Irbesartan
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Irbesartan for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Irbesartan for pets
(ihr-beh-sar-tan)
Description:
This medicine is an angiotensin-II receptor blocker (often shortened to ARB).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Avapro®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: there is no standard veterinary product listed.
- For people: tablets are available in 75 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg strengths.
Key Information
- You may give this medicine either with food or without food. If your pet throws up or seems unwell after getting it on an empty stomach, give the next dose with a meal or a small treat. If the throwing up does not stop, contact your veterinarian.
- Since this medicine has not been used very often in dogs or cats, monitor your pet closely for unwanted effects and tell your veterinarian if you notice anything. Side effects that may happen include:
- loose stool (diarrhea)
- throwing up (vomiting)
- not wanting to eat
- seeming unusually tired
- blood pressure that becomes too low (for example, fainting, weakness, or getting tired easily)
- This medicine has been linked to birth defects, so it must not be used in animals that are pregnant. If someone in the home is pregnant, they must take extra care not to swallow these tablets. They should also wear disposable gloves when giving the dose and wash their hands after handling the tablets.
How is this medication useful?
Irbesartan is used in dogs and cats to help manage high blood pressure and to treat certain types of kidney and heart disease. It may allow the amount of other blood-pressure medicines to be reduced, which can lessen side effects.
Medicines in this group (ARB medicines) have not been used very often in animals, so information about how helpful they are and what unwanted effects they may cause is still being learned.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medicine works for your pet. It is important to review the following with your veterinarian so you can make treatment choices together.
Make sure your veterinarian and pharmacist know every product your pet is taking, including:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter items
- vitamins
- supplements
- herbal products
Also share the dose amount and the timing schedule for each one.
Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your pet has now, and any illnesses your pet has had in the past.
If your pet has been treated before for the same problem, explain what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
If your pet is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past bad reactions to medicines, including:
- allergic reactions
- not eating
- diarrhea
- itching
- hair loss
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine should begin to act within 1 to 2 hours. However, you will not be able to see its effects just by looking at your pet. Your veterinarian will need to do additional tests to check whether it is working as intended.
The action of this medicine does not last long. It generally stops working within 24 hours. The helpful effects may last longer if your pet’s kidneys and/or liver are not working normally.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your pet.
If your pet fits any of the situations listed below, discuss the possible benefits and risks with your veterinarian.
- That are dehydrated or have enough sodium in their blood.
- That have low blood pressure.
- That have had an allergic reaction to it or similar drugs (eg, candesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan).
- That are pregnant, as this type of drug can cause birth defects.
- With severe liver problems as the drug is metabolized in the liver.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Because this medicine has not been used very often in dogs or cats, watch your pet carefully for any unwanted effects and report any concerns to your veterinarian.
Common but usually not serious side effects include:
Contact your veterinarian if any of these signs are strong, get worse, or do not go away.
- Diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Fatigue and low blood pressure (eg, weakness, can’t exercise).
- Collapse (passing out).
- Unusually low energy level or inability to exercise.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Taking too much irbesartan can be dangerous. If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
- For this medicine to work properly, give it exactly the way your veterinarian instructed. It is also wise to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- This medicine can be given with food or without food. If your pet vomits or seems sick after getting it on an empty stomach, try giving the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- If your pet is receiving a specially made liquid version (a compounded liquid), measure each dose carefully. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special spoons or syringes to help you measure.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist for ways to make dosing easier and to reduce stress during medication time.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants your pet to stay on it. You may need prescription refills before treatment is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking to your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed dose. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time. Then continue with the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine at room temperature in its original prescription container that is resistant to light and designed to be child-safe, or in another approved dose organizer (such as a pill minder). Store it where children and animals cannot reach it.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a special version for your pet (a compounded product), follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Keep away from children and other animals.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
Because this medicine can cause birth defects, it must not be used in pregnant animals. Because the risk of birth defects is higher with this medicine, pregnant women should not handle it. If avoiding contact is not possible, disposable gloves should be worn when handling this medicine. Do not use the same gloves again. After use, throw the gloves away in the trash.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain. If your area has a community medicine “take-back” option, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your pet in a competition while your pet is receiving this medicine.
- While your pet is taking this medicine, your veterinarian will need to do blood tests and check blood pressure from time to time. Keep these follow-up appointments.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”