Losartan
Description
Losartan is a blood pressure-lowering medicine. It is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) and to help protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes. It is also used to reduce the risk of stroke (a condition that occurs due to reduced blood supply to the brain). Losartan works by relaxing your blood vessels and lowering your blood pressure.
Losartan may cause common side effects such as fatigue, low blood pressure, cold hands and feet, headache, indigestion, diarrhoea, etc. Consult your doctor if these symptoms persist or worsen. This medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Hence avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you feel dizzy or drowsy.
Losartan may be taken with or without food. Take it at the same time every day to maintain a constant level of this medicine in your body. Appropriate lifestyle changes like a low salt and low-fat diet and regular exercise will help to get maximum benefits from the treatment. You may have to take this medicine for the long term. Hence, avoid discontinuing it without consulting your doctor, as it may worsen your condition.
Losartan should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have lung, liver, kidney, or heart problems before beginning treatment with this medicine. Also, inform your doctor about all your current medicines to avoid any undesired effects.
Losartan is not recommended for use in children below six years of age. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Losartan
- Stomach pain
- Difficulty or painful urination
- Back pain
- Chest tightness
- Dizziness
- Weakness in arms, hands, legs or feet
- Sore throat
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Cough
- Edema
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Low blood pressure
- Low blood sugar levels
- High potassium levels in the blood
Uses of Losartan
What is it prescribed for?
- Hypertension
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of Losartan can be observed within 6 hours of intake.
- Duration of effectThe effect of Losartan lasts for an approximate duration of 24 hours after intake.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies have been reported with Losartan.
- Usage in pregnancy?Losartan is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can cause harm to your developing foetus.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Due to the lack of safety information, Losartan is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid taking Losartan if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Aliskiren
Aliskiren is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. Coadministration of Aliskiren and Losartan may increase your risk of serious side effects such as kidney problems, hypotension (low blood pressure), and hyperkalaemia (high blood potassium levels). This risk is especially higher if you have diabetes (high blood sugar levels) or pre-existing kidney problems. Hence concurrent use is not recommended if you have diabetes and/or severe kidney problems.
Severe liver disease
Losartan is not recommended for use if you have severe liver problems as it may further worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Losartan is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can cause harm to your developing foetus.
Breast-feeding
Due to the lack of safety information, Losartan is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.
General warnings
Hyperkalaemia
Losartan may cause hyperkalaemia (high blood potassium levels). This may increase your risk of heart rhythm problems. Avoid potassium-rich foods (potatoes, bananas, etc) and potassium supplements during treatment with this medicine.
Impaired liver function
Losartan is metabolized and broken down by the liver and should be used with caution if you have pre-existing liver problems, as it may increase the risk of undesired effects. Your doctor may closely monitor your liver function and recommend dose adjustments based on your clinical condition.
Use in children
Losartan is not recommended for use in children below six years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not established.
Lifestyle modifications
While taking Losartan, follow certain lifestyle modifications such as:
-Taking a low salt diet
-Maintaining an appropriate body weight by doing regular exercise
-Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake
This will help you to get maximum benefits from the treatment.
Driving or operating machines
Losartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some cases. Hence, avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you feel dizzy or drowsy during treatment with this medicine.
Missed Dose
Try not to skip a dose of Losartan. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed one. Do not double the dose to compensate for a missed one.
Overdose
Do not take more than the prescribed dose. Contact your doctor if you suspect an overdose with Losartan.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Dexamethasone
Aliskiren
Captopril
Insulin
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI's)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines
Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim
Benazepril
Disease interactions
Hypotension
Losartan may increase your risk of hypotension (low blood pressure). This risk is especially higher if you have hyponatraemia (low blood sodium levels) or are volume-depleted (low fluid volume in the body). Monitor your blood pressure regularly while you are taking this medicine.
Congestive heart failure
Losartan should be used with caution if you have severe congestive heart failure (heart is unable to pump blood efficiently) due to the increased risk of kidney damage and myocardial ischemia (a condition that occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed). The risk is especially higher if you are sodium or volume-depleted (decreased sodium and fluid levels in the body).
Food interactions
Losartan may increase the blood potassium levels in the body. Hence, avoid potassium-containing foods and supplements during treatment with Losartan. Consult your doctor if you experience weakness, irregular heartbeat, confusion, or tingling of the hands and feet.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Losartan with or without food. Do not take more or less than the prescribed dose.
Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor, as it may worsen your condition.
Losartan may cause an increase in your blood potassium levels. Your doctor may suggest tests to periodically monitor your blood potassium levels while you are taking this medicine.
Avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you feel dizzy or drowsy after taking Losartan.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Losartan blocks the action of a chemical messenger that causes narrowing of the blood vessels. Hence, it relaxes the blood vessels and allows the blood to flow easily, thus lowering the blood pressure.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Angiotensin-II receptor blockers, Anti-hypertensive Agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. These highlights do not include all the information needed to use LOSARTAN POTASSIUM TABLETS safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for LOSARTAN POTASSIUM TABLETS. LOSARTAN POTASSIUM tablets, for oral use Initial U.S. Approval: 1995. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 May 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Losartan: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 24 May 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. COZAAR 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg Film-Coated Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 May 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 May 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Losartan. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 May 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 4 Mar 2022
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