Table 5.

Dosing guidelines^* and acquisition costs for angiotensin II receptor blockers

Drug	Starting dose (mg daily)	Maintenance dose (mg daily)	Acquisition cost for 1 month of therapy
Losartan	50	25–100 QD-BID†	$34.80 (50 mg) QD
			$69.60 (25 mg or 50 mg) BID
Valsartan	80	80–320 QD	$33.60 (80 mg) QD
			$36.90 (160 mg) QD
Irbesartan	150	150–300 QD	$37.20 (150 mg) QD
			$36.60 (300 mg) QD
Candesartan	16	8–32 QD-BID	$30.30 (16 mg) QD
			$60.60 (16 mg) BID
Telmisartan	40	20–80 QD	$34.50 (40 mg) QD
			$36.30 (80 mg) QD
Eprosartan	600	400–800 QD-BID	$32.10 (600 mg) QD
Olmesartan	20	20–40 QD	$30.90 (20 mg) QD
			$30.90 (40 mg) QD

*Adapted from references 3 and 4.

†Some patients will require the total daily dose to be split into twice-daily dosing.

QD indicates once a day; BID, twice a day.