Irbesartan Tablets (Avapro)

Irbesartan is a prescription medicine used to help manage hypertension (high blood pressure) and, in some cases, help protect the kidneys in people with diabetes. This page summarizes how the medication works, common dosing patterns, and practical safety and handling points.

What Irbesartan Is and How It Works

CanadianInsulin connects prescriptions to licensed Canadian pharmacies for dispensing. For US shipping from Canada, paperwork and dispensing steps depend on the prescription and destination. Some people use cash-pay access when they are without insurance. In prescriptions, the highest tablet strength is often written as irbesartan 300 mg.

Irbesartan belongs to a class called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). Angiotensin II is a hormone that tightens blood vessels and signals the body to retain salt and water. By blocking angiotensin II at its receptor, this medicine relaxes blood vessels and can lower blood pressure over time. Lower pressure in the blood vessels may also reduce stress on the kidneys in certain conditions.

Irbesartan is the generic ingredient in Avapro. Many pharmacies dispense a generic tablet rather than the brand product, but the active ingredient is the same. Different manufacturers may use different tablet shapes, colors, or imprint codes.

Who It’s For

This medication is commonly prescribed for adults with hypertension (high blood pressure). It may also be prescribed for some people with type 2 diabetes who have kidney involvement, sometimes described as diabetic nephropathy (diabetes-related kidney damage). If you are browsing related condition hubs, see Hypertension and Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Appropriateness depends on the diagnosis, other medicines, and kidney function. A clinician may avoid irbesartan 300 mg in pregnancy because drugs in this class can harm a developing fetus. Extra caution is also common for people with dehydration, vomiting/diarrhea, very low blood pressure, severe kidney artery narrowing, or a history of certain allergic reactions. For background reading on the kidney condition often discussed with diabetes, see What Is Diabetic Nephropathy.

Dosage and Usage

Irbesartan tablets are generally taken by mouth once daily, with or without food, as directed by a prescriber. Many people take the dose at about the same time each day to support a consistent routine. Tablets are typically swallowed with water; do not crush or split unless your pharmacist confirms your specific tablet can be split safely.

Some clinical uses may involve titration (stepwise dose adjustment) based on blood pressure response and lab results. The highest marketed strength is 300 mg, and some prescriptions specify irbesartan 300 mg when a prescriber wants that full-strength tablet. Do not change the dose, stop the medicine, or double up after a missed dose without clinical guidance.

Quick tip: If a dose is missed, follow the pharmacy label instructions and avoid taking two doses at once.

If hypertension is part of a broader care plan, lifestyle steps and other medicines may also be involved. For a broader overview, see Managing Diabetes And Hypertension.

Strengths and Forms (irbesartan 300 mg)

Irbesartan is supplied as an oral tablet. The product dispensed may be a branded tablet (Avapro) or a generic equivalent depending on the pharmacy’s sourcing and the prescription. Generics are often labeled as “Irbesartan Tablets USP,” which refers to quality standards for the active ingredient and the finished product.

Manufacturer differences can affect tablet appearance and packaging, but they should not change the intended therapeutic effect when the product is an approved equivalent. If the tablet’s color or imprint changes between refills, confirm the manufacturer and strength on the label, and ask the dispensing pharmacy to verify the National Drug Code (NDC) or DIN, as applicable.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store irbesartan tablets at room temperature in a dry place, away from excess heat and moisture. Bathrooms and window sills can expose medicines to humidity and temperature swings, which may affect tablet integrity. Keep the bottle tightly closed, and keep all medicines out of reach of children and pets.

For travel, keep tablets in the original labeled container to reduce confusion during security checks and to preserve lot and expiry information. Carry medicines in hand luggage rather than checked bags when possible, and avoid leaving them in a hot car. If you use a pill organizer, keep a photo of the original label on your phone for reference.

Why it matters: Heat and moisture can degrade tablets and make doses less predictable.

Side Effects and Safety

Most side effects with ARBs are related to blood pressure changes or shifts in kidney salt handling. Commonly reported effects can include dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness, or gastrointestinal upset. Symptoms are more likely when starting therapy, after a dose increase, or during dehydration from illness.

More serious reactions are less common but require prompt medical attention. These can include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat (angioedema), fainting from hypotension (low blood pressure), signs of high potassium (hyperkalemia) such as muscle weakness or palpitations, or worsening kidney function. Some monitoring plans are tighter when the prescription is for irbesartan 300 mg, especially in people with chronic kidney disease or those taking other blood-pressure medicines.

When required, we confirm prescriptions with the original prescriber before processing. Because this drug can affect fetal development, prescribers typically discontinue ARBs if pregnancy occurs and choose an alternative. Report severe dizziness, reduced urination, chest pain, or allergic symptoms urgently.

For a broader medication browsing hub related to heart and vessel health, see Cardiovascular.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Irbesartan can interact with medicines and supplements that affect kidney blood flow or electrolyte balance. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce blood-pressure control and can strain kidney function in susceptible people. Potassium supplements and potassium-based salt substitutes can raise potassium further when combined with an ARB.

Other interactions may involve lithium (levels can rise), certain diuretics (“water pills”), and combinations with other drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin system (such as ACE inhibitors or aliskiren). A prescriber may also review dehydration risk, kidney function trends, and blood pressure readings before continuing irbesartan 300 mg alongside other therapies. For context on a commonly compared class, see Ramipril Uses.

• Share a full med list: include OTC pain relievers and supplements.
• Watch potassium sources: supplements and salt substitutes matter.
• Plan sick-day discussions: vomiting/diarrhea can change risk.

Compare With Alternatives

Several medicines can be used to treat high blood pressure, and the “right” option depends on diagnosis, comorbidities, and tolerability. Within the same ARB class, clinicians may consider agents such as Losartan or Telmisartan. Differences can include labeled indications, dosing flexibility, and how long the medicine lasts in the body.

Another common alternative class is ACE inhibitors, which work on the same hormone pathway but through a different mechanism. Some people switch between an ACE inhibitor and an ARB due to cough, swelling risk, or lab changes. For certain patients, a fixed-dose combination that pairs irbesartan with hydrochlorothiazide (a thiazide diuretic) may be prescribed to simplify regimens, but that is a different product with different precautions.

If you want to browse educational resources rather than product pages, the Cardiovascular Articles hub groups related guides in one place.

Pricing and Access

Out-of-pocket expenses for ARBs vary by manufacturer, strength, and dispensing pharmacy. Brand products (such as Avapro) can differ from generics, and packaging size can also change the final total. Searches that mention irbesartan 300 mg often reflect a need to compare generic options, confirm tablet strength, or plan refill timing.

Many requests are handled as cash-pay, which can help when coverage is limited. CanadianInsulin works as a prescription referral platform; if documentation is required, the prescription may be verified with the prescriber before a licensed pharmacy dispenses. If you are managing expenses without insurance, you can also check Promotions for site-wide updates when available.

Authoritative Sources

For the most current, label-level details, consult official references:

• FDA database entries for indications and safety warnings: Drugs@FDA.
• Consumer-focused dosing and precautions summary: MedlinePlus Irbesartan.

To submit a prescription request through CanadianInsulin, follow the checkout steps; we use prompt, express, cold-chain shipping.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.