Losartan
About Losartan
Losartan is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetic nephropathy. It helps reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in adults. Hypertension is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is elevated persistently in the arteries without any known cause.
Losartan contains Losartan, which works by blocking the action of certain natural substances that tighten the blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow more smoothly and the heart to pump more efficiently.
In some cases, Losartan may cause side effects like dizziness, tiredness, low blood pressure, weakness, anaemia, hyperkalemia (high potassium levels in the blood), and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Most of the side effects do not require medical attention and usually resolve on their own over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
Do not take Losartan if you are allergic to any of its components. Losartan is not recommended for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in children. This medicine may cause dizziness and lightheadedness; hence, do not drive if you are alert. Keep the doctor informed about your medications and medical conditions to prevent any interactions.
Uses of Losartan
Medicinal Benefits
- Losartan belongs to a class of drugs known as angiotensin II receptor blockers used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), chronic heart failure, and diabetic nephropathy.
- It is also used to decrease the risk of stroke in people who have high blood pressure and a heart condition called left ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement of the walls of the left side of the heart).
- By lowering blood pressure, Losartan helps reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular complications such as heart attack and stroke.
- Additionally, Losartan is prescribed to lower the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events, including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, in individuals aged 55 and above who have risk factors like diabetes, high cholesterol, or a history of smoking.
Directions for Use
- Losartan can be taken with or without food.
- It is recommended to take Losartan once daily at the same time each day or as advised by your doctor.
- Swallow Losartan as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Losartan
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Low blood pressure
- Weakness
- Anaemia (lack of blood)
- Hyperkalaemia (high potassium levels in the blood)
- Changes in kidney function
- Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up from lying or sitting position)
- Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Losartan if you are allergic to any of its components.
- If you have diabetes, kidney or liver problems, please inform your doctor before taking Losartan.
- Losartan is not recommended for pregnant women, especially in the second and third trimesters, as it may cause serious harm to the unborn baby (fetus). Therefore, pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to consult a doctor before taking Losartan.
- Do not consume alcohol with Losartan as it may increase the risk of low blood pressure.
- Avoid potassium supplements with Losartan as they may lead to high potassium levels in the blood.
- Regular blood tests and blood pressure monitoring are recommended while taking Losartan.
- A low salt diet and regular exercise are recommended along with Losartan for effective results.
- Losartan may cause sleepiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; use caution when engaging in activities such as driving a car or operating appliances or machinery. Do not consume alcohol with Losartan as it may increase the risk of low blood pressure.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Losartan may have interaction with pain killers (ibuprofen, aspirin), high blood pressure lowering medicines (lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril, benazepril, captopril, fosinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, trandolapril, enalaprilat, aliskiren), water pills (amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene), blood thinners (heparin), muscle relaxant (tizanidine), antibiotics (trimethoprim), and potassium supplements.
Drug-Food Interaction: Losartan may interact with potassium salt substitutes, potassium supplements and grapefruit or its juice.
Drug-Disease Interaction: People with angioedema (swelling of tissue below the skin), low blood pressure (hypotension), diabetes, kidney, liver, and heart problems should consult a doctor before taking Losartan.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid consumption of alcohol with Losartan as it may increase the risk of low blood pressure and cause adverse effects such as dizziness, fainting, light-headedness or headache.
Pregnancy
unsafeLosartan is a Category D pregnancy drug and is considered unsafe for pregnant women, especially in the second and third trimesters, as it may cause death of the unborn baby.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAvoid breastfeeding while taking Losartan as it may be unsafe for the baby.
Driving
cautionLosartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. So, drive only if you are alert after taking Losartan.
Liver
cautionLosartan should be given with caution, especially if you have a history of liver disease. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionLosartan should be given with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disease. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
cautionIt is not recommended for children below 6 years. However, for children above 6 years, give Losartan in doses as prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain a low-salt diet and minimise eating processed foods as they contain more sodium. Try to replace salt with spices or herbs to add flavour to the food.
- Do regular exercise such as cycling, walking, jogging, dancing or swimming for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
- Chronic stress may also cause high blood pressure. Therefore, avoid stress triggers and make time for yourself to relax and do activities that you enjoy.
- Maintain a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol intake.
Special Advise
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly, and if you notice any fluctuations, please consult a doctor.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension (high blood pressure): It is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is elevated persistently in the arteries. High blood pressure is mostly caused by obesity, diabetes, smoking, high salt intake, stress, lack of physical activity, or ageing. Normal blood pressure lies between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. If the blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or greater, it is considered high blood pressure. If it is left untreated, it may lead to heart disease and stroke.
Heart failure: It is a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should. Heart failure may occur due to certain conditions like high blood pressure, swelling or damage to the heart muscle, faulty heart valves, or narrow arteries in the heart. Symptoms of heart failure include tiredness, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and swollen legs.
Diabetic nephropathy: It is a condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood, leading to kidney problems and high blood pressure. Symptoms include poor appetite, swelling of hands, feet, and face, weakness, nausea, and drowsiness.
FAQs
Losartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), chronic heart failure, and diabetic nephropathy. It is also used to decrease the risk of stroke in people who have high blood pressure and a heart condition called left ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement of the walls of the left side of the heart).
Losartan works by blocking the action of certain natural substances that tighten the blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow more smoothly and the heart to pump more efficiently.
No, Losartan is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters, as it may harm the developing baby. Therefore, if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, please inform your doctor before taking Losartan.
You are not recommended to take more than the prescribed dose of Losartan as it may cause Losartan overdose, resulting in symptoms such as low blood pressure, fast or slow heartbeat. However, if you experience any of these symptoms while taking Losartan, please consult a doctor immediately.
No, you are not recommended to take ibuprofen with Losartan as co-administration of these two medicines may reduce the effect of Losartan and increase the risk of impaired kidney function. However, if you experience loss of appetite, sudden weight loss or weight gain, weakness, muscle cramps, vomiting, nausea, decreased or increased urination, irregular heart rhythm and fluid retention, please consult a doctor immediately. If you are supposed to use these medicines together, you are advised to contact your doctor so that the dose may be adjusted to use safely.
No, you are not recommended to take potassium supplements with Losartan as it may increase the levels of potassium in blood (hyperkalaemia). However, please consult a doctor before taking other medicines with Losartan.
Losartan may be safe for diabetic patients if it is prescribed by a doctor. Losartan protects the kidneys and slows down the decrease of kidney function in hypertensive (high blood pressure) type 2 diabetic patients.
If you have any kidney problems, it is advised to inform your doctor before taking Losartan. Losartan may worsen kidneys function if there is any existing kidney problem. However, if you experience unexplained weight gain, swelling in feet, ankles or hands, please consult your doctor immediately.
Inform your doctor about all of your past and present diseases, particularly diabetes and all the ongoing medications, supplements and herbal medicines that you are taking. If you take insulin or antidiabetic medication, monitor your blood sugar carefully while taking Losartan, especially in the first month of use. Using these diabetes medicines while taking Losartan may cause significant changes in your blood sugar levels due to drug-drug interactions.
Yes, avoid foods high in potassium such as banana, spinach, kidney beans and peas. Also, avoid health supplements rich in potassium content. Maintain a low-salt diet.
Yes, Losartan can make you feel dizzy. This may occur when you suddenly get up from a sitting or lying position. Therefore, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down to lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out.
Many people use Losartan to lower blood pressure. In general, it has very few side effects. Also, it protects kidney function in high blood pressure patients having diabetes and impaired kidney function (diabetic nephropathy). It is also used to treat chronic heart failure when treatment with other medicines are not effective. Additionally, it helps to lower the risk of stroke in hypertensive patients and have thicker left ventricle (heart chamber).
Lifestyle changes play a key role to maintain your healthy if you are taking Losartan. Maintain low-salt diet and find ways to reduce or manage stress in your life. Practice meditation or yoga or take up a hobby. Make sure that you have a sound sleep each night as this also helps to reduce stress levels and helps to maintain normal blood pressure. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption. Take a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.
You may have to take Losartan for a long term, may be for the rest of your life as Losartan only controls blood pressure but does not cure it. Do not stop taking Losartan without consulting your doctor. If you have any concerns, please consult your doctor.
No, Losartan does not cause weight gain. However, if it starts affecting your kidney function then your body may swell due to the build-up of water, resulting in weight gain. If you experience unexplained weight gain or swelling in your ankles, feet or hands, consult your doctor.
Long-term use of Losartan is generally considered to be safe. However, in some cases, prolonged use may adversely affect the kidneys functioning. Therefore, your doctor may recommend regular blood tests to monitor the kidneys functioning.
Yes, Losartan may impair kidney function in patients, particularly those with chronic kidney disease, severe heart failure, or narrow or blocked blood vessels that lead to the kidneys (renal artery stenosis). Also, it may affect patients who have experienced dehydration or severe fluid loss due to diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive use of diuretics. Therefore, Losartan should be used with caution in such patients and their kidney function should be monitored regularly.
It takes around 6 hours for Losartan to start lowering blood pressure and the effect lasts for about 24 hours. However, you might need to take it for about 3-6 weeks to see the full benefits.
Take Losartan exactly as advised by your doctor. You can take it with or without food. Swallow it as whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew or break it. Take it at the same time every day for effective results.
Taking Losartan during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can cause serious harm or even death of the developing fetus. Therefore, it is important to inform the doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Losartan, stop taking it and consult your doctor immediately.
The common side effects of Losartan are dizziness, colds (upper respiratory infection), stuffy nose and back pain. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Yes, always inform your doctor about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines, herbal supplements and vitamins you are taking to avoid drug interactions.
Store Losartan at room temperature in a cool and dry place. Protect from light. Keep it out of reach and sight of children.
