Losartan, Oral Tablet

What is losartan?

Losartan is a prescription drug. It comes as an oral tablet.
Losartan is available as the brand-name drug Cozaar. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name drug.

Losartan may be taken as part of a combination therapy with other medications to lower your blood pressure.

What is losartan used for?

Losartan is used for three main purposes. First, it’s used to treat high blood pressure. Next, it’s used to reduce your risk of a stroke if you have high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). With LVH, the walls in the heart’s left ventricle thicken. The left ventricle is one of four chambers in the heart. The thickening can prevent your heart from pumping well. And finally, losartan is used to treat diabetic nephropathy. This is kidney disease that is caused by diabetes.

Losartan drug class

Losartan belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. They are often used to treat similar conditions. Other ARBs include olmesartan, valsartan, and telmisartan. Like losartan, these drugs can be used to treat high blood pressure.

How losartan works

Losartan works by blocking the action of angiotensin II, a chemical in your body that causes your blood vessels to tighten and narrow. Losartan helps relax and widen your blood vessels. This lowers your blood pressure. This helps treat high blood pressure as well as the other two conditions losartan is usually prescribed for. High blood pressure and LVH increase your risk of stroke, so lower blood pressure reduces your risk. Lower blood pressure also reduces your risk of kidney damage. This is because high blood pressure raises your risk of kidney damage that’s caused by the high blood sugar levels linked with diabetes.

Losartan side effects

Losartan does not cause drowsiness.

More common side effects

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
The most common side effects that can occur with losartan include:

• upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold
• dizziness
• stuffy nose
• back pain
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• low blood sugar
• chest pain
• high or low blood pressure

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these serious side effects. Call 911 or local emergency services if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• High potassium blood levels. Symptoms can include:
  • heart rhythm problems
  • muscle weakness
  • slow heart rate
• Allergic reactions. Symptoms can include:
  • swelling of your face, lips, throat, or tongue
• Low blood pressure. Symptoms can include:
  • feeling faint or dizzy
• Kidney disease. If you already have kidney problems, this drug may make your kidney function worse. Symptoms can include:
  • swelling in your feet, ankles, or hands
  • unexplained weight gain

Losartan interactions

Losartan can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Using drinks that contain alcohol while taking losartan can cause a sedative effect. This means you may have slowed reflexes, poor judgment, and sleepiness. This can be dangerous if you drive or use other machinery. Alcohol can also increase the blood-pressure lowering effect of losartan. This increases the chance of your blood pressure getting too low.

Medications that might interact with this drug

Bipolar disorder drugs
Losartan may increase the levels of bipolar disorder drugs in your body. This effect can be dangerous. An example of these drugs includes:

• lithium

Blood pressure drugs
Taking losartan with other medications that lower your blood pressure and work on your renin-angiotensin system has risks. Taking these drugs together raises your risk of high blood potassium levels, kidney damage, and low blood pressure.
An example of these drugs includes:

• aliskiren

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Using losartan with NSAIDs raises your risk of kidney damage. Your risk may be higher if you have poor kidney function, are a senior, take a water pill, or are dehydrated. NSAIDs may also reduce the blood pressure-lowering effects of losartan. This means that losartan may not work as well if you take it with an NSAID.
Examples of these drugs include:

• naproxen
• ibuprofen

Tuberculosis drugs
These drugs can increase how quickly your body removes losartan. This means that losartan may not work as well to lower your blood pressure if you take these drugs.
An example of these drugs includes:

• rifampin

Other losartan warnings

Low blood pressure
This drug may cause low blood pressure, which can make you to feel faint or dizzy. If this happens, lie down and call your doctor right away.
Allergies
Losartan can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms include:

• trouble breathing
• swelling of your throat or tongue
• hives

Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it before. Taking it a second time after an allergic reaction could be fatal.
For people with an active renin-angiotensin system
Tell your doctor if you have heart failure, low blood pressure, or rental artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to your kidneys). With these conditions, your kidneys depend on the renin-angiotensin system. Taking this drug can also activate this system. If you take losartan when your renin-angiotensin system is activated, you can damage your kidneys.
For pregnant women
Losartan is a category D pregnancy drug. That means two things:

1. Studies show a risk of adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
2. The benefits of taking the drug during pregnancy may outweigh the potential risks in certain cases.

This drug can harm or be fatal to your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Losartan should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

For women who are breastfeeding
It isn’t known if losartan passes into breast milk. If it does, it may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your baby. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

For seniors
Older adults may process drugs more slowly. A typical adult dose may cause levels of this drug to be higher than normal. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dosage or a different treatment schedule.

For children
This medication should not be used in children younger than 6 years.

Losartan 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg dosage

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your doctor will tell you what dosage is right for you. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

What are you taking this medication for?

The dosage information below is for the conditions that losartan is most often prescribed to treat. This list may not contain all conditions that your doctor can prescribe this drug for. If you have questions about your prescription, talk with your doctor.

Hypertension

Brand: Cozaar Form: oral tablet Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg
Generic: losartan Form: oral tablet Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg

Adult dosage (ages 18-64 years)
Dosages range between 25 and 100 mg per day. You take losartan by mouth once or twice per day.

Child dosage (ages 6-17 years)
The dosage is based on your child’s weight. The usual dosage is around 0.7 mg/kg of body weight taken once per day. Your child’s doctor will increase or decrease the dosage depending on your child’s response to the medication.

Child dosage (ages 0-5 years)
This drug should not be used in children younger than 6 years.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
There are no specific recommendations for senior dosage. Older adults may process drugs more slowly. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dosage or a different schedule. A normal adult dosage may cause levels of this drug to be higher than normal in your body.

Diabetic nephropathy

Brand: Cozaar Form: oral tablet Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg
Generic: losartan Form: oral tablet Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg

Adult dosage (ages 18-64 years)
Dosages range between 25 and 100 mg per day. You take losartan by mouth once or twice per day.

Child dosage (ages 6-17 years)
The dosage is based on your child’s weight. The usual dosage is around 0.7 mg/kg of body weight
taken once per day. Your child’s doctor will increase or decrease the dosage depending on your child’s response to the medication.

Child dosage (ages 0-5 years)
This drug should not be used in children younger than 6 years.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
There are no specific recommendations for senior dosage. Older adults may process drugs more slowly. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dosage or a different schedule. A normal adult dosage may cause levels of this drug to be higher than normal in your body.

Reduce stroke risk in people with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy

Brand: Cozaar Form: oral tablet Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg
Generic: losartan Form: oral tablet Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg

Adult dosage (ages 18-64 years)
The typical dosage is 50 mg taken by mouth once daily. Your doctor may increase your dosage to 100 mg per day if needed.

Child dosage (ages 0-17 years)
This drug should not be used in children younger than 17 years for this condition.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
There are no specific recommendations for senior dosage. Older adults may process drugs more slowly. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dosage or a different schedule. A normal adult dosage may cause levels of this drug to be higher than normal in your body.

Losartan dosage guidelines

You can cut or crush losartan.
Losartan is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don't take it as prescribed.
 
If you don't take it at all
Losartan lowers high blood pressure. If you don’t take it, your blood pressure will stay high. This will increase your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
 
If you don't take it on schedule
Your blood pressure may not improve or may get worse. You may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
 
What to do if you miss a dose
If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s just a few hours until the time for your next dose, wait and only take one dose at that time. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could cause dangerous side effects.

If you take too much
If you take too much losartan, you may have these symptoms:

• feeling like your heart is pounding
• weakness
• dizziness

If you think you’ve taken too much losartan, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. 

How to tell if the drug is working
Your blood pressure should be lower. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure at your checkups. You can also check your blood pressure at home.
You may not be able to tell if this drug is helping your kidney function or reducing your risk of stroke. That doesn’t mean that the drug isn’t working. Keep taking this drug unless your doctor tells you to stop.

Storage

Store losartan at room temperature between 59°F (15°C) and 86°F (30°C). You should not freeze this drug. Keep this medication away from light, and don’t store it moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms.
A prescription for this drug is refillable.

Traveling with your medication

Always carry your medication with you. When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag. You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication, so always carry the original prescription-labeled box with you. And don’t worry about airport x-ray machines. They can’t hurt your medication.

Self-management

You may need to check your blood pressure at home. To do this, you may need to buy a home blood pressure monitor. You should keep a log with the date, the time of day, and your blood pressure readings. Bring this log with you to your doctor appointments.

Clinical monitoring

During treatment with losartan, your doctor may check your:

• blood cell levels
• potassium levels
• kidney function
• blood pressure

Are there any alternatives?

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other options that may work for you.

Stopping losartan

Do not stop taking losartan without talking to your doctor. Stopping it suddenly can cause your blood pressure to increase quickly. This raises your risk of a heart attack or stroke. If you want to stop taking losartan, talk with your doctor. They will slowly taper your dosage so that you can stop using the drug safely.

Part 12 of 12

Losartan price

Losartan is available as a generic drug. Generics are typically cheaper than brand-name drugs. To check current costs for losartan or the bran-name version Cozaar, visit www.goodrx.com.
Your cost for losartan will depend on your insurance coverage. To find out if your insurance provider covers losartan, call your insurance company or ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Hidden costs

You may need to buy a blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure at home. These monitors are available at most pharmacies