What it's used for
Candesartan cilexetil is an angiotensin II receptor blocker used to lower blood pressure in adults and children. It is also prescribed to treat heart failure and reduce cardiovascular deaths and hospitalizations.
Source: U.S. FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA).
Typical dosing
For adult hypertension, the starting dose is 16 mg once daily with a target total daily dose of 8 to 32 mg, while adult heart failure starts at 4 mg once daily.
Dosing shown here is the general FDA-labeled range. Your prescribing clinician determines the exact dose, form, and schedule for you — this is not a substitute for medical advice.
Boxed warning / key safety info
Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus, so the drug should be discontinued as soon as pregnancy is detected.
Common side effects
Common adverse reactions causing discontinuation include headache and dizziness in hypertension, and low blood pressure, abnormal kidney function, and high potassium in heart failure.
Covered strengths on the Tab $0 list
Covered at $0 with an active Tab membership when filled at a participating pharmacy nationwide or through mail order. A licensed clinician must prescribe the medication.
Related medications
Other heart, blood pressure & cholesterol medications covered at $0 with an active Tab membership.
Candesartan Cilexetil cost without insurance
Cash prices for Candesartan Cilexetil without insurance vary widely by pharmacy, strength and quantity — the same prescription can cost very different amounts at two pharmacies in the same town. That is the problem a membership solves.
Candesartan Cilexetil is on Tab's covered $0 generic list. With an active Tab membership, every covered strength is $0 — not a percentage off, not a coupon that changes month to month — at participating pharmacies nationwide or through mail order. You do not need insurance, and Tab works whether or not you have a health plan.
Tab is a membership, not insurance. Covered medications require a prescription from a licensed clinician.
Candesartan Cilexetil dosage and administration
Starting Dose Target Dose Adult Hypertension (2.1) 16 mg tablet once daily 8 to 32 mg tablet total daily dose Pediatric Hypertension (1 to ˂6 years) (2.2) 0.2 mg/kg oral suspension once daily 0.05 to 0.4 mg/kg oral suspension once daily or consider divided dose Pediatric Hypertension (6 to ˂17 years) (2.2) <50 kg 4 to 8 mg tablet once daily >50 kg 8 to 16 mg tablet once daily <50 kg 4 to 16 mg tablet once daily or consider divided dose >50 kg 4 to 32 mg tablet once daily or consider divided dose Adult Heart Failure (2.3) 4 mg tablet once daily 1 The target dose is 32 mg once daily, which is achieved by doubling the dose at approximately 2-week intervals, as tolerated by patient 2.1 Adult Hypertension Dosage must be individualized. Blood pressure response is dose related over the range of 2 to 32 mg.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Your prescribing clinician decides the exact dose, form and schedule for you — this is not medical advice.
Candesartan Cilexetil side effects
· Most common adverse reactions which caused adult patients to discontinue therapy for: o Hypertension were headache (0.6%) and dizziness (0.3%) (6.1). o Heart Failure were hypotension (4.1%) (5.3), abnormal renal function (6.3%) (5.4), and hyperkalemia (2.4%) (5.5). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited at 1-866-210-9797 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. This is not a complete list. Report side effects to your clinician, and seek care for anything severe or unexpected.
Candesartan Cilexetil drug interactions
· Lithium: Increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity (7). · NSAIDs use may lead to increased risk of renal impairment and loss of antihypertensive effect (7). · Dual inhibition of the renin- angiotension system: Increased risk of renal impairment, hypotension, and hyperkalemia (7) . • Combined inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system: Increased risk of renal impairment, hypotension, and hyperkalemia (7). 7.1 Agents Increasing Serum Potassium Co-administration of candesartan cilexetil with potassium sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, potassium-containing salt substitutes or other drugs that raise serum potassium levels may result in hyperkalemia. Monitor serum potassium in such patients.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Tell your clinician and pharmacist about every medication, supplement and over-the-counter product you take.
Who should not take candesartan cilexetil
Candesartan cilexetil tablets are contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to candesartan. Do not co-administer aliskiren with candesartan cilexetil tablets in patients with diabetes [see Drug Interactions (7.4)]. Known hypersensitivity to product components (4). Do not co-administer aliskiren with candesartan cilexetil tablets in patients with diabetes (4).
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Whether this medication is appropriate for you is a clinical decision made by your prescribing clinician.
Common questions
Is candesartan Cilexetil covered at $0 with Tab?
Yes. Candesartan Cilexetil is on Tab's covered $0 generic list — every covered strength is $0 with an active membership, at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order.
Do I need insurance to get candesartan Cilexetil through Tab?
No. Tab is a membership, not insurance. Covered medications are $0 with an active membership whether or not you have a health plan.
How do I get a candesartan Cilexetil prescription with Tab?
Book a video visit with a licensed Tab clinician (unlimited visits are included with membership). If it's clinically appropriate, they send the prescription to your chosen participating pharmacy or by mail order.
How much does candesartan cilexetil cost without insurance?
Without insurance, retail cash prices for candesartan cilexetil vary by pharmacy, strength and quantity. Candesartan Cilexetil is on Tab's covered $0 generic list, so every covered strength is $0 with an active Tab membership at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order.
What is the cheapest way to get candesartan cilexetil?
For medications on Tab's covered list, a Tab membership is the cheapest route: covered strengths of candesartan cilexetil are $0 with an active membership, and unlimited video visits with a licensed clinician are included, so the visit that produces the prescription is covered too.
What is the usual dose of candesartan cilexetil?
Starting Dose Target Dose Adult Hypertension (2.1) 16 mg tablet once daily 8 to 32 mg tablet total daily dose Pediatric Hypertension (1 to ˂6 years) (2.2) 0.2 mg/kg oral suspension once daily 0.05 to 0.4 mg/kg oral suspension once daily or consider divided dose Pediatric Hypertension (6 to ˂17 years) (2.2) <50 kg 4 to 8 mg tablet once daily >50 kg 8 to 16 mg tablet once daily <50 kg 4 to 16 mg tablet once daily or consider divided dose >50 kg 4 to 32 mg tablet once daily or consider divided dose Adult Heart Failure (2.3) 4 mg tablet once daily 1 The target dose is 32 mg once daily, which is achieved by doubling the dose at approximately 2-week intervals, as tolerated by patient 2.1 Adult Hypertension Dosage must be individualized. (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15. Your clinician sets your dose.)
What are the side effects of candesartan cilexetil?
· Most common adverse reactions which caused adult patients to discontinue therapy for: o Hypertension were headache (0.6%) and dizziness (0.3%) (6.1). o Heart Failure were hypotension (4.1%) (5.3), abnormal renal function (6.3%) (5.4), and hyperkalemia (2.4%) (5.5). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited at 1-866-210-9797 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15.)
What interacts with candesartan cilexetil?
· Lithium: Increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity (7). · NSAIDs use may lead to increased risk of renal impairment and loss of antihypertensive effect (7). · Dual inhibition of the renin- angiotension system: Increased risk of renal impairment, hypotension, and hyperkalemia (7) . (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15. Tell your clinician about every medication and supplement you take.)
Candesartan Cilexetil is $0 on the covered list
Members pay $0 for covered generics at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order — plus unlimited virtual primary care, urgent care and dermatology visits. No insurance needed.
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