Name Losartan Potassium
Classes Cardiovascular Agent
Antihypertensive
Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB)
Diseases Cardiovascular Disease
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Losartan Potassium

Losartan belongs to a class of drugs called Angiotensin II receptor blockers or ARBs. It prevents Angiotensin II from binding to Angiotensin receptor 1 and hence antagonizing it's effects.

Losartan is indicated for the following physiological conditions-

  • Hypertension
  • Hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy
  • Diabetic nephropathy

Losartan is available as tablets.

Hypertension: For most patients, the initial and maintenance dose is 50mg once daily. After 3-6 weeks of treatment, the maximum antihypertensive effect is achieved. Increasing the dose to 100mg once daily may provide extra benefit to some people (in the morning).

Hypertensive Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: The usual starting dose of Losartan is 50 mg once a day. Based on blood pressure response, hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg once daily should be added and/or the dose of Losartan should be increased to 100 mg once daily followed by an increase in hydrochlorothiazide to 25 mg once daily.

Dosage adjustment: Patients with a history of hepatic impairment should receive a lower dose. In individuals with severe hepatic impairment, there is no therapeutic experience. Losartan is therefore contraindicated in those who have significant hepatic impairment.

The common side effects of losartan are as follows-

  • During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, medications that act on the renin-angiotensin system impair fetal renal function and increase fetal and newborn morbidity and death.
  • Drugs that suppress the renin-angiotensin system, as well as diuretics, can cause changes in renal function, including acute renal failure. Patients with renal artery stenosis, chronic kidney disease, severe congestive heart failure, or volume depletion (e.g., patients with renal artery stenosis, chronic kidney disease, severe congestive heart failure, or volume depletion) may be at a higher risk of developing acute renal failure on Losartan

Contraindication

  • Losartan is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to losartan or other ARBs, such as-
  • Losartan should not be co-administered with the following drug in patients with diabetes and renal impairment-

Losartan is contraindicated in the following health conditions-