*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Side Effects Of Olmesartan

NHS medicines information on side effects of olmesartan and what you can do to cope.

Like all medicines, olmesartan can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine.

Common side effects

These common side effects of olmesartan happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and these side effects bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects

Some people have serious side effects after taking olmesartan.

Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if you have:

blood in your pee
severe diarrhoea that does not go away and causes noticeable weight loss
a rash or tiny reddish-purple spots under the skin (this may be less obvious on black or brown skin), cuts that will not stop bleeding, unexplained bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds or unusually heavy periods
weak muscles, numbness or tingling, an irregular heartbeat or palpitations, and feeling sick and short of breath - these can be signs of high levels of potassium in your blood

Call 999 now if:

you get chest pain that does not stop after a few minutes - chest pain is a possible sign of a heart attack and needs to be checked as soon as possible

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to olmesartan.

Long-term side effects

Taking olmesartan for a long time can sometimes cause your kidneys not to work as well as they should. Your doctor will check how well your kidneys are working with regular blood tests.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of olmesartan. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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