Sign inBefore taking losartan
Before taking losartan make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
- If you suffer from liver or kidney problems.
- If you suffer from renal artery stenosis (a narrowing or blockage of the artery supplying the kidney).
- If you have problems with your heart valves or heart muscle.
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine, especially if your mouth or face became swollen.
- If you are taking any other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
How to take losartan
- Take losartan exactly as directed by your doctor. It is usually taken once daily.
- Read the manufacturer's information leaflet, if possible before beginning treatment.
- Try to take losartan at the same time each day.
- Losartan may be taken with or without food.
Getting the most from your treatment
- Keep your regular appointments with your doctor. You will have regular blood tests to check your kidney function. Your doctor will also measure your blood pressure.
- Do not stop taking this medicine without checking with your doctor first.
Can losartan cause problems
Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome.
| Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine | What can I do if I experience this |
| Diarrhoea | Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids |
| Dizziness, tiredness | Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert |
| Cough | Sucking sugar-free sweets or chewing gum, or taking a cough preparation available from your pharmacist, may help |
| Rash | This may be temporary; speak to your pharmacist for advice |
| Light-headedness, especially when moving from a sitting or lying position to a standing one | Moving more slowly may help. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down for a few moments so that you do not faint, then sit for a while before standing. This usually improves as your body gets used to losartan but if it continues to trouble you let your doctor know |
How to store losartan
- Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store the tablets in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
- Store the oral suspension in a refrigerator and do not use it after the expiry date. The expiry date is 4 weeks after it has been made up.
Important information about all medicines
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References
- Manufacturer's PIL, Cozaar® 12.5mg, 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg Film-Coated Tablets, Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Approved January 2009, accessed April 2009.
- British National Formulary; 57th Edition (March 2009) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (link to current BNF).