Brand Names: Cozaar, losartan-hydrocholorthiazide(combination)
What is it?
Losartan is an Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB). Its primary use is to lower blood pressure.
What’s In It For Me?
Decreasing high blood pressure is helps reduce your risk for stroke and heart attack. Also, Losartan has a protective effect on the kidneys, which is important for patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
The Good
Losartan is an alternative treatment option for patients who cannot tolerate ACE Inhibitors (such as Lisinopril).
The Bad
Losartan can cause in increase in the postassium in your blood. It can also worsen kidney function, but kidney problems only happens in people at risk, like those who are dehydrated or have very weak hearts. For patients at risk, lower doses should can sometimes be used safely. An allergic type of reaction causing swelling of the tongue, neck, and jaw is less frequent with losasrtan than with ACE inhibitors like lisinopril, but it can still happen (occurs in less than 1% of people)
The Controversial
Using ARBs like Losartan as an addition to ACE Inhibitors (like lisinopril) may be only slightly beneficial, if at all.
For The Cynic
One study with Losartan 50mg daily showed no difference in mortality compared to placebo. This finding makes use of the drug at the lower 50 mg dose questionable.
For The Cost
At around $90 per month, Cozaar is the least expensive medication in its class. The good news is that it is scheduled to go
Losartan is a great drug that will go generic in the next year. Lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) is still our first choice because there is more evidence for preventing heart attacks and strokes and it costs less.
