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Candesartan

ARBprescriptionoral · inferred

Angiotensin II receptor blocker used for hypertension and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The CHARM program established mortality and morbidity benefits across the HFrEF spectrum. Typical dose 4-32 mg once daily. Low oral bioavailability (~15%) due to absorption variability but compensated by tight AT1 receptor binding.

Projected serum levels — 16 mg, once daily

Candesartan
Candesartan modeled serum levels, 16 mg once daily over 15 days Population-based pharmacokinetic estimate. Steady state reached after approximately 1 days. 0 0.63 1.3 1.9 2.5 Day 0 Day 4 Day 8 Day 11 Day 15 Time on a regular schedule ≈ steady state · day 1
Candesartan modeled serum levels with a loading dose of 19.4 mg, then 16 mg once daily The first dose is larger so levels approach steady state faster. 0 0.63 1.3 1.9 2.5 Day 0 Day 4 Day 8 Day 11 Day 15 Time on a regular schedule

Maintenance schedule: 16 mg once daily (oral).

Loading schedule: 19.4 mg on day 1, then 16 mg once daily — reaching therapeutic levels sooner.

Modeled steady state after ~1 days: peak ≈ 2.1 mg, trough ≈ 0.47 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a 16 mg dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.

Key facts

Category
ARB
Route modeled
Oral
Model confidence
inferred
Half-life
9 h
Common dose
16 mg
Suggested maximum
32 mg/day
Reference dose range
8–32 mg (single dose)
Suggested cadence
once daily
Validated against
16 mg oral — Cmax 0.087 mg/L at 3.5 h

Documented interactions

  • danger
    Carbamazepine (Tegretol) + Candesartan CYP induction

    Carbamazepine (Tegretol) inducer of CYP2C9 predicted to change Candesartan AUC by ~0.40x

  • danger
    CBD (Cannabidiol) + Candesartan CYP inhibition

    CBD (Cannabidiol) reversible_inhibitor of CYP2C9 predicted to change Candesartan AUC by ~3.33x

  • danger
    Fluconazole + Candesartan CYP inhibition

    Fluconazole reversible_inhibitor of CYP2C9 predicted to change Candesartan AUC by ~3.33x

  • danger
    Fluvoxamine (Luvox) + Candesartan CYP inhibition

    Fluvoxamine (Luvox) reversible_inhibitor of CYP2C9 predicted to change Candesartan AUC by ~3.33x

  • danger
    Levothyroxine (Synthroid) + Candesartan Protein binding

    Candesartan may displace Levothyroxine (Synthroid) from plasma protein binding sites, transiently raising free drug concentration. This drug has a narrow therapeutic index; free concentration changes…

  • danger
    Metronidazole (Flagyl) + Candesartan CYP inhibition

    Metronidazole (Flagyl) reversible_inhibitor of CYP2C9 predicted to change Candesartan AUC by ~3.33x

Serum checks 159 modeled interaction pairings for candesartan across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.

Research behind this entry

  1. Effects of candesartan in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left-ventricular systolic function taking angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors: the CHARM-Added trial McMurray JJV et al. · Lancet, 2003 DOI

    CHARM-Added RCT of 2548 HFrEF patients on ACE-Is showed adding candesartan reduced CV death or HF hospitalization by 15% over 41 months, supporting combination RAAS blockade in selected patients.

  2. The Study on COgnition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE) Lithell H et al. · Journal of Hypertension, 2003 DOI

    SCOPE RCT of 4964 elderly hypertensive patients showed candesartan-based therapy reduced non-fatal stroke by 28% with trends toward cognitive protection vs control.

  3. Clinical pharmacokinetics of candesartan Easthope SE, Jarvis B · Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2002 DOI

    PK review establishing candesartan cilexetil's activation during absorption to candesartan, ~15% absolute bioavailability, 9-hour half-life, and primarily biliary elimination.

3 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.