Losartan

The usual recommended dose of losartan for adults is 50 mg or 100 mg once daily. The usual starting dose is 50 mg once daily. In some cases, a lower starting dose of 25 mg once daily may be advisable. Do not take more than 100 mg once daily. Your doctor will adjust the dosage according to individual needs.

The usual recommended dose of losartan for children, aged 6 – 16 years, is based on body weight. The dose is 25 mg once daily for children weighing between 20 kg and 49 kg. This dose may be increased to 50 mg once daily. In children weighing more than 50 kg, the starting dose is 50 mg taken once daily. This dose may be increased to 100 mg once daily.

Losartan may be taken with or without food, but should be taken the same way each day.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important that Losartan be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and use caution if driving; it may cause unusual tiredness; on occasion, it may cause a dry cough - contact your pharmacist or doctor if it becomes bothersome. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

25 mg
Each white, teardrop-shaped, slightly arched tablet, engraved "25" on one side, plain on the other, contains 25 mg losartan as losartan potassium. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and pregelatinized starch; coating: polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol (partially hydrolyzed), talc, and titanium dioxide.

50 mg
Each green, teardrop-shaped, slightly arched tablet, engraved "50" on one side, plain on the other, contains 50 mg losartan as losartan potassium. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and pregelatinized starch; coating: D&C Yellow No. 10 Aluminium Lake, FD&C Blue No. 1/Brillant blue FCF Aluminium Lake, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol (partially hydrolyzed), talc, and titanium dioxide.

100 mg
Each dark green, teardrop-shaped, slightly arched tablet, engraved "100" on one side, plain on the other, contains 100 mg losartan as losartan potassium. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and pregelatinized starch; coating: FD&C Blue No. 1/Brillant blue FCF Aluminium Lake, iron oxide yellow, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol (partially hydrolyzed), talc, and titanium dioxide.

Do not use Losartan if you:

• are allergic to losartan or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• are pregnant
• have diabetes or moderate-to-severe Kidney Disease and are taking the medication Aliskiren
• have difficulty urinating or produce no urine

There may be an interaction between losartan and any of the following:

• Aldesleukin
• aliskiren
• alpha-agonists (e.g., Clonidine, methyldopa)
• alpha-blockers (e.g., Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Tamsulosin)
• amifostine
• Amiodarone
• amphetamines (e.g., Dextroamphetamine)
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs; e.g., Captopril, Lisinopril, Ramipril)
• other angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., Candesartan, Irbesartan)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Apalutamide
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• barbiturates (e.g., pentobarbital, Phenobarbital)
• beta-adrenergic blockers (e.g., Atenolol, Propranolol, Sotalol)
• Bosentan
• brimonidine
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• Ceritinib
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• Dabrafenib
• Deferasirox
• Digoxin
• diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, Glyburide, Pioglitazone, Repaglinide)
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Indapamide)
• drospirenone
• Duloxetine
• Enzalutamide
• Eplerenone
• ginger
• ginseng (American)
• Guanfacine
• Heparin and low-molecular weight heparins (e.g., Dalteparin, Tinzaparin)
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• levodopa
• lithium
• lumacaftor
• Methylphenidate
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M.O.S. e.g., Moclobemide, Phenelzine, Rasagiline, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine)
• medications that increase the level of potassium in the blood (e.g., Spironolactone, Amiloride, triamterene, or salt substitutes that contain potassium)
• mifepristone
• Minoxidil
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• nitrates (e.g., Nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs; e.g., Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Naproxen)
• Obinutuzumab
• Pentoxifylline
• Phenytoin
• phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (e.g., Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)
• quinine
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Riociguat
• Ropinirole
• sacubitril
• St. John's wort
• Sarilumab
• sodium phosphates
• Tizanidine
• Tocilizumab
• Tolvaptan
• Trimethoprim
• Warfarin
• Yohimbine

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Losartan. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Losartan.

Blood pressure: Occasionally, a larger-than-expected drop in blood pressure occurs after taking losartan, in some cases after the first dose. It is more likely to occur if you take diuretics (water pills), have reduced salt intake, are on dialysis, or are experiencing diarrhea or vomiting. Blood pressure should be checked more often in these situations. If you have Low Blood Pressure or are just starting to take Losartan, you should move slowly when you are rising from a reclining to an upright position to reduce the risk of dizziness.

Dizziness: Losartan may cause dizziness, affecting your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid these and other hazardous tasks until you have determined how Losartan affects you.

Kidney problems: The use of losartan may affect the function of the kidneys, especially for those who already have kidney problems. Certain people have experienced changes in kidney function (e.g., people with narrowed blood vessels in their kidneys, or those with severe Congestive Heart Failure). The use of diuretics (water pills), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aliskiren may further increase risk of kidney problems for people already at risk for this problem. If you have kidney function problems, your doctor will likely closely monitor your condition while you are taking Losartan.

Liver function: Losartan is removed from the body by the liver. Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Losartan to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Losartan may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Losartan, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Losartan.

Potassium: Increases in blood levels of potassium can occur with use of Losartan. This rarely causes problems, but your doctor may want to monitor your potassium levels through blood tests.

Pregnancy: Losartan should not be taken by pregnant women as it can cause severe harm or death to an unborn child. If you are planning to become pregnant, discuss alternative medications for blood pressure control with your doctor.

If you become pregnant while taking Losartan, stop taking it and tell your doctor at once.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if losartan passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Losartan, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Losartan have not been established for children less than 6 years of age.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. You should take this medication at approximately the same time each day. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. If you forget a dose, simply skip it and then take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. This medication may be taken with or without food.