Hypertension: Treatment of essential hypertension.
Cardiovascular risk reduction: Telmisartan is indicated for reduction of the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes in patients 55 years of age or older at high risk of developing major cardiovascular events who are unable to take ACE inhibitors.
High risk of cardiovascular events can be evidenced by history of coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or high-risk diabetes (insulin-dependent or non-insulin dependent) with evidence of end-organ damage. Telmisartan can be used in additional to other needed treatment (such as antihypertensive, antiplatelet or lipid-lowering therapy).
Studies of Telmisartan in this setting do not exclude that it may not preserve a meaningful fraction of the effect of the ACE inhibitor to which it was compared. Consider using the ACE inhibitor first, and, if it is stopped for cough only, consider re-trying the ACE inhibitor after the cough resolves.
Use of Telmisartan with an ACE inhibitor is not recommended.