Tribenzor (Olmesartan, Amlodipine, and Hydrochlorothiazide) Oral ... - Verywell Health
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What Is Tribenzor?
Tribenzor (olmesartan, amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide) is a combination medication used to lower blood pressure.
Tribenzor contains three different drugs: Olmesartan, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide. All of these ingredients work in different ways:
- Olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), blocks the action of a chemical called angiotensin II, which is responsible for increasing blood pressure.
- Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, widens the blood vessels, which allows blood flow to pass more easily. This helps decrease blood pressure.
- Hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic, makes you urinate more to get rid of excess water and electrolytes in the body. This also helps lower blood pressure.
This medication is available by prescription only in tablet form.
Drug Facts
Generic Name: Olmesartan, amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide
Brand Name(s): Tribenzor
Drug Availability: Prescription
Administration Route: Oral
Therapeutic Classification: Angiotensin II receptor blocker, dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, and a thiazide diuretic
Available Generically: Yes
Controlled Substance: N/A
Active Ingredient: Olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine besylate, hydrochlorothiazide
Dosage Form(s): Tablet
What Is Tribenzor Used For?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tribenzor to treat high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart failure or heart attacks. It may be used on its own or with other blood pressure-lowering drugs.
Still, medication should only be one part of a comprehensive blood pressure management plan that includes diet and lifestyle changes. In addition to taking an antihypertensive drug, many people with high blood pressure may also need to make diet changes, add an exercise regimen, and take other lifestyle measures, such as quitting smoking, to achieve their blood pressure goals.
How to Take Tribenzor
Take Tribenzor as instructed by your healthcare provider and follow their directions as stated.
Typically, the starting dosage is 20 milligrams (mg)/5 milligrams/12.5 milligrams per tablet once per day. If needed, your healthcare provider may increase the dosage after two weeks. The maximum dosage is 40 milligrams/10 milligrams/25 milligrams per tablet once a day.
In general, you should follow these guidelines for taking Tribenzor:
- Take it at the same time each day.
- Take it with or without food, as long as you stick to one or the other.
- During treatment, you are likely to pass more urine than usual. Therefore, you may not want to take your dose close to bedtime to prevent getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
- Take the tablets whole; do not crush, chew, or break them.
- Avoid drinking alcohol with it; alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and enhance the blood pressure-lowering effects of Tribenzor.
Storage
Store Tribenzor at room temperature (between 68 F and 77 F) and away from moisture. Do not store it in hot and cold temperatures, as this can affect the medication and how well it will work.
As always, make sure your medication is stored in a safe place out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental consumption. Contact your pharmacy or healthcare provider to request a refill if you need more medication.
How Long Does Tribenzor Take to Work?
In studies, about half of the participants saw a blood pressure decrease as early as two weeks after the first dose. The response rate increases to 97% at 16 weeks (four months).
What Are the Side Effects of Tribenzor?
This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.
Common Side Effects
In studies, most of the side effects associated with Tribenzor were mild. The most common side effect reported was dizziness.
Other common side effects include:
- Peripheral edema (swelling of the lower legs or hands)
- Headache
- Nose or throat irritation
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
Severe Side Effects
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you're having a medical emergency.
Rare but serious side effects are listed below:
- Hypotension (extremely low blood pressure) in volume- or salt-depleted people (those being treated with high doses of diuretics)
- Impaired kidney function
- Hypokalemia (low potassium levels)
- Hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels)
- Worsening of lupus, an autoimmune condition
- Vision disorders, such as acute myopia (nearsightedness) and secondary angle-closure glaucoma
Long-Term Side Effects
When taking Tribenzor for an extended period, certain side effects may become long-term. For example, chronic diarrhea resulting from long-term Tribenzor use can lead to a large amount of weight loss. This has been reported in people taking olmesartan after months or years of use.
Do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider if you have trouble managing diarrhea.
Report Side Effects
Tribenzor may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your healthcare provider may send a report to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).
Dosage: How Much Tribenzor Should I Take?
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For high blood pressure:
- Adults—One tablet once a day. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than olmesartan 40 milligrams (mg), amlodipine 10 mg, and hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg per day.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For high blood pressure:
Modifications
Do not take Tribenzor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. It can harm the fetus or breastfeeding infant.
Inform your healthcare provider if you have poor kidney function. They may perform additional tests to determine if Tribenzor is the right medication for you.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. It is important to take only one tablet by mouth per day at the instructed time, so do not take two tablets simultaneously to make up for the missed dose. Taking more than prescribed can increase the chance of unwanted side effects.
Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Tribenzor?
There are limited reports of a set dosage of a Tribenzor overdose. However, you should take only one tablet daily to prevent unwanted side effects. Taking any amount greater than one tablet of Tribenzor per day can put you at risk of:
- Unresponsive
- Slow heart rate
- Slow breathing rate
- Confusion
Whether intentional or accidental, an overdose of Tribenzor can lead to death. So, it is crucial that if you are experiencing or see someone who is experiencing these symptoms after taking Tribenzor, call 911 or contact the Poison Control Center immediately.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Tribenzor?
If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on Tribenzor, call a healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222).
If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Tribenzor, call 911 immediately.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby, especially in your second or third trimester. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. You may need to stop using this medicine.
This medicine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy. If you feel dizzy, lie down so you do not faint. Then sit for a few moments before standing to prevent the dizziness from returning.
Check with your doctor right away if you become sick while taking this medicine, especially if you have severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not stop. These conditions may cause you to lose too much water and lead to low blood pressure. You can also lose water by sweating, so drink plenty of water during exercise or in hot weather.
This medicine may cause angina (chest pain) or a heart attack in certain patients with severe heart or blood vessel disease. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, fast or irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, or sweating.
Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.
Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty with reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. This could be a sign of a serious eye problem. Your doctor may want an eye doctor to check your eyes.
This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. Diabetic patients may notice a change in the results of blood or urine glucose tests. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
Severe, chronic diarrhea with weight loss may develop months to years after taking this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have these symptoms.
This medicine may increase your risk of getting skin cancer (eg, non-melanoma skin cancer). Avoid sun exposure. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems, and herbal or vitamin supplements.
What Are Reasons I Shouldn't Take Tribenzor?
You should not take Tribenzor if you are diagnosed with any of the following conditions without extensive discussion with your healthcare provider regarding risks:
What Other Medications Interact With Tribenzor?
Other medications or supplements may interact with Tribenzor. Tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you take or plan to take, including over-the-counter (OTC) nonprescription products, vitamins, herbs, supplements, and plant-based medicines.
Since Tribenzor decreases your blood pressure, taking other high blood pressure medications should be avoided to prevent worsening side effects. Two medications to absolutely avoid while taking Tribenzor are:
Other medications to avoid while taking Tribenzor include:
Tribenzor can also interact with amphetamines, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, such as Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine), Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), and Adzenys (amphetamine). Close monitoring may be needed if these medications must be taken together.
Other interactions may occur. Talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more detailed information about medication interactions with Tribenzor.
What Medications Are Similar?
Tribenzor is not usually the first recommended medication to lower your blood pressure. Typically, your healthcare provider will start with a single active drug that helps lower blood pressure before moving on to combination treatments.
Single-drug blood pressure treatments may include:
Other than Tribenzor, Azor (amlodipine and olmesartan) is another combination drug that includes amlodipine and olmesartan as its active ingredients.
Like Tribenzor, Azor uses these two drugs to help lower blood pressure. A study between Tribenzor and various two-drug combination therapies, such as Azor, showed that more people reached their blood pressure goals while using Tribenzor than the other medications.
How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Tribenzor?
Your blood pressure medications should be one part of a comprehensive plan that includes diet and lifestyle changes to achieve your blood pressure goals and maintain overall good health.
Many people with high blood pressure may need to change what they eat (e.g., low-sodium diet), how much they exercise, and consider other healthy lifestyle measures, such as quitting smoking.
It might be difficult to change your lifestyle, but it does not hurt to start small and gradually work your way up. Your healthcare provider can let you know what level of activity and lifestyle change would be right for you.
Medical Disclaimer
Verywell Health's drug information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare provider. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication(s). IBM Watson Micromedex provides some of the drug content, as indicated on the page.
The author would like to recognize and thank Alexya Rosas for contributing to this article.
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