Brand Drug Name for Irbesartan
The brand drug name for irbesartan is Avapro (also marketed as Aprovel in some countries). 1, 2, 3
Details about Irbesartan
Irbesartan (Avapro/Aprovel) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) with the following characteristics:
- It is a potent and selective angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist used primarily for hypertension treatment 2
- Standard dosing ranges from 150-300 mg once daily 1
- It provides effective 24-hour blood pressure control with once-daily administration 2, 3
- It has excellent bioavailability (60-80%) that is not affected by food intake 4, 5
Clinical Applications
Irbesartan is FDA-approved for:
- Treatment of hypertension, either alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents 2, 3
- Treatment of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension 2, 3
Renoprotective Effects
- Irbesartan has demonstrated significant renoprotective effects in patients with type 2 diabetes at both early and later stages of diabetic nephropathy 2
- In the IRMA 2 trial, irbesartan 300 mg daily significantly reduced progression to overt nephropathy compared to placebo 2
- In the IDNT trial, irbesartan provided greater renoprotection than amlodipine or placebo in patients with overt nephropathy 2
Pharmacological Properties
- Irbesartan provides "insurmountable" (non-competitive) blockade of AT1 receptors 4, 5
- It has a long half-life of 11-15 hours, allowing for once-daily dosing 4
- Unlike some medications, irbesartan is directly active and does not require biotransformation to an active metabolite 4
- It is eliminated through both biliary and renal routes, generally not requiring dose adjustments in patients with renal or hepatic impairment 5
Combination Therapy
- Irbesartan is available in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (a thiazide diuretic) for enhanced blood pressure control 1
- The combination product is marketed as Avalide 1