Comprehensive medication guide to Olmesartan including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$30 copay for generic olmesartan; typically Tier 1–2 on most commercial and Medicare plans. Brand-name Benicar is usually on a higher tier. Prior authorization is sometimes required.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$115–$203 retail for generic; as low as $9–$12 with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons for a 30-day supply. Brand-name Benicar costs significantly more without a copay card.
Medfinder Findability Score
78/100
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Olmesartan medoxomil (brand name Benicar) is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children 6 years and older. It belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). Olmesartan received FDA approval in 2002 and has since become a widely used treatment for hypertension.
It is available as a standalone tablet (5 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg) and in combination products: Benicar HCT (with hydrochlorothiazide), Azor (with amlodipine), and Tribenzor (with amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide). The US brand rights were transferred from Daiichi Sankyo to Cosette Pharmaceuticals in January 2022. Generic olmesartan is manufactured by multiple companies and is widely available.
Olmesartan is taken once daily, with or without food. The starting adult dose is typically 20 mg/day, which can be increased to 40 mg/day after two weeks if blood pressure control is insufficient.
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Olmesartan works by selectively blocking the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor in vascular smooth muscle. Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor — a hormone that narrows blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and stimulates the release of aldosterone (which causes the kidneys to retain sodium and water). By blocking the AT1 receptor, olmesartan prevents angiotensin II from producing these effects.
Olmesartan medoxomil is a prodrug — the tablet form is inactive and is converted to active olmesartan during absorption in the GI tract. This conversion is complete and efficient. Active olmesartan has 12,500 times greater affinity for the AT1 receptor than for the AT2 receptor, making it highly selective. With a half-life of approximately 13 hours and once-daily dosing, olmesartan provides sustained 24-hour blood pressure control.
Unlike ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril), which block the formation of angiotensin II, olmesartan blocks its receptor. This means bradykinin does not accumulate — which is why olmesartan does not cause the dry, persistent cough that is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors.
5 mg — tablet
Lower starting dose; less commonly stocked at chain pharmacies. Used for pediatric patients or volume-depleted adults.
20 mg — tablet
Standard starting dose for adults. Most widely stocked and prescribed strength.
40 mg — tablet
Maximum dose for adults. Used when 20 mg does not adequately control blood pressure after 2 weeks.
Olmesartan is generally available at most pharmacies and is not listed on the FDA's official drug shortage database as of 2026. Generic olmesartan is manufactured by multiple companies, which provides supply chain redundancy. However, individual pharmacies — especially smaller independents — may temporarily run out of specific strengths, particularly the 5 mg dose or combination products (Benicar HCT, Azor, Tribenzor).
The 20 mg and 40 mg tablets are the most commonly stocked. Chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) and mail-order pharmacies routinely carry these strengths. If you're prescribed the 5 mg dose or a combination product and your pharmacy is out of stock, ask them to special-order it (typically 1-3 business days) or try a different pharmacy.
If you're struggling to find olmesartan at your pharmacy, medfinder can call pharmacies near you to identify which ones have your specific dose in stock — saving you time and frustration.
Olmesartan is not a controlled substance, so there are no DEA schedule restrictions on who can prescribe it. Any licensed healthcare prescriber can write a prescription. Olmesartan is most commonly prescribed by primary care physicians and internists, though specialists frequently prescribe it as well.
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine)
Cardiologists
Nephrologists
Endocrinologists (for patients with diabetes-related hypertension)
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) — with prescribing authority in most states
Olmesartan can be prescribed via telehealth in most U.S. states since it is a non-controlled medication. Telehealth platforms like Teladoc, MDLive, and Sesame offer hypertension management visits that can result in an olmesartan prescription sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy.
No. Olmesartan is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling. It is classified as a standard prescription medication. This means there are no special DEA restrictions on how it can be prescribed, filled, or refilled. Any licensed prescriber can write a prescription for olmesartan, and it can be prescribed via telehealth in most states without restrictions.
Patients can receive refills up to the limits their prescriber specifies, and pharmacists can transfer prescriptions between pharmacies in most states without special authorization. Mail-order pharmacies can fill olmesartan prescriptions for 90-day supplies without restriction.
Olmesartan is generally well-tolerated. The most common side effects reported in clinical trials include:
Dizziness (3%) — most common; may be worse when standing up quickly
Headache
Back pain
Diarrhea (mild)
Fatigue
Upper respiratory symptoms (sinusitis, runny nose)
Fetal toxicity (Black Box Warning): Can cause serious harm or death to a developing fetus if taken during pregnancy. Stop immediately and call your doctor if you become pregnant.
Olmesartan-induced enteropathy: Rare but serious — severe chronic diarrhea, weight loss, mimics celiac disease. Can develop months to years after starting. Resolves after stopping.
Hypotension: Dangerous drop in blood pressure, especially in dehydrated patients or those on diuretics.
Hyperkalemia: Elevated potassium levels — can be serious in patients with CKD or those taking potassium supplements.
Angioedema: Rare swelling of face, lips, throat — medical emergency. Call 911 immediately.
Renal impairment: Decreased kidney function, especially in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis or pre-existing CKD.
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Losartan (Cozaar)
Most widely prescribed ARB; available for $4-15/month with discount cards; also approved for diabetic nephropathy and stroke risk reduction. Most formulary-preferred ARB.
Valsartan (Diovan)
ARB approved for hypertension, heart failure, and post-MI. Generic available $4-20/month. Good option for patients with heart failure comorbidity.
Telmisartan (Micardis)
Long-acting ARB with the longest half-life (~24 hrs) in its class; approved for hypertension and cardiovascular risk reduction. Generic available.
Irbesartan (Avapro)
ARB FDA-approved for hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. Good option for patients with type 2 diabetes and early kidney disease.
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Aliskiren (Tekturna)
majorContraindicated in patients with diabetes or renal impairment (GFR <60). Increases risk of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and acute renal failure.
ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril)
majorDual RAAS blockade — generally avoid. Significantly increases risk of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and renal failure without additional cardiovascular benefit.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
moderateReduces antihypertensive effect; can cause acute renal failure in elderly, volume-depleted, or renally impaired patients. Use acetaminophen instead when possible.
Potassium supplements / potassium-sparing diuretics
moderateAdditive hyperkalemia risk. Monitor potassium levels closely; avoid high-potassium salt substitutes.
Lithium
moderateOlmesartan can increase serum lithium levels, raising the risk of lithium toxicity. Monitor lithium levels when starting or adjusting olmesartan.
mTOR inhibitors (sirolimus, everolimus)
moderateIncreased risk of angioedema. Monitor closely in transplant or oncology patients requiring both agents.
Colesevelam (Welchol)
minorReduces olmesartan absorption. Take olmesartan at least 4 hours before colesevelam.
Olmesartan (Benicar) is a well-established, effective medication for managing high blood pressure that has been in use for over 20 years. It offers once-daily dosing, does not cause the ACE inhibitor cough, and is generally well-tolerated. Generic olmesartan is affordable with discount cards and is widely available at most pharmacies.
The key points to remember: take it consistently every day, refill early to avoid running out, be aware of the unique risk of olmesartan-induced enteropathy, and never combine it with other RAAS agents (ACE inhibitors or aliskiren) without your doctor's explicit guidance. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, stop olmesartan immediately and contact your doctor.
If you're ever unable to find olmesartan at your local pharmacy, medfinder is designed to solve exactly that problem — we call pharmacies near you to find which ones have your medication in stock and text you the results.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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