Clinical decision-support only. For use by licensed dental professionals. Not a substitute for professional judgment or a complete drug reference. Always verify with primary sources.
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Medication

Irbesartan

Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)

Brand names: Avapro

Oral health effects

  • Dry mouth

    Mild xerostomia reported; angioedema rare.

    Clinical management: Hydration and caries prevention.

  • Dizziness on standing (orthostatic hypotension)

    In patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetic nephropathy, orthostatic dizziness (5.4% vs 2.7%) and orthostatic hypotension (5.4% vs 3.2%) were more frequent on irbesartan than placebo.

    Clinical management: Raise the chair back slowly at the end of the appointment, let the patient sit upright for 1–2 minutes before standing, and steady them as they get up. Take extra care in older patients, after long supine procedures and when other blood-pressure-lowering drugs are taken.

Sources

  1. A Guide to Medications Inducing Salivary Gland Dysfunction, Xerostomia, and Subjective Sialorrhea: A Systematic Review Sponsored by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI. Wolff A, Joshi RK, Ekström J, et al. Drugs in R&D, 2017.
  2. Adverse drug events in the oral cavity. Yuan A, Woo SB. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2015.
  3. Irbesartan prescribing information (FDA label) REMEDYREPACK INC. / DailyMed, 2026.