Telmisartan

What is this medication for?

• Hypertension / RAAS blockade when direct AT1-receptor blockade desired; option when ACE inhibitors not tolerated (cough, hyperkalemia)
• No dose established in source edition (later literature supports feline use — beyond this file's sources)

How is it given?

Give exactly as your veterinarian prescribed — never change the dose or stop on your own unless your veterinarian has told you to.

What if I miss a dose?

• Give it as soon as you remember — unless it is almost time for the next dose (then skip the missed one; never double up).
• Call your clinic if you miss more than one dose in a row.

Side effects — what should I watch for?

Effects listed as common in this handout

• No adverse reactions reported in animals (limited experience)
• Hypotension (Human signal)

Worth a phone call to your veterinarian

• Any new symptom that worries you.

⚠️ Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice

• Trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, severe vomiting or diarrhea, facial swelling, or pale gums

Before starting (or refilling), tell your veterinarian if your pet:

• has or has had: Pregnancy

• is pregnant, nursing, or used for breeding
• is taking any other medications, supplements, or flea/tick products, including:
  • ACE inhibitors
  • Potassium supplements / K-sparing diuretics
  • NSAIDs

Storage and handling

Room temperature, tight container, protect from light. Human tablets (Micardis); compounded formulations not evaluated.

Good to know

• In experimental dogs, telmisartan 1 mg/kg beat enalapril for BP control — but no well-controlled clinical trials in dogs exist in this edition; ACE inhibitors remain first-line.
• Losartan is a poor choice in dogs (relies on an active metabolite dogs don't produce); telmisartan needs no metabolic activation.
• ARBs are less likely than ACE inhibitors to cause hyperkalemia and are generally better tolerated in humans — the rationale when ACEi side effects force a switch.