You’ve been prescribed Losartan, also known by its brand name Cozaar, to manage your high blood pressure or protect your kidneys from diabetes. You know it’s an important medication for your long-term health, but are you aware of all its potential effects? While your doctor or pharmacist likely warned you about common side effects like dizziness or headaches, there’s a whole other list of strange, atypical reactions that can occur. These are the side effects that often leave people wondering, “Could this really be from my blood pressure pill?”
Losartan is a very effective medication belonging to a class of drugs called Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, or ARBs. It works by blocking a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes your blood vessels to tighten. By blocking this action, Losartan helps your blood vessels relax and widen, which lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood. It’s incredibly beneficial, especially for people with hypertension who also have an enlarged heart, as it can prevent harmful changes to the heart muscle. But like any medication, its effects aren’t always confined to the intended target. Today, we’re going to pull back the curtain on some of the weirder, less-common side effects of Losartan so you can be a more informed and empowered patient.
Key Takeaways
- Losartan is an Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) used to treat high blood pressure and diabetic kidney disease.