Avapro (Irbesartan) for High Blood Pressure

Avapro (irbesartan) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

How Avapro Works and How It’s Taken

Avapro is a type of medication called an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker (ARB). It works by blocking the effects of angiotensin 2, a substance in the body that causes blood vessels to tighten. This helps lower blood pressure.

Doctors prescribe Avapro when someone has high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps reduce the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, including strokes and heart attacks, which can be fatal.

Avapro comes as a tablet taken by mouth. It can be taken with or without food.

Typical Dosing for High Blood Pressure

The recommended starting dose of Avapro for high blood pressure is 150 milligrams once daily.

If more blood pressure control is needed, a healthcare provider may increase the dose to a maximum of 300 milligrams once daily.

People with low blood volume or salt levels may need a lower starting dose of 75 milligrams once daily.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Avapro Side Effects

In clinical studies of Avapro, the most common side effects occurred in about 2 percent to 4 percent of people. These included:

Diarrhea
Indigestion or heartburn
Fatigue (feeling unusually tired)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Avapro can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Fetal harm — Avapro can injure or cause death to a developing fetus if taken during pregnancy.
Hypotension (low blood pressure) — Blood pressure can drop too low, especially if you have low salt or body fluid levels.
Kidney problems — Kidney function may worsen, which can be serious.
Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels in the blood) — This can affect heart rhythm.
Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis — These can cause trouble breathing, severe swelling, or shock.

Avapro has a boxed warning, the FDA’s strongest safety warning, for fetal harm during pregnancy. A boxed warning does not mean the drug is unsafe for everyone or that everyone faces the same level of risk.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Avapro

Sanofi, the manufacturer of Avapro, offers the Sanofi Access Direct Savings Program. Under the program’s cash-paying benefit, eligible people may pay no more than $194.52 per 30-day supply of 150-milligram tablets or $244.09 per 30-day supply of 300-milligram tablets.

The program also provides a list of covered products and their maximum out-of-pocket costs.

What To Know Before Taking Avapro

Before starting Avapro, your doctor may check your kidney function and potassium levels based on your health and other medications you take.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to irbesartan or any other ingredient in Avapro.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Avapro can interact with certain medicines, including some pain relievers, lithium, and medications that increase potassium levels in the blood.

Do not take Avapro if you:

Are allergic to any of its ingredients
Take aliskiren and have diabetes

Avapro is also FDA-approved to treat diabetic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure who have increased creatinine levels in their blood and excess protein in their urine.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Avapro can cause serious harm or death to a developing fetus.

If you become pregnant while taking Avapro, contact your doctor right away. Avapro should be stopped as soon as pregnancy is detected.

Talk with your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Avapro because of the potential risks to the baby.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Avapro for high blood pressure?

In clinical studies, Avapro helped lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. After six to 12 weeks of treatment, compared with a placebo (an inactive treatment):

150 milligrams once daily — Lowered the top blood pressure number by about 8 to 10 millimeters of mercury and the bottom number by about 5 to 6 millimeters of mercury.
300 milligrams once daily — Lowered the top blood pressure number by about 8 to 12 millimeters of mercury and the bottom number by about 5 to 8 millimeters of mercury.

In controlled studies, rebound high blood pressure was not observed after stopping Avapro.

How long does Avapro take to work for high blood pressure?

Avapro starts lowering blood pressure after the first dose. Its effect is close to its full level after about two weeks.

After taking a dose, the strongest blood pressure-lowering effects generally occur around three to six hours later.

Does Avapro interact with other medicines?

Yes. Avapro can interact with certain medications, including:

Potassium supplements and medications that increase potassium — Taking these with Avapro may cause potassium levels in your blood to become too high.
Lithium — Avapro may increase lithium levels in your blood, raising the risk of harmful side effects.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — Pain relievers such as ibuprofen may reduce Avapro’s blood pressure-lowering effect and increase the risk of kidney problems.
Other blood pressure medications — Certain medications, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and aliskiren, may increase the risk of low blood pressure, high potassium levels, and kidney problems when taken with Avapro.

Do not take Avapro with aliskiren if you have diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider about all medications and supplements you take before starting Avapro. Your provider may need to monitor your blood pressure, kidney function, or potassium levels.