Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Losartan

Losartan is a drug used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and has been examined for congestive heart failure and diabetic nephropathy. It is marketed as Cozaar® by Merck Sharp and Dohme and as Hyzaar® in combination with the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCT). more...

Home
Diseases
Medicines
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Labetalol
Lacrisert
Lactitol
Lactuca virosa
Lactulose
Lamictal
Lamisil
Lamivudine
Lamotrigine
Lanophyllin
Lansoprazole
Lantus
Lariam
Larotid
Lasix
Latanoprost
Lescol
Letrozole
Leucine
Leucovorin
Leukeran
Levaquin
Levetiracetam
Levitra
Levocabastine
Levocetirizine
Levodopa
Levofloxacin
Levomenol
Levomepromazine
Levonorgestrel
Levonorgestrel
Levophed
Levora
Levothyroxine sodium
Levoxyl
Levulan
Lexapro
Lexiva
Librium
Lidocaine
Lidopen
Linezolid
Liothyronine
Liothyronine Sodium
Lipidil
Lipitor
Lisinopril
Lithane
Lithobid
Lithonate
Lithostat
Lithotabs
Livostin
Lodine
Loestrin
Lomotil
Loperamide
Lopressor
Loracarbef
Loratadine
Loratadine
Lorazepam
Lortab
Losartan
Lotensin
Lotrel
Lotronex
Lotusate
Lovastatin
Lovenox
Loxapine
LSD
Ludiomil
Lufenuron
Lupron
Lutropin alfa
Luvox
Luxiq
Theophylline
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Losartan was the first member of the recently introduced class of angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It blocks the action of the peptide hormone angiotensin on its receptors, decreasing arterial vascular tone and production of aldosterone.

Indications:

  • Essential hypertension
  • Hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy for lowering the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality
  • Diabetes mellitus type 2 with proteinuria for slowing down the progression of kidney disease

Because of proven effectivity and lower costs, the first choice of drug for essential hypertension is a thiazide or beta blocker. The primary use of losartan is for proven stroke prevention. A clinical trial called LIFE demonstrated that losartan works significantly better than atenolol in preventing stroke (PMID 11937178).

Adverse effects

Adverse effects of Losartan include:

  • Dizziness
  • Hyperkalemia

Overdose

An overdose of losartan will result in hypotension and tachycardia.

Availability

In most countries, this medication is available only by prescription.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Losartan trumps atenolol - Primary Care: Cardiology
From OB/GYN News, 5/1/02 by Sally Koch Kubetin

Losartan was associated with marked reductions in stroke and new-onset diabetes, compared with atenolol, in a landmark clinical trial of patients with hypertension.

"I think these results have immediate applicability to clinical practice. The message is that it matters how you lower blood pressure. We now have a treatment with benefit beyond blood pressure lowering," Dr. Bjorn Dahlof said at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

A total of 9,197 American, Scandinavian, and British patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, all older than age 55, were randomized to either 50-100 mg/day of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) losartan or the [beta]-blocker atenolol, with hydrochlorothiazide added as needed to reach blood pressure goals.

Achieved blood pressures were virtually identical in the two groups.

After a mean 4.8 years of therapy in the double-blind trial, which was sponsored by Merck & Co., patients in the losartan group had a highly significant 13% reduction in the composite primary study end point--cardiovascular death, stroke, or acute MI--compared with those on atenolol.

There was a 25% reduction in strokes with the ARB beyond the reduction achieved with [beta]-blocker therapy The losartan group also had an 11.4% greater reduction in cardiovascular mortality and a 7.3% reduction in acute MIs, compared with the atenolol group, neither of which reached statistical significance.

Losartan-treated patients had a striking 25% reduction in new-onset diabetes. Losartan also significantly reduced left ventricular hypertrophy, based on annual ECG results, said Dr. Dahlof, who is chair of the trial and a cardiologist at the University of Goteborg (Sweden).

COPYRIGHT 2002 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group

Return to Losartan
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay