General Info: Uses and Effects

Losartan Potassium is a drug that can be gotten under the brand name Cozaar Generic. In as much as this medicine can be obtained under the brand name, it also comes in generic forms which are more affordable than Cozaar. Losartan Potassium comes in only tablet form, which implies that it can only be taken orally. It is made use of in the treatment of diseases, such as diabetic kidney disease, high blood pressure, left ventricular enlargement, heart failure, etc.

Losartan Potassium is a prescription drug; as a result of this, it cannot be gotten over the counter. It can be taken alone or alongside other medicines that are used in the treatment of high blood pressure. This drug functions by creating a blockage to the activity of angiotensin II. Angiotensin is a chemical in the body that leads to the narrowing of the blood vessels. When taken, Losartan causes relaxation of the blood vessels, thereby, reducing your blood pressure. There is a tendency that once you start making use of this drug, you might need to use it for life. A reason for this being, high blood pressure usually does not present any symptoms.

Contraindication: Important to Know

Before proceeding to take this drug, it is essential for your doctor to know your medical history, your current state of health, as well as any allergies that you have. Armed with this information, your physician can decide if Cozaar Generic is an ideal drug for you.

Cozaar Losartan and Pregnancy

All things being equal, Losartan Potassium should not be made use of by pregnant women that are in their first trimester. However, if it is essential, it can be made use of under the close supervision of your doctor. For women that are already in their second or third pregnancy trimesters, the medicine should not be made use of for whatever reason. This is because Losartan can cause harm to your fetus.

Also, if you suspect that you are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant, then your doctor or pharmacist should be aware. With this, a different medication can be made use of.

Cozaar Losartan and Breast Milk

At the moment, there is no proof that Losartan can slip into breast milk. That notwithstanding, this drug should not be used by breastfeeding mothers as other drugs are considered completely safe and will not affect your baby in any way even if they slip into breast milk.

Instructions on Taking

The first thing that should be done before this drug is taken is to go through the drug label carefully. This is because this contains information that will be needed to take this medicamnet. Every information that is provided in the drug leaflet should be followed carefully except in special cases when your doctor gives you a special instruction on how to make use of this drug. If after going through the leaflet you still find some information to be ambiguous, talk to your doctor about it and ensure you perfectly understand the information contained in the drug leaflet before taking it.

Losartan Potassium can be taken either after a meal with or without food. This drug can be taken once or twice daily. The number of times that it should be taken is dependent on your doctor's prescription. It is important for this medicine to be taken by about the same time daily if you must obtain maximum benefits from the use of this drug. While making use of Cozaar Generic, it is crucial that you do not take more amounts of this medicine than is recommended by your professional healthcare provider as this will not lead to an increased efficiency f this drug.

While taking Cozaar Losartan, you should make it a point of duty to check your blood pressure regularly as there is a likelihood of your blood pressure to become low. The lowering of blood pressure while taking this drug could arise if you sweat more frequently than you should. Sweating excessively will lead to dehydration which in turn will lead to a lowering of blood pressure.

All things being equal, you should start noticing changes in your blood pressure after taking this drug for about four weeks. If after four weeks, you do not notice any change in your blood pressure, then you should talk to your professional healthcare provider

Dosage

The dose of this drug that should be taken is usually dependent on many factors. Most important of these factors is the ailment that is being treated with this medicine. For a start, the dose of this drug that should be taken is 50mg, once daily, this can be gradually increased until it becomes 100mg once every day.

If you miss a dose of Cozaar Losartan, then take the missed dose immediately you get aware. However, if you remember the missed dose close to the period when you should take your next one, then you should skip the missed dosage. Also, in case of overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

• Pediatric Hypertension: when Cozaar Losartan is made use of in the treatment of pediatric hypertension, 0.7mg/kg of this drug should be taken once daily.
• Diabetic Nephropathy: when Cozaar Losartan is made use of in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, 50mg-100mg of this drug should be taken orally.
• Hypertension: for the treatment of hypertension, the dose of this drug that should be taken for a start is 50mg. This dosage is gradually increased to 100mg every day.

Side Effects

Losartan Potassium has both severe and common side effects. Common among this adverse effects are:

• Dry cough;
• Cold;
• Fever;
• Sore throat;
• Sneezing;
• Bach aches;
• Headaches;
• Dizziness;
• Insomnia;
• Wheezing;
• Chest Pain;
• Drowsiness;
• Nausea;
• Loss of appetite;
• Unusual weight gain.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Cozaar Losartan is known to interact with quite a number of drugs, this makes it vital for you to tell your doctor about the medications that you are using. Some of the drugs that interact with Cozaar Generic are:

• Aspirin;
• Ibuprofen;
• Lithium;
• Potassium supplements.