Losartan Tablets

What are Losartan tablets?

Losartan tablets belong to a group of medicines known as angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. Angiotensin-II is a substance produced in the body which binds to receptors in blood vessels, causing them to tighten. This results in an increase in blood pressure. Losartan prevents the binding of angiotensin-II to these receptors, causing the blood vessels to relax which in turn lowers the blood pressure.

Losartan tablets can help prevent future heart attacks, strokes and kidney problems that can be caused by high blood pressure. High blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms, and if left untreated greatly increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. High blood pressure occurs for a variety of reasons including genetic predispositions, weight and old age. Medication such as Losartan tablets may be prescribed to help reduce high blood pressure and therefore reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Losartan tablets will be most effective in combination with a healthy diet and exercise as this will help reduce your blood pressure. If Losartan is not effective there are other medications for high blood pressure. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist to find the best solution for you. You can order Losartan tablets online from e-Surgery with a quick health questionnaire. Use our free Ask a Pharmacist service to find the right medication for you.

Find out how you can help reduce your high blood pressure at home.

Are Losartan tablets a beta-blocker?

Losartan tablets are a different medication known as Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists which is different to beta blockers, although both are used to treat high blood pressure. Beta blocker medication can be used to reduce high blood pressure such as Propranolol. Ensure you talk to your doctor if you’re unsure which one is right for you.

How to take Losartan tablets?

Treatment usually starts with 50mg once a day. The maximal blood pressure lowering effect should be reached 3-6 weeks after beginning treatment. In some patients the dose may later be increased to 100mg once daily.

The Losartan tablets should be swallowed with a glass of water. You should try to take your daily dose at about the same time each day. It is important that you continue to take Losartan tablets until your doctor tells you otherwise.

Continue to take Losartan tablets even if you start to feel better. If your feel like the Lisinopril tablets are not working or you are experiencing unmanageable side effects speak to your Doctor or pharmacist about changing medication or dosage.

What is high blood pressure?

Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. Adults over 40 are advised to get their blood pressure checked every 5 years. 

If your blood pressure is high you are at risk of developing certain diseases and can be a sign of more serious issues like obesity. Medication such as Losartan tablets can help reduce your blood pressure

What causes high blood pressure?

Common causes of high blood pressure include:

• age – the risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older
• a family history of high blood pressure
• being of African or Caribbean origin
• a high amount of salt in your food 
• lack of exercise
• being overweight
• regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol
• smoking
• long-term sleep deprivation
• Long term health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and lupus

 

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help keep your blood pressure at a normal level. High blood pressure can also be triggered by certain medication. These include:

• the contraceptive pill
• steroids
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as ibuprofen and naproxen
• some pharmacy cough and cold remedies
• some herbal remedies – particularly those containing liquorice
• some recreational drugs – such as cocaine and amphetamines
• some selective serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) antidepressants – such as venlafaxine

Symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is often symptom-less, and you will not necessarily know you have it until you get tested. Although some symptoms can include:

• Headache
• Fatigue or confusion
• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Blood in the urine
• Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears

 

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor straight away.

Side effects of Losartan tablets?

Like all medication, Losartan tablets can cause side effects. Consult the Losartan tablets patient information leaflet for more information about possible side effects. Some common side effects include:

• Dizziness
• feeling of swaying or spinning (vertigo)
• low blood pressure
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• high levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalaemia)
• Debility
• Fatigue
• dose-related orthostatic effects such as lowering of blood pressure appearing when rising from a lying or sitting position
• changes in kidney function, including kidney failure
• reduced number of red blood cells (anaemia)
• increase in blood urea, serum creatinine and serum potassium in patients with heart failure.

 

If you begin to experience the signs of an allergic reaction (very rare) stop taking Losartan immediately and speak to a doctor/go to the hospital. Signs for this include:

• Rash
• Itching
• swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat that may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing

 

Remember a full list of possible side effects and further information can be found in the Losartan tablets patient information leaflet.

Interactions between Losartan tablets and food/alcohol?

There are no known dangers between Losartan tablets and food, although Losartan tablets are most effective in combination with a healthy, balanced diet. 

Losartan tablets are not considered to be harmful when combined with the consumption of alcohol, however, it is advised that you avoid significant alcohol consumption, as it can increase the risk of low blood pressure, which can lead to lightheadedness.

Interaction between Losartan tablets and other drugs?

Check with your doctor or prescriber before taking any combination of medication. The following medication can cause some issues:

• other blood pressure lowering medicines as they may additionally reduce your blood pressure.
• tricyclic antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Baclofen
• Amifostine
• medicines which retain potassium or may increase potassium levels
• certain diuretics such as amiloride, triamterene, spironolactone or heparin
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indometacin

 

If your kidney function is impaired, the concomitant use of these medicines may lead to a worsening of the kidney function. Lithium containing medicines should not be taken in combination with losartan tablets without close supervision by your doctor. Special precautionary measures (e.g. blood tests) may be appropriate.

Is there any reason I would not be able to take Losartan tablets?

You should not take Losartan tablets if any of the following apply:

• are allergic to losartan or to any of its other ingredients of this medicine
• have severe liver problems
• are more than 3 months pregnant
• have diabetes or impaired kidney function and you are treated with a blood pressure lowering medicine containing aliskiren

 

It is important to tell your doctor before taking Losartan tablets if you:

• have had a history of angio-oedema
• suffer from excessive vomiting or diarrhoea
• take diuretics
• are known to have narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels leading to your kidneys or if you have received a kidney transplant recently
• have liver problems
• suffer from heart failure
• suffer from coronary heart disease
• suffer from primary hyperaldosteronism
• think you are (or might become) pregnant. 
• are taking other medicines used to treat high blood pressure

 

Losartan tablets are not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage.

If you are not sure if any of these apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Losartan tablets. If you develop a dry cough which is persistent for a long time after starting treatment with Lisinopril tablets, talk to your doctor. 

Why should I take Losartan tablets?

High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, stroke and even death. Taking medication such as Losartan tablets is a great way to reduce high blood pressure. In combination with a healthy diet and exercise (where possible) you can reduce the effects of high blood pressure. It is also really easy to order Losartan tablets online and avoid the GP wait times and trips to the pharmacy. You can buy your Losartan tablets online from a trusted online pharmacy such as e-Surgery, simply answer a quick 2 minute questionnaire and have your medications delivered to you with free shipping.

Are there other medications that can reduce my high blood pressure?

Yes there are plenty of other options and if one is ineffective your doctor may prescribe a different medication. Some examples include Ramipril, Perindopril and Amlodipine as well as beta-blockers such as Atenolol and Bisoprolol.

How do I store Losartan tablets?

Store Losartan tablets in a cool, dry place away from children. Do not use Losartan tablets after the expiry date on the box. You can find all this information and more in the Losartan tablets information leaflet

Can I buy Losartan tablets online?

You can buy Losartan tablets online from registered online prescribers such as e-Surgery.

Whenever you are buying Losartan tablets or any other medication, make sure you check for the green GPhC and MHRA logo on the bottom of each page of the website you are using.

Where can I get more information about Losartan tablets online?

You can find more information about Losartan tablets in the Losartan tablets information leaflet.

You can also use our completely free Ask-a-Pharmacist service to get health advice from a trained professional. We’re here to help!

How will my Losartan tablets be delivered?

e-Surgery uses Royal Mail delivery with choices starting from FREE tracked delivery, Royal Mail tracked 24 from £2.50 and Royal Mail 1pm special delivery from £4.90 (discover more about e-Surgery delivery). Your Losartan tablets will arrive in discreet, recyclable packaging at a delivery address of your choice. Find out to recycle packaging from e-Surgery.

How to dispose of Losartan tablets bought online?

Losartan tablets come in blister packs that are not currently recyclable, so once they have been used can be disposed of in a general waste bin. If the Losartan tablets are unfinished dispose of medication safely and drop them off at a local pharmacy. Cardboard packaging and paper patient information leaflets are recyclable. For any more information on disposal of Losartan tablets you can use our free Ask-a-Pharmacist service.