The drug "Losartan potassium" belongs to the category of antihypertensive drugs. Synonyms of the drug are the medicines "Lorista", "Cozaar".
Describing the drug "Lozartan", the instruction indicates its ability to reduce peripheral vascular resistance, the content of aldosterone and norepinephrine in the blood, pressure in the small circle. The medicine also has a diuretic effect. The drug "Losartan" prevents the development of hypertrophy in the myocardium, increases the tolerance of physical exercise by patients against a background of heart failure in a chronic form.
A single dose of the drug causes a maximum hypotensive effect after six hours. Over the course of a day, the effect gradually decreases. The most stable hypotensive effect is observed after three to six weeks from the start of treatment.
The drug "Lozartan" (reviews of experts indicate this) reduces by one third the risk of hospitalization due to exacerbations of chronic heart failure.
The drug is prescribed for arterial hypertension (increased pressure of a persistent nature). The tool "Losartan" instruction recommends taking in order to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and death in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension. Also, the drug is indicated for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with proteinuria and chronic heart failure in the absence of a therapeutic effect from the use of ACE inhibitors.
The medicine "Losartan" instruction recommends to be taken orally per day once, regardless of food intake.
The daily dosage for arterial hypertension, for diabetes mellitus of the second degree - 50 mg. This amount (if necessary and on the recommendation of a doctor) can be doubled. In this case, it is recommended to divide the dosage into two doses.
If the patient takes diuretics in high doses, the amount of the drug "Losartan" should be reduced to 25 mg per day.
For patients suffering from pathologies of the liver and kidneys, lower doses of the drug are indicated.
In the presence of chronic heart failure, the initial dosage of Losartan is 12.5 mg per day. Typically, a doubling of the dosage is carried out at weekly intervals (12.5 mg, then 25 mg, then 50 mg).
To reduce the risk of cardiovascular pathologies and death with hypertrophy in the left ventricle and chronic heart failure, the initial amount of the drug "Losartan" - 50 mg once a day. It is further recommended that the dosage be doubled (without changing the number of doses) or the additional appointment of hydrochlorothiazide.
For contraindications to the drug "Losartan", the instruction includes hypersensitivity, children's age (up to eighteen years). No medication is prescribed for pregnant or lactating women. If a patient is found during pregnancy, the drug must be immediately discontinued.
Caution must be exercised in patients with arterial hypotension, dehydration, hyperkalemia, hepatic or renal failure.
When taking "Losartan", dizziness, insomnia, increased fatigue, rhinitis, bronchitis, dyspnea, and infections in the upper respiratory tract are possible. The use of the drug can provoke abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, flatulence, vomiting, and appetite disorder. Pain in the back, legs, chest, cramps, fibromyalgia, and other conditions can also occur.
Before using the drug, you must consult a doctor, carefully read the annotation.