For people with kidney problems: This medication can make kidney disease worse. Symptoms of worsening kidney disease include:. For this reason, your doctor may lower your starting dosage. For people with diabetes and taking aliskiren: You should not take losartan if you have diabetes and are take a drug called aliskiren to reduce blood pressure. Taking both of these drugs can increase your risk of side effects from losartan. Side effects include low blood pressure, high potassium levels in your blood, and kidney damage.
If you have diabetes and are taking aliskiren, talk with your doctor before starting losartan. For pregnant women: Losartan is a category D pregnancy drug. That means two things:.
This drug can harm or end your pregnancy. Losartan should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. If it does, it may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child.
You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For seniors: Seniors may process drugs more slowly. For children: This medication should not be used in children younger than 6 years with high blood pressure.
For Black people: Losartan may not work as well in Black people with certain health problems. For more information, talk with your doctor. Losartan is used for long-term treatment. High blood pressure increases your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
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.
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 symptoms such as:.
But if your symptoms are severe, call 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. Keep taking this drug unless your doctor tells you to stop. A prescription for this medication is refillable.
You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. You may need to check your blood pressure at home. Your blood pressure should be checked regularly to determine your response to losartan. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.
You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Losartan pronounced as loe sar' tan. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow?
What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Brand names Brand names of combination products. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of losartan and gradually increase your dose. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient. Other uses for this medicine.
What special precautions should I follow? Before taking losartan, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to losartan, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in losartan tablets. This is quite common when you first start taking losartan and usually goes away with time. Be careful when getting up from either lying down or sitting to avoid falls. These effects put you at risk of falls and injuries, especially if you are elderly.
Stand up slowly. If you do feel dizzy, sit-down or lie down for a few moments. Avoid alcohol. Tell your doctor if this continues. Muscle cramps Muscle weakness Changes in your heartbeateat either fast, slow or irregular. Allergic reaction such as skin rash, itching, swelling of the lips, face, and mouth or difficulty breathing such as chest tightness, or wheezing. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to losartan oral tablets. Your doctor will explain how you should take losartan oral tablets. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. The usual dosage range for losartan oral tablets is 50 mg to mg once per day. The losartan dosage for older people is the same as the dosage for younger people. Your doctor may prescribe the lowest dose of losartan 25 mg if you have certain health conditions, such as liver problems.
You can take losartan in the morning, at night, or any time of day. But try to take your doses at the same time each day. Losartan oral tablets may be used together with a calcium channel blocker , such as amlodipine Norvasc. Losartan may also be used with certain diuretics , such as hydrochlorothiazide Microzide. Losartan may also be used on its own.
You may have questions about losartan oral tablets and your treatment plan. Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. The groups of drugs listed above are used to treat high blood pressure and other heart problems.
Each group works differently in the body. If you have questions about how losartan or other ARBs compare with ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, blood thinners, or diuretics, talk with your doctor. Yes, losartan was first recalled back in A drug recall happens when a drug is removed from the market and is no longer available. This usually happens because of a safety issue. Losartan and other angiotensin II receptor blockers were recalled because they accidentally contained an ingredient that was known to cause cancer.
But losartan may cause a high level of potassium in your blood. Bananas are rich in potassium. Also, drinking coffee can increase your blood pressure. And losartan is used to lower blood pressure. So if you drink coffee while taking losartan, the drug may not work as well for you. If you have questions about taking losartan with certain foods or drinks, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Losartan belongs to a group of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers. It works by blocking a hormone in your body called angiotensin. The way a drug works is called its mechanism of action. By blocking angiotensin, losartan relaxes your blood vessels and increases blood flow to your kidneys. This lowers your blood pressure and helps your kidneys work correctly. The half-life of losartan is about 2 hours. In other words, it takes about 2 hours for half of a losartan dose to leave your body.
Losartan, telmisartan Micardis , and irbesartan Avapro belong to a group of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs. Lisinopril Zestril belongs to a different group of drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme ACE inhibitors. The drugs block this hormone in different ways. To learn more about how losartan compares with telmisartan, irbesartan, and lisinopril, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
They can recommend which drug is right for you.
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