Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the acf domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260
Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260
Telmisartan: What You Need to Know Before You Order – A Doctor’s Honest Take - Emerging Writers' Festival
Notice: Undefined variable: style in /www/wp-content/themes/ewf/functions.php on line 360
Deprecated: Function wp_make_content_images_responsive is deprecated since version 5.5.0! Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. in /wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260
Deprecated: Function wp_make_content_images_responsive is deprecated since version 5.5.0! Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. in /wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260
Broadly speaking, my main areas of interest are in fiction, review writing, and activism-related opinion writing. In terms of fiction, I’ve always enjoyed speculative fiction and how it can utilise the most imaginative aspects of storytelling. Recently, though, I’ve been exploring and come to really appreciate non-fiction and realistic stories as well – I’ve found it particularly powerful in sharing the stories of people outside the mainstream. Historical fiction walks the line between these two forms perfectly, so it’s an area I’m particularly interested in at present. Generally, I write at my desk at home; I don’t have a specific routine for writing beyond that, other than often doing it late at night!
I’ve had a few pieces of creative writing appear in small publications in the past, including SpineOut and Something with Bite. I’ve also written a few pieces for that reminds me, an online magazine of personal reflections on pop culture, and recently contributed an opinion piece to Right Now.
I’ve long enjoyed reading Voiceworks, so it would be great to have my work published there at some point. Being published in The School Magazine would also be incredible – I loved reading the stories, poetry and comics in there when I was in primary school and really admire its pieces and authors. Beyond that, I’m keen for any opportunities to share my writing.
What are you working on right now?
I’ve written a fair bit of non-fiction in the first half of this year, so at present, I’m aiming to focus on creative writing. I’m in the planning phase for a historical fiction piece, which I’m hesitant to say more about at this stage as it’s still fairly experimental. I’m also tossing around concepts for a few speculative short stories and long-form manuscripts, as I like to have many ideas to think about at once, to keep me excited.
What have you read recently?
A recent favourite was Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee, a Young Adult historical fiction novel about a fifteen-year-old girl from Chinatown attempting to follow her ambitions and dealing with the tragedy of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. I fell in love with the humorous, emotional, and captivating narrative voice, and enjoyed being immersed in the characters’ lives and the vivid historical setting.
I’ve also been reading more non-fiction than usual recently, and found Her Father’s Daughter by Alice Pung incredibly moving; I loved her perceptions of growing into adulthood and her relationship with her parents, and though the portrayal of her father’s experience under the Cambodian genocide was confronting, it was also incredibly insightful and I’m so glad I read it.
What would you like to work on after your studies? What professional development would you like to receive?
After my studies, I’d like to continue what I’m doing now with writing: to continue learning and improving, and to focus on fiction but also to keep experimenting in other areas.
In terms of professional development, mentoring from more experienced writers in similar areas would be incredible. Whilst I always find general advice and workshops about the craft of writing useful, it’s with my own stories’ and pieces’ specific aspects that I have the most challenges with and learn the most from, so individual mentoring would help me a lot!
I’d also like to meet more writers (which I’m eager to do at EWF this year!) and find critique partners, which I know will be particularly useful once I have more fiction work under way!
Wendy Chen is a writer and student from New South Wales, with a focus on storytelling and humanitarian issues. She has been a youth ambassador for The Salvation Army since 2013, is Chinese-Australian, and has a particular passion for fiction, advocacy, and review writing. Her work has been published in SpineOut, Right Now and That Reminds Me.
Telmisartan: A Doctor’s Review for Australians Over 30
Written by an Australian general practitioner
Attention: High Blood Pressure Is a Silent Threat
If you are over 30, you may not feel it — but high blood pressure quietly damages your arteries, heart, brain and kidneys every single day.
In Australia, around 1 in 3 adults has hypertension, and many do not know it. The consequences can be devastating: heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and even dementia.
If you have been told your blood pressure is “creeping up,” or if you have a family history of heart disease, now is the time to act.
The good news is that modern medicines like telmisartan can protect you — and they are much easier to live with than many older blood pressure drugs.
Interest: What Makes Telmisartan Different?
Telmisartan belongs to a class of medicines called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
It works by relaxing and widening your blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and reduces strain on your heart.
But telmisartan is not just another blood pressure pill. It has several standout features that make it a preferred choice in Australian general practice.
Key Features of Telmisartan
Feature
Detail
Drug class
Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
Duration of action
24 hours with once-daily dosing
Half-life
Approximately 24 hours
Peak plasma time
0.5–1 hour after oral dose
Time to maximum blood pressure reduction
Usually 2–4 weeks of regular treatment
Grapefruit juice interaction
No clinically significant interaction
Telmisartan Peak Effect Time
Many patients ask about telmisartan peak effect time.
After you swallow a tablet, telmisartan reaches peak blood levels within 0.5 to 1 hour.
However, the full blood pressure-lowering effect does not happen overnight.
You may notice improvement within the first 2 weeks, but the maximum effect usually takes about 4 weeks of consistent daily dosing.
This is normal and expected — blood pressure control is a long-term project, not a quick fix.
Telmisartan Duration of Action
One of the biggest advantages of telmisartan is its long duration of action.
Because its half-life is around 24 hours, a single morning dose keeps working throughout the day and night.
This matters because blood pressure naturally rises in the early morning hours — the time when heart attacks and strokes are most common.
Telmisartan provides smooth, round-the-clock protection, and if you occasionally forget a dose, your blood pressure is less likely to spike than with shorter-acting medicines.
Telmisartan and Grapefruit Juice
If you enjoy grapefruit, here is some welcome news.
Many blood pressure and cholesterol medicines interact dangerously with grapefruit juice, but telmisartan does not have a clinically significant interaction with grapefruit.
This is because telmisartan is not broken down by the liver enzyme CYP3A4, which is the pathway grapefruit affects.
You can continue enjoying grapefruit in moderation — just always let your doctor know about your usual diet.
Desire: Powerful Protection and a Better Tolerability Profile
Telmisartan is not only effective — it is backed by strong clinical evidence and is often better tolerated than older alternatives.
If you have ever taken an ACE inhibitor such as ramipril or perindopril and developed a dry, irritating cough, telmisartan may be a much more comfortable option.
Telmisartan Clinical Studies Summary
Summary of Key Clinical Trials
Study
Population
Key Finding
ONTARGET
25,620 patients with vascular disease or high-risk diabetes
Telmisartan 80 mg was as effective as ramipril 10 mg in reducing cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke and hospitalisation for heart failure, with significantly less cough and angioedema.
TRANSCEND
5,926 ACE-intolerant patients with vascular disease or diabetes
Telmisartan reduced the secondary composite of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke compared with placebo; the primary endpoint showed a favourable trend. It was well tolerated in patients who could not take ACE inhibitors.
PROTECTION
Pooled analysis of renal studies
Telmisartan slowed the progression of diabetic kidney disease and reduced proteinuria, helping protect kidney function.
For Australians over 30, these results matter.
They mean telmisartan does more than lower a number on a blood pressure machine — it helps protect the organs that high blood pressure silently damages.
Safety and Monitoring: What Your Doctor Will Do
Like all effective medicines, telmisartan requires sensible monitoring.
This is not a reason to worry — it is a reason to feel confident that your doctor is keeping you safe.
Telmisartan and Electrolyte Monitoring
Because telmisartan can raise potassium levels, your GP will arrange a simple blood test to check your kidney function and electrolytes before you start treatment and within 1–2 weeks after starting or changing the dose.
This is especially important if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or take potassium supplements, salt substitutes, or potassium-sparing diuretics.
For most people, this monitoring is straightforward and gives excellent peace of mind.
Telmisartan and Lithium Interaction
If you take lithium for a mental health condition, telmisartan can increase lithium levels in your blood.
This can lead to lithium toxicity, with symptoms such as nausea, tremor, confusion and unsteadiness.
This combination is not automatically forbidden, but it requires close monitoring of lithium levels and possible dose adjustment.
Never start telmisartan without telling your doctor if you take lithium.
Telmisartan and Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Most people tolerate telmisartan very well.
Gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, indigestion or nausea are uncommon and usually mild.
When they do occur, they often settle within the first few weeks as your body adjusts.
Compared with many blood pressure medicines, telmisartan has a tolerability profile close to placebo in clinical trials.
Telmisartan Drug Interactions List
While telmisartan has fewer interactions than many other blood pressure drugs, it is not completely free of interactions.
Below is a practical summary for Australian patients:
Common Telmisartan Drug Interactions
Drug or Class
Interaction
Recommended Action
Lithium
Increased lithium levels and toxicity risk
Avoid combination or monitor lithium levels closely
Additive blood pressure lowering, which may cause dizziness
Dose adjustment may be needed
Aliskiren
Increased risk of kidney failure and low blood pressure in patients with diabetes or kidney impairment
Contraindicated in these groups
Digoxin
Telmisartan may increase digoxin levels
Monitor digoxin levels if combined
ACE inhibitors (e.g., ramipril, perindopril)
Increased risk of kidney problems and high potassium without extra benefit
Combination not routinely recommended
Grapefruit juice
No significant interaction
Safe in moderation
Action: Take Control of Your Blood Pressure Today
If you are over 30 and have high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease, stroke or kidney problems, do not wait for symptoms to appear.
High blood pressure is silent — but it is also treatable.
Telmisartan is available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it affordable for most Australians with a valid prescription.
With once-daily dosing, 24-hour protection, fewer cough problems than ACE inhibitors, and no grapefruit juice interaction, it is a modern, evidence-based choice that fits easily into a busy life.
Your next step: book an appointment with your GP.
Ask for a blood pressure check, a kidney function test, and a conversation about whether telmisartan is right for you.
If it is prescribed, you can purchase it from any Australian pharmacy and start protecting your heart, brain and kidneys today.
This article is general information only and does not replace individual medical advice. Always consult your GP or specialist before starting, changing or stopping any medicine.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
© 2016 Emerging Writers’ Festival.
All rights reserved.