Benicar and Benicar HCT are prescription drugs used to lower high blood pressure (hypertension). Benicar HCT is not for use as the first medicine to treat your high blood pressure.

The content provided herein is for informational purposes only and does Welfil not constitute or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to your doctor for more information about your specific condition.

The photos depict models, not actual patients or healthcare professionals.

Important Safety Information

WARNING: DO NOT TAKE BENICAR OR BENICAR HCT DURING PREGNANCY
If you become pregnant, stop taking Benicar or Benicar HCT. Call your doctor right away. Benicar and Benicar HCT can cause injury or death to an unborn baby. If you plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about other treatments to lower blood pressure. Please see the WARNING section of the full product information about avoiding use in pregnancy.

Before taking Benicar or Benicar HCT, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Also tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. A medicine in Benicar HCT can pass into your breast milk. This may harm your baby. You and your doctor should decide if you will take Benicar or Benicar HCT or breast-feed. You should not do both.

Do not take Benicar HCT if you:

• Have severe kidney disease
• Have low or no urine output
• Are allergic to other sulfonamide type medicines

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Benicar or Benicar HCT (see the Prescribing Information for a list of the ingredients in Benicar or Benicar HCT). Also, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems or if you have lupus. If you are vomiting, have a lot of diarrhea, or have any other medical conditions, be sure to tell your doctor.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. These medicines may include prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. If you are taking Benicar or Benicar HCT, be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking:

• Water pills (diuretics)
• Other medicines for high blood pressure or a heart problem
• Potassium supplements or a salt substitute that contains potassium
• Pain or arthritis medicines, such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

If you are taking Benicar HCT, also tell your doctor if you are taking:

• Diabetes medicine, including insulin
• Narcotic pain medicine
• Sleeping pills and antiseizure medicines called barbiturates
• Lithium for certain types of depression
• Steroids
• Cholesterol medicines

Some of your other medicines and Benicar or Benicar HCT could affect each other. This may cause serious side effects. Take Benicar or Benicar HCT as prescribed by your doctor. If you choose to stop taking Benicar or Benicar HCT, talk with your doctor first.

Benicar and Benicar HCT may cause serious side effects. These include injury or death to an unborn baby; low blood pressure (hypotension), which may cause you to feel faint or dizzy; and kidney problems, which may get worse in people with kidney disease. If you have kidney problems, you may need blood tests, and your doctor may need to lower your dose of Benicar or Benicar HCT. Tell your doctor if you get swelling in your feet, ankles, or hands, or have unexplained weight gain. These may be signs of kidney problems.

Other serious side effects of Benicar HCT include allergic reactions due to the thiazide diuretic (water pill), and changes in body salts (such as sodium and potassium) and fluids. Tell your doctor if you have these signs and symptoms: dry mouth, thirst, weakness, tiredness or sleepiness, restlessness, confusion, seizures, muscle pains or cramps, muscle tiredness, dizziness or fainting, having little or no urine output, fast heartbeat, or nausea and vomiting.

Hydrochlorothiazide (an ingredient in Benicar HCT) can also cause eye problems, which may lead to vision loss. Symptoms can happen within hours to weeks of starting Benicar HCT. Tell your doctor if you have a decrease in vision or eye pain.

The most common side effect of Benicar and Benicar HCT was dizziness. Other side effects of Benicar HCT included upper respiratory tract infections, more uric acid in the blood, and nausea. Tell your doctor if a side effect bothers you or does not go away.

Tell your doctor if you have side effects. These are not all the possible side effects of Benicar or Benicar HCT. For more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects by calling 1-877-437-7763 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Benicar and Benicar HCT, including boxed WARNING regarding avoiding use in Pregnancy.