Cozaar

Generic Name: Losartan

US Brand Name: Cozaar

Other Brand/Trade Names: Losartan is marketed under many trade names around the world, including: Acetensa, Cardopal, Cosaar, Covance, Lortaan, Xartan

Uses

Losartan is used for treating high blood pressure. It is also used to reduce the risk of stroke in certain patients with high blood pressure and for treating kidney disease in certain patients with diabetes.

Active Ingredients: Losartan

Inactive Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, lactose hydrous, pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, D&C yellow No. 10 Aluminum Lake and FD&C blue No. 2 aluminum lake.

Dosage and Forms

Losartan comes as tablets.

Losartan may be administered with other antihypertensive agents and with or without food. Dosing must be individualized. The usual starting dose of Losartan is 25 mg daily; the dose can be increased by 100 mg once daily. For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take 3 to 6 weeks before the full benefit of this drug occurs. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well.

Symptoms of overdose include dizziness, weakness, fainting and fatigue. If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Contraindications and Precautions

Losartan is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any component of this product.

Use with caution in:

• Decreased fluid volume in the body, e.g. due to diuretic therapy, low salt diet, kidney dialysis, diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration
• History of decreased liver function
• Moderate to severely decreased kidney function
• Narrowing of the artery which supplies blood to the kidneys
• People who have had a kidney transplant
• Severe heart failure
• Heart disease characterized by thickening of the internal heart muscle and a blockage inside the heart

Side Effects

Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: dizziness; runny nose; sore throat.

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately: swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs, hoarseness, difficulty breathing or swallowing, fainting.

Interactions

Before taking Losartan, tell your doctor if you take a potassium supplement such as K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others; take a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor), spironolactone (Aldactone) or triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide); or use a salt substitute. Tell your doctor about any other medicines you take to treat high blood pressure or other heart conditions. Losartan may cause very low blood pressure if it is taken with other heart medications.