the drug in your body, leading to severe adverse effects. Very rarely, Qsartan affects your liver function, causing cholestatic jaundice leading to fulminant jaundice. If it occurs, the healthcare providers will promptly stop the therapy.
10. Blood count
Qsartan can cause neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Therefore, if you are taking other drugs or have any health condition that can alter blood count, you should take it with caution. Your healthcare providers will monitor blood count with Qsartan therapy, especially, if you have altered renal functions. Patients taking drugs like procainamide, allopurinol, or a combination of these, or having diseases like collagen vascular disease should also take Qsartan with caution.
11. Anesthesia
People undergoing anesthesia may receive agents that lower blood pressure. Therefore Angiotensin II receptor blockers should only be given if blood pressure needs to be controlled and there is no risk of hypotension. Otherwise, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called shock.
12. Hyperkalemia
Angiotensin II receptor blockers cause hyperkalemia- means excess potassium in your blood because it works by inhibiting the release of aldosterone. It can become a life-threatening condition. People taking potassium supplements or having renal impairment, or eating a diet rich in potassium like dates and bananas are at higher risk of developing life-threatening hyperkalemia. To avoid it, you should get your serum potassium levels checked frequently and avoid eating potassium-rich foods.
13. Oral hypoglycemics
Diabetic patients receiving oral hypoglycemics or insulin as treatment should take Qsartan with caution, especially in the first month of treatment.
14. Lithium
Patients receiving lithium therapy should not take Qsartan. If they have to be administered together, extreme caution should be exercised.
15. Anticoagulants or bleeding disorders
If you are taking anticoagulants for thinning of your blood, or you have any bleeding disorder, take Qsartan only on the advice of a healthcare provider.
