INTRODUCTION

OLBET CT is a combination of Chlorthalidone and Olmesartan which belongs to the group of medicines called Thiazide diuretics and Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists respectively. OLBET CT is indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension.

Essential hypertension (also known as primary hypertension) is a medical condition in which the force of the blood exerted against the walls of the artery remains very high and as a result, it may lead to severe damage to the walls of blood vessels supplying various important organs. It occurs without any known secondary cause and if it remains untreated it can lead to severe problems such as heart attack, heart or kidney failure, stroke or even blindness.

Along treatment with OLBET CT follow lifestyle modifications (such as losing weight, quitting smoking or alcohol intake) as advised by your physician along with a healthy balanced diet and regular physical activity (such as walking or swimming).

During the course of the treatment with OLBET CT, your doctor might regularly check your blood pressure, kidney function and electrolyte balance to avoid the risk of side effects. Avoid eating grapefruit or consuming grapefruit juice while taking OLBET CT as it could potentiate the blood pressure-lowering effect of this medicine.

Before taking OLBET CT, inform your doctor if you have diabetes, liver, kidney or heart disease as a precaution. OLBET CT is strictly not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women as it could cause serious harm to the baby.

OLBET CT is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (aged below 18 years) due to a lack of safety data. It should be used with extreme caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years or above).

The most common side effects of taking OLBET CT are headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, stomach pain, lack of appetite and indigestion. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects worsen.

USES OF OLBET CT

• Treats essential hypertension

HOW OLBET CT WORKS

OLBET CT effectively reduces elevated blood pressure where olmesartan acts by blocking the actions of Angiotensin – II (a substance that causes narrowing of blood vessels and increases in blood pressure) at the angiotensin type-I receptors of the vascular smooth muscle and chlorthalidone acts by increasing the urinary excretion of sodium and water by inhibiting sodium-chloride reabsorption in the kidneys, thus leading to a marked decrease in blood pressure.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take OLBET CT as advised by your physician. Swallow OLBET CT with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

SIDE EFFECTS OF OLBET CT

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Nausea and vomiting:

Try to take OLBET CT with or just after a meal or a snack. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oil-rich or spicy foods. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Diarrhoea:

Drink lot of fluids such as water or fruit juices to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid taking any medicine on your own to treat diarrhoea. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Headache:

Rest and relax. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or electrolytes. Apply a pain-relieving balm on the forehead if required. Do not consume too much of alcohol. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Dizziness:

Try to rest and relax. Get enough sleep. Avoid driving or operating any tools or machines while you are feeling dizzy. Do not consume too much of alcohol, as it can aggravate your dizziness. Consult your doctor if the symptom did not improve.

Constipation: 

Eat fibre-rich foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise more regularly. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve on its own.

Stomach pain:

Rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller and more frequent meals. Keep a heating pad on your stomach. Do not self-treat on your own and consult your doctor if the symptom did not improve on its own.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking OLBET CT inform to your doctor, if you are taking any of these medicines:

• other medicines used to reduce high blood pressure and other heart problems such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (Ex. captopril, enalapril), angiotensin receptor blockers (Ex. losartan, valsartan), calcium channel blockers (Ex. nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil), beta-blockers (Ex. atenolol, propranolol), vasodilators (Ex. nitroglycerin, bosentan), digoxin, methyldopa, guanethidine or aliskiren
• hypericum perforatum (herbal medicine), lithium (used to treat depression or other mental illness)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (used to treat pain or inflammation) Ex. indomethacin
• simvastatin, colesevelam and cholestyramine (used to control high blood cholesterol levels)
• antacids (used to neutralize stomach acid) Ex. aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide
• ketoconazole, itraconazole or amphotericin (used to treat fungal infections)
• protease inhibitors (used to treat HIV infection) Ex. ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir
• certain antibiotics (used to treat bacterial infections) Ex. rifampicin, erythromycin, clarithromycin
• dantrolene (used to treat muscle spasticity)
• immunosuppressant (used to suppress immune function and prevent graft rejection) Ex. tacrolimus, sirolimus, temsirolimus, everolimus or cyclosporine
• adrenocorticotropic hormone (used to treat various endocrine disorders)
• corticosteroids (used to treat allergic or inflammatory diseases and immune reactions) such as prednisolone or betamethasone
• anticholinergics (used to reduce stomach spasms or cramps) such as atropine, biperiden or hyoscine butylbromide
• cyclophosphamide or methotrexate (used to treat certain forms of cancer)
• salbutamol or formoterol (used to treat asthma)
• amantadine (a medicine used to treat viral infections or Parkinson’s disease)
• allopurinol (a medicine used to treat gout)
• carbenoxolone (a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers)
• calcium salts or vitamin D (used as a supplement)
• medicines used to treat diabetes (Ex. insulin, chlorpropamide or glibenclamide)
• diazoxide (used to manage low blood glucose levels)
• medicines that can alter blood potassium levels such as potassium-sparing diuretics (Ex. spironolactone, acetazolamide), salt substitutes containing potassium (Ex. losartan potassium)
• heparin (used to prevent or treat blood clots)

B. Drug-Food interaction:

OLBET CT can be taken with or without food. Avoid consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking OLBET CT as it may cause severe decrease in blood pressure.

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of OLBET CT, contact your doctor immediately or go to a hospital straight away. Overdosage symptoms of OLBET CT might include dizziness, excess sleepiness, nausea, hypovolemia, low blood pressure and electrolyte disturbances associated with cardiac arrhythmias and muscle spasms.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep OLBET CT out of reach of children
• Store OLBET CT at room temperature

FAQs ABOUT OLBET CT

Can OLBET CT be taken during pregnancy?

No, OLBET CT is strictly not recommended for use in pregnant women because it can cause serious harm to the developing fetus. If you are planning for pregnancy, consult your doctor before taking OLBET CT.

Can I consume alcohol while taking OLBET CT?

No, avoid consumption of alcohol while taking OLBET CT, as it could aggravate your existing disease condition and increase the risk of serious complications such as heart attack, stroke or kidney problems.

Can OLBET CT be used in patients with kidney problems?

OLBET CT is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney problems, kidney failure, lack of urine, kidney stones and should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems. Consult your doctor before taking OLBET CT.

Can OLBET CT cause gout?

Yes, OLBET CT can increase the levels of uric acid in blood in some individuals and so caution should be exercised among patients with kidney disease or a previous history of gout. Kindly consult your doctor before taking OLBET CT.

Can OLBET CT cause leg swelling?

Yes, OLBET CT can cause swollen ankles, feet, legs, hands or arms, although not everybody gets them and so caution should be exercised among patients with kidney or heart disease. Kindly consult your doctor before taking OLBET CT.

What to do if I forget to take OLBET CT?

You should take OLBET CT immediately when you remember. If it is time for your next dose of OLBET CT skip the dose and follow your regular dose schedule. Do not double the dose of OLBET CT to match up your missed dose.  

REFERENCES

1. KD. Tripathi. Antihypertensive Drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 559 & 561-562.

2. Thomas Michel and Brian B. Hoffman. Treatment of Myocardial ischemia and Hypertension. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 12th Edition. New York McGraw Hill Medical 2011. Page – 767-770 & 778.

3. Gerald G. Briggs and Roger K. Freeman. C. and O. A reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. Tenth Edition. 2015. Page – 760 & 2852.

4. Dr. G. Chitti Pantulu, Dr. Avinash Shende, Dr. Prathmesh Mule and Dr. A. A. Faruqui. Evaluation of efficacy and safety of oral olmesartan and chlorthalidone fixed dose combination in the management of hypertension in Indian Patients. International journal of current research. [Accessed on 29th October 2022] http://www.journalcra.com/article/evaluation-efficacy-and-safety-oral-olmesartan-and-chlorthalidone-fixed-dose-combination

5. Elena Filipova, Stela Dineva , Katya Uzunova, Velichka Pavlova, Krassimir Kalinov and Toni Vekov. Combining angiotensin receptor blockers with chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide – which is the better alternative? A meta-analysis. Systematic reviews. BMC. 2020. [Accessed on 29th October 2022] https://d-nb.info/1219505919/34

6. Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Olsar CH. Torrentian.com. [Revised in February 2021]. [Accessed on 29th October 2022] https://www.torrentian.com/pisheet/Upload/PI_Sheet/3004.pdf

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Kidney function test