Candesartan Administration with Food
Candesartan may be taken with or without food, as food does not affect its bioavailability or clinical efficacy. 1
FDA-Approved Administration Guidelines
- Candesartan cilexetil can be administered with or without food, according to the official FDA labeling 1
- Food with high fat content does not affect the bioavailability of candesartan after candesartan cilexetil administration 1
- The timing of administration should be consistent from day to day to maintain stable blood pressure control, but this relates to time of day rather than meal timing 1
Pharmacokinetic Evidence
- Peak serum concentration (Cmax) is reached 3-4 hours after tablet ingestion regardless of food intake 1
- The absolute bioavailability of candesartan is approximately 15%, and this remains unchanged whether taken with or without meals 1
- Clinical studies confirm that food does not influence bioavailability of candesartan cilexetil 2
Practical Considerations
- Patients can choose to take candesartan at whatever time is most convenient for medication adherence, with or without meals 1
- The usual recommended starting dose is 16 mg once daily, which can be taken at any time regardless of food intake 1
- For patients requiring twice-daily dosing, the medication can be split between doses without regard to meals 1
Contrast with Other Antihypertensives
This differs from some other cardiovascular medications where food interactions are clinically significant. For example, rivaroxaban requires administration with food to ensure adequate absorption 3, but candesartan has no such requirement 1, 2.