by Dr. Manura Nanayakkara

Created on: July 23, 2010   Last Updated: July 24, 2010

Losartan is an antihypertensive drug in the Angiotensin receptor blocker family. This drug widens the arteries and reduces blood pressure. This drug does not cause troublesome dry cough as a side effect, unlike ACE inhibitors like Enalapril.

 This drug is prescribed in high blood pressure, heart failure and in the early stages of diabetes kidney damage (diabetes nephropathy).

  Before starting this medication, the doctor should know your complete medical history, including over the counter medication patient is on.  Combining this medication with NSAIDs can have problems.

 What the doctor should know before prescribing?

  If the patient has a kidney disease called bilateral renal artery stenosis, then the doctor will not prescribe Losartan. If the patient has liver problems, doctor should know that as well. If a patient has a heart disease called Aortic or Mitral valve stenosis then the doctor may not prescribe this medication. Conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause problems with this drug as well. The doctor may check patient’s potassium levels in the blood before starting Losartan, because serum potassium levels can go up with this medication.

 If the patient is pregnant or nursing, doctor will not start Losartan. Taking Losartan in pregnancy can harm the unborn baby. This drug is present in breast milk in significant amounts, so it should not be used in breast feeding as well.

 What the patient should know before taking?

 This medication should be taken as a whole with a full glass of water and it should not be crushed to minimize side effects. This medication can be taken with or without meals. It should not be shared with others. Patient should not take beverages containing alcohol during the therapy.

  What are the common side effects?

 Some patients can get dizziness and can have low blood pressure. Lack of energy and strength, vertigo and easy fatigability are common side effects. Gastro intestinal disturbances like nausea and vomiting are also common. This drug is a potent antihypertensive, so patient can get faintishness especially in the first few days of the treatment. So patients are advised to stay in the home at least in the first day.

 What are the less common side effects?

Less common side effects are cardiac rhythm abnormalities (atrial fibrillation), headache and dizziness.

Few patients may get shortness of breath and muscle/joint pains with this medication.

 What are the rare side effects?

 Chest pain, edema, flatulence, nervousness, depression, sleep problems, blurred vision, impotence and back pain are relatively rare side effects.

  Very few patients can get an allergic reaction to this medication. These include rashes, hives and itchiness. Sometimes it can lead to an anaphylactic shock. This is characterized by wide spread hives, low blood pressure, shortness of breath and pallor. Patient should seek immediate medical help if he/she gets this problem.

  Sources

 British National Formulary

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