Details

Aliskiren is an anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) medicine. It works by decreasing substances in the body that narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure. Aliskiren is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). If you have diabetes, you should not use aliskiren together with certain heart or blood pressure medicines. Moreover, do not take aliskiren if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to get pregnant. Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, heart disease, are on low-salt diet or have an allergic reaction to aliskiren.

Typical Uses

Aliskiren is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Aliskiren works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. It belongs to a class of drugs known as direct rennin inhibitors. It may take up to 2 weeks before your blood pressure comes down. Keep using aliskiren even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

Side Effects

Aliskiren may cause certain health issues such as shock and low blood pressure, bladder pain, bloody or cloudy urine, painful urination and urine urgency, cough, difficulty in breathing, runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing, body pain, chills, fever, shivering, general discomfort, headache, and tiredness, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, ear congestion and loss of voice, joint pain, lower back pain and muscle pain.

Drug Interactions

• Aliskiren+valsartan- Using aliskiren together with valsartan may increase the risk of serious side effects such as kidney problems, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels in the blood.

• Aliskiren+benazepril- Using aliskiren together with benazepril may increase the risk of serious side effects such as kidney problems, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels in the blood.

• Aliskiren+candesartan- Using aliskiren together with candesartan may increase the risk of serious side effects such as kidney problems, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels in the blood.

• Aliskiren+enalapril- Using aliskiren together with enalapril may increase the risk of serious side effects such as kidney problems, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels in the blood.

• Aliskiren+fosinopril- Using aliskiren together with fosinopril may increase the risk of serious side effects such as kidney problems, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels in the blood.

Mechanism of action

Aliskiren belongs to a class of medication called rennin inhibitors. It prevents the release of substances which tighten the blood vessels and helping them relax, thereby reducing the blood pressure.

Pregnancy Category : D