Losartan - an angiotensin receptor blocker

About losartan

Losartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker. It is also called an angiotensin-II receptor antagonist, or an AIIRA. You will have been prescribed losartan for one of the following reasons:

• To lower blood pressure if your blood pressure is too high (hypertension).

• To help your heart if it is not beating as well as it should (heart failure).

• To help protect your kidneys if you have kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Losartan works by blocking the effect of a substance in your body called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes your blood vessels to narrow and also leads to the production of another substance called aldosterone, which increases the amount of fluid in your blood. By preventing the action of angiotensin II, losartan reduces how much work your heart has to do and lowers your blood pressure. It also has a protective effect on your kidneys.

You may be prescribed losartan to take on its own, or alongside other medicines to help your condition. There is a combination tablet available called Cozaar-Comp® which contains losartan with a diuretic called hydrochlorothiazide. This combination tablet can be prescribed to people with high blood pressure to help reduce the total number of tablets that need to be taken each day.

Before taking losartan

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking losartan it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si está embarazada o en periodo de lactancia.

• If you know you have a blockage of the artery which supplies blood to your kidneys, a condition called renal artery stenosis.

• Si tiene algún problema en las válvulas o el músculo cardíacos.

• Si tiene algún problema con el funcionamiento de su hígado.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento, o si ha tenido cualquier otro tipo de reacción alérgica.

How to take losartan

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about losartan and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take losartan once each day, exactly as your doctor tells you to. There are several different strengths of tablet available. When you first start treatment your doctor may gradually increase the strength of the tablets to suit your condition. Each time you collect a fresh supply, it's a good idea to check the strength on the packet to make sure they are what you are expecting.

• Try to take losartan at the same time of day each day. For most people this will be in the morning. Taking your doses at the same time each day will help you to remember to take losartan regularly.

• Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. You can take losartan either before or after a meal.

• Si olvida tomar una dosis, tómela en cuanto se acuerde. Si no se acuerda hasta el día siguiente, omita la dosis olvidada. No tome dos dosis al mismo tiempo para compensar la dosis olvidada.

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your progress can be monitored. Your doctor may want you to have some blood tests from time to time to check on your kidneys, and also how much potassium is in your blood.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with losartan. This is because some anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as aspirin and ibuprofen) can interfere with the way it works, and also may increase the risk of side-effects.

• It is very important that you follow any dietary and lifestyle advice that you have been given by your doctor, such as eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and taking regular exercise.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice. Your doctor may recommend that you do not drink alcohol while you are on losartan because it will increase the risk of side-effects, such as feeling dizzy or faint.

• Intente evitar los sustitutos de la sal que contengan potasio. Los sustitutos aumentan la cantidad de potasio en la sangre y pueden causar problemas.

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking losartan. This is because your blood pressure may drop too low if you are given some anaesthetics.

• Treatment with losartan is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets regularly, unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

Can losartan cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with losartan. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que considere que puede deberse al medicamento, consulte a su médico o farmacéutico.

How to store losartan

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Store the tablets in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos