- Application under evaluation
- CHMP opinion
- European Commission decision
Overview
This is a summary of the European public assessment report (EPAR). It explains how the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) assessed the studies performed, to reach its recommendations on how to use the medicine.
If you need more information about your medical condition or your treatment, read the package leaflet (also part of the EPAR) or contact your doctor or pharmacist. If you want more information on the basis for the CHMP recommendations, read the scientific discussion (also part of the EPAR).
Irbesartan Teva is a medicine that contains the active substance irbesartan. It is available as white tablets (75, 150 and 300 mg).
Irbesartan Teva is a ‘generic medicine’. This means that Irbesartan Teva is similar to a ‘reference medicine’ already authorised in the European Union (EU) called Aprovel.
Irbesartan Teva is used in patients who have essential hypertension (high blood pressure). ‘Essential’ means that the hypertension has no obvious cause. Irbesartan Teva is also used to treat kidney disease in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes). Irbesartan Teva is not recommended for use in patients below 18 years of age, because of a lack of information on safety and effectiveness in this age group.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
Irbesartan Teva is taken by mouth, with or without food. The usual recommended dose is 150 mg once a day. If the blood pressure is not sufficiently controlled, the dose can be increased to 300 mg a day or other medicines for hypertension can be added, such as hydrochlorothiazide. A starting dose of 75 mg can be used in patients receiving haemodialysis (a blood clearance technique) or in patients over 75 years of age.
In patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes, Irbesartan Teva is added to other treatments for hypertension. Treatment is started at 150 mg once a day and is usually increased to 300 mg once a day.
The active substance in Irbesartan Teva, irbesartan, is an ‘angiotensin II receptor antagonist’, which means that it blocks the action of a hormone in the body called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a powerful vasoconstrictor (a substance that narrows blood vessels). By blocking the receptors to which angiotensin II normally attaches, irbesartan stops the hormone having an effect, allowing the blood vessels to widen. This allows the blood pressure to drop, reducing the risks associated with high blood pressure, such as having a stroke.
Because Irbesartan Teva is a generic medicine, studies have been limited to tests to determine that it is bioequivalent to the reference medicine, Aprovel. Two medicines are bioequivalent when they produce the same levels of the active substance in the body.
Because Irbesartan Teva is a generic medicine and is bioequivalent to the reference medicine, its benefit and risk are taken as being the same as the reference medicine.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded that, in accordance with EU requirements, Irbesartan Teva has been shown to have comparable quality and to be bioequivalent to Aprovel. Therefore, the CHMP’s view was that, as for Aprovel, the benefit outweighs the identified risk. The Committee recommended that Irbesartan Teva be given marketing authorisation.
The European Commission granted a marketing authorisation valid throughout the European Union for Irbesartan Teva to Teva Pharma B.V. on 30 October 2009.
Product information
This medicine’s product information is available in all official EU languages.
Select 'available languages' to access the language you need.
Product information documents contain:
- summary of product characteristics (annex I);
- manufacturing authorisation holder responsible for batch release (annex IIA);
- conditions of the marketing authorisation (annex IIB);
- labelling (annex IIIA);
- package leaflet (annex IIIB).
Product details
- Name of medicine
- Irbesartan Teva
- Active substance
- irbesartan
- International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name
- irbesartan
- Therapeutic area (MeSH)
- Hypertension
- Anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) code
- C09CA04
Pharmacotherapeutic group
Agents acting on the renin-angiotensin systemTherapeutic indication
Treatment of essential hypertension.
Treatment of renal disease in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus as part of an antihypertensive medicinal product regimen.