From the Research
Telmisartan is the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) with the longest half-life, approximately 24 hours, as reported in the most recent and highest quality study 1. This extended half-life allows for sustained blood pressure control across the entire 24-hour dosage interval, which is crucial for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The pharmacokinetic profile of telmisartan enables it to maintain therapeutic concentrations and provide effective reductions in blood pressure, particularly towards the end of the dosing interval. Some key points about telmisartan include:
- It has a high affinity and selectivity for the human AT(1) receptors compared with AT(2) receptors 2
- It produces consistent reduction of blood pressure in animal models and patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension 3, 2
- It has been shown to reduce left ventricular hypertrophy, arterial stiffness, and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation, and confers renoprotection 3
- The ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) study demonstrated that telmisartan has similar cardiovascular protective effects to ramipril in a large, high-risk patient population but was better tolerated 4, 3, 1 The unique pharmacological properties of telmisartan, including its long half-life and high lipophilicity, make it an important therapeutic option for optimizing cardiovascular and renal protection in patients with hypertension, particularly those with type 2 diabetes or end-organ damage 1.