Is olmesartan (angiotensin II receptor antagonist) available in 10 mg tablets?

Olmesartan Availability in 10 mg Tablets

No, olmesartan is not available in 10 mg tablets. According to FDA labeling, olmesartan medoxomil tablets are available in 5 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg strengths. 1

Available Olmesartan Dosage Strengths

• Olmesartan Medoxomil Tablets, USP are available in 5 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg strengths 1
• The 5 mg tablets are white colored, round shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets, debossed with 'K' on one side and '16' on the other side 1
• The 20 mg tablets are white colored, round shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets, debossed with 'K' on one side and '18' on the other side 1
• The 40 mg tablets are white colored, oval shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets, debossed with 'K' on one side and '19' on the other side 1

Dosing Considerations for Olmesartan

• The target dose for olmesartan in heart failure management is 40 mg once daily 2
• 50% of the target dose (20 mg) is considered clinically meaningful for achieving therapeutic benefits 2
• For hypertension management, the usual starting dose is 20 mg once daily, with 40 mg considered the maximum dose 2
• Clinical pharmacodynamic studies support a usual dose of 20 mg once daily, increasing to 40 mg if needed 3

Clinical Implications

• When initiating olmesartan therapy, clinicians typically start with 20 mg once daily 3, 4
• For patients requiring dose titration, the 5 mg tablet can be used for more gradual dose adjustments 1
• If a 10 mg dose is desired, this would require splitting a 20 mg tablet or using two 5 mg tablets 1
• In clinical trials, olmesartan has demonstrated dose-dependent blood pressure lowering effects between 10 and 80 mg 4

Comparison with Other ARBs

• Unlike olmesartan, some other ARBs such as losartan and valsartan have different available dosage strengths 2
• Olmesartan has demonstrated superior antihypertensive efficacy compared to losartan, valsartan, and irbesartan at their respective recommended doses in head-to-head trials 5
• Olmesartan has a rapid onset of action, with significant blood pressure reductions observed within 1-2 weeks of treatment initiation 5, 4

Practical Considerations

• For patients who might benefit from a 10 mg dose, physicians would need to prescribe either two 5 mg tablets or consider tablet splitting of the 20 mg tablet 1
• When transitioning between ARBs, it's important to note the different available strengths to ensure appropriate dosing 2
• The absence of a 10 mg tablet does not limit clinical use, as the 5 mg and 20 mg options provide flexibility for dose titration 1, 3