Losartan is the generic version for Cozaar and is usually used by medical workers to treat Hypertension. For patients stricken with Type 2 Diabetes, Cozzar has also been found to be helpful in treating kidney problems.
Cozaar medication is able to maintain relaxed blood vessels and thus lowering the stress exerted on the heart. It belongs to a family of medicine that is known as angiotensin II receptor antagonists.
Although Cozaar has been found useful under certain scenarios, this drug is not suitable for everyone.
Cozaar should never be prescribed to a patient by a doctor unless a detailed medical evaluation has been conducted.
Patients with a medical history which includes:
low blood potassium levels
high blood potassium levels
congestive heart failure
kidney disease
liver disease
restricted to a low salt diet should take care when taking Cozaar as their bodies might not be able to withstand this medication.
Depending on the condition that the patient is suffering from, the seriousness of the condition and the general health condition of the patient; sometimes the patient might still be able to use Cozaar as his medication provided that careful monitoring is carried out during the process.
Both pregnant and nursing women should not consume Cozaar.
American Food and Drug Administration has placed this drug under pregnancy risk category D. This medication has been found to be able to cause birth defects in unborn babies. It is not known whether this drug is able to pass through breast milk and thus might be able to harm the nursing baby.
Side effects might be experienced by patients when they are on Cozaar medication.
For a small portion of patients, they might have serious side effects.
Symptoms of serious side effects include:
dry mouth
excessive thirst
confusion
restlessness
drowsiness
muscle pain
weakness
elevated heart rate
increase in urine output
nausea
vomiting
dehydration
lightheadedness
fainting
seizure
slow heart rate
jaundice
swelling
edema
rapid weight gain
allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions can also be experienced when taking this drug. Facial swelling, hives, and difficulty breathing are the typical symptoms of an allergic reaction. Seek immediate medical attention when any of the symptoms listed above are experienced.
Less serious side effects include:
dry cough
stuffy nose
mild congestion
headache
dizziness
muscle pain or weakness
insomnia
back pain
leg pain
stomach discomfort
mild nausea
mild diarrhea or vomiting are experienced by most of the patients. Such side effects should still be reported to doctors and they can be reduced by lowering the dosage of the medication.
Cozaar should be taken only if prescribed by the physician and patients should never change their medication before consulting their doctors.
If patients by mistake miss a dose of their medication, they should take it when remembered. If the time that they remembered is close to the time for the next dose, then the forgotten dose should be skipped and continue with the medication at the next scheduled dose.
This drug should never be taken in greater amount than what the doctor has prescribed as this can result in an overdose.
Overdose is a medical emergency. If an overdose is suspected, the patient should be taken to the nearest emergency room. Symptoms of overdosing on Cozaar include lightheadedness, fainting, elevated heart rate, or decreased heart rate.
There might be interactions between Cozaar and other medications. Therefore doctors should never prescribe this drug without conducting both a thorough medical assessment and a current medicine list.
Rifampin, additional blood pressure medications, diuretics, celecoxib, fluconazole, aspirin, or NSAID pain relievers are just some examples of drugs that are capable of interacting with Cozaar.
Patients should always check with the doctor before starting on any new medications regardless of the fact whether the new medication is over the counter, prescription, herbal, or supplemental.
Alvin Hopkinson is a leading researcher of various high blood pressure treatments. He runs an informational website that provides free tips to lower your hypertension and unbiased reviews on medications such as Cardura. Visit his site at minusbloodpressure.com
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