Losartan, sold under the trade name Cozaar among others, is a medication mainly used to treat high blood pressure. It is also used for diabetic kidney disease, heart failure, and left ventricular enlargement. It is taken by mouth. It may be used alone or in addition to other blood pressure medication.
Losartan (Cozaar) belongs to a group of drugs called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow. Losartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
How should I take losartan?
Take losartan exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
You may take losartan with or without food. Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication, which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Visit your doctor regularly. It may take 3 to 6 weeks of using losartan before your blood pressure goes down somewhat. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 weeks of treatment.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
What Happens If You Accidentally Took Double Dose of Losartan (Cozaar)?
If a person takes a double dose of losartan, it can cause dizziness, sleepiness and a pounding heartbeat. The amount of losartan that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of losartan overdose may include the following:
- dizziness
- fainting
- fast or slow heartbeat
Losartan Safety Information
Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Losartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to losartan. If you have diabetes, do not use losartan together with any medication that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Valturna).
In extremely rare cases, losartan can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, potentially leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.
What side effects can losartan cause?
Losartan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
• leg, knee, or back pain
• muscle cramps or weakness
• diarrhea
• heartburn
• decreased sensitivity to touch
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• chest pain
Losartan may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
