Candesartan cilexetil: safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers and patients with hypertension.

The tolerability and safety of candesartan cilexetil has been evaluated in over 5000 subjects enrolled into double-blind or open-label clinical studies. In double-blind clinical trials in patients with primary hypertension, candesartan cilexetil 2-16 mg once-daily was associated with a low incidence of adverse events and drug-related withdrawals, similar to placebo. The drug showed no evidence of dose-dependent adverse events and it was equally well tolerated by men and women and by elderly (> or =65 years) and younger (<65 years) patients alike. Candesartan cilexetil had no effect on blood glucose control or serum lipid profile in patients with type II diabetes. It was very well tolerated also when given in combination with hydrochlorothiazide or amlodipine and during long-term open-label therapy (up to 1 year). Candesartan cilexetil therefore possesses an excellent tolerability profile that extends to a wide variety of patients including the elderly and it does not aggravate co-existing risk factors such as hyperlipidaemia or glucose intolerance. It therefore appears to offer a better tolerated alternative to other commonly used antihypertensive agents.