Losartan is used mainly for the treatment of hypertension. It can also be used to reduce the risk of stroke in adult hypertensive patients with a documented left ventricular hypertrophy.
What is Losartan?
The Losartan is an antihypertensive blocker with pharmacological effects on the angiotensin II receptors (vasodilation, blocking aldosterone secretion) similar to those of ACE inhibitors, which act on the renin-angiotensin hormonal system and they are able to regulate blood pressure, the total circulating blood volume as well as the tone of the arterial muscles.
How should Losartan be taken?
Losartan is commercially available for oral use in the form of tablets.
Side effects associated with Losartan
There are several adverse effects that may depend on the application of losartan and may include the following:
- Cardiovascular disorders: palpitations, tachycardia, vasculitis (rare);
- Central disorders: headache, dizziness, asthenia, fatigue, insomnia;
- Dermatologic disorders: rash, pruritus, exfoliative dermatitis;
- Blood abnormalities: anemia;
- Hepatic disorders: changes in liver function, hepatitis (rare);
- Gastrointestinal disorders: vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion (dyspepsia), and diarrhea;
- Genitourinary disorders: impotence;
- Musculoskeletal system disorders: muscle pain, muscle cramps, joint pain;
- Respiratory system disorders: infections of the upper respiratory tract, cough;
- Systemic disorders: edema, photosensitivity, angioedema
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Losartan
The use of losartan is not recommended in children under the age of six (at the data now available this patient group is limited), just as it is not recommended in children with impairment of renal function and/or liver function.
In adult patients with impaired renal function the treatment does not require any dose adjustment, and it should be administered with a lower dose for patients with a history of impaired liver function; since there is no therapeutic experience in patients with severe hepatic impairment, the use of Losartan in the latter is contraindicated.
This drug can be administered concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents as well as in conjunction with insulin and other commonly used hypoglycemic agents. In case of pregnancy the treatment with losartan should be stopped immediately, and, if necessary, alternative therapy should be initiated.
