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Losartan potassium 12.5mg, 25mg, 50mg, 100mg film-coated tablets
LOSARTAN POTASSIUM 12.5 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS
LOSARTAN POTASSIUM 25 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS
LOSARTAN POTASSIUM 50 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS
LOSARTAN POTASSIUM 100 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS
(losartan potassium)
1. What Losartan Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Losartan Tablets
3. How to take Losartan Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Losartan Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Losartan belongs to a group of medicines known as angiotensin-II receptor antagonists.
Angiotensin-II is a substance produced in the body which binds to receptors in blood vessels, causing them to tighten. This results in an increase in blood pressure. Losartan prevents the binding of angiotensin-II to these receptors, causing the blood vessels to relax which in turn lowers the blood pressure. Losartan slows the decrease of kidney function in patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Losartan Tablets are used
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before taking Losartan Tablets.
You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Losartan Tablets are not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage (see pregnancy section).
It is important to tell your doctor before taking Losartan Tablets:
Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and the amount of electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals.
See also information under the heading "Do not take Losartan Tablets".
Losartan has been studied in children. For more information, talk to your doctor. Losartan Tablets are not recommended for use in children suffering from kidney or liver problems, as limited data are available in these patient groups. Losartan Tablets are not recommended for use in children under 6 years old, as it has not been shown to work in this age group.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Tell your doctor if you are taking potassium supplements, potassium-containing salt substitutes, potassium-sparing medicines such as certain diuretics (amiloride, triamteren, spironolactone), or other medicines that may increase serum potassium (e.g., heparin, trimethoprim-containing medicines), as the combination with Losartan is not advisable.
Take particular care if you are taking the following medicines while under treatment with Losartan Tablets:
Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions:
If you are taking an ACE-inhibitor or aliskiren (see also information under the headings "Do not take Losartan Tablets" and "Warnings and precautions").
If your kidney function is impaired, the concomitant use of these medicines may lead to a worsening of the kidney function.
Lithium containing medicines should not be taken in combination with losartan without close supervision by your doctor. Special precautionary measures (e.g. blood tests) may be appropriate.
Losartan Tablets may be taken with or without food.
Grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking Losartan Tablets.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Losartan Tablets before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of Losartan Tablets.
Losartan Tablets are not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used after the third month of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Losartan Tablets are not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breast-feed, especially if your baby is a new-born, or born prematurely.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.
Losartan Tablets are unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, as with many other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, losartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, you should consult your doctor before attempting such activities.
Losartan Tablets contain lactose monohydrate. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Your doctor will decide on the appropriate dose of Losartan Tablets, depending on your condition and whether you are taking other medicines. It is important to continue taking Losartan Tablets for as long as your doctor prescribes it in order to maintain smooth control of your blood pressure.
Adult patients with High Blood Pressure
Treatment usually starts with 50 mg losartan (one tablet Losartan 50 mg) once a day. The maximal blood pressure lowering effect should be reached 3-6 weeks after beginning treatment. In some patients the dose may later be increased to 100 mg losartan (two tablets Losartan 50 mg or one tablet of Losartan 100 mg) once daily.
If you have the impression that the effect of losartan is too strong or too weak, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Children below 6 years of age
Losartan Tablets are not recommended for use in children under 6 years old, as it has not been shown to work in this age group.
Children aged 6 - 18 years old
The recommended starting dose in patients who weigh between 20 and 50 kg is 0.7 mg of losartan per kg of body weight administered once a day (up to 25 mg of Losartan Tablets). The doctor may increase the dose if blood pressure is not controlled.
Other form(s) of this medicine may be more suitable for children; ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Adult patients with high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes
Treatment usually starts with 50 mg losartan (one tablet Losartan 50 mg) once a day. The dose may later be increased to 100 mg losartan (two tablets Losartan 50 mg or one tablet of Losartan 100 mg) once daily depending on your blood pressure response.
Losartan may be administered with other blood pressure lowering medicines (e.g. diuretics, calcium channel blockers, alpha- or beta-blockers, and centrally acting agents) as well as with insulin and other commonly used medicines that decrease the level of glucose in the blood (e.g. sulfonylureas, glitazones and glucosidase inhibitors).
Adult patients with Heart Failure
Treatment usually starts with 12.5 mg losartan (one tablet Losartan 12.5 mg) once a day. Generally, the dose should be increased weekly step-by-step (i.e., 12.5 mg daily during the first week, 25 mg daily during the second week, 50 mg daily during the third week, 100 mg daily during the fourth week, 150 mg daily during the fifth week) up to the maintenance dose as determined by your physician.
A maximum dose of 150 mg losartan (for example, three tablets of Losartan 50 mg or one tablet each of Losartan 100 mg and Losartan 50 mg) once daily may be used.
In the treatment of heart failure, losartan is usually combined with a diuretic (medicine that increases the amount of water that you pass out through your kidneys) and/or digitalis (medicine that helps to make the heart stronger and more efficient) and/or a beta-blocker.
The doctor may advise a lower dose, especially when starting treatment in certain patients such as those treated with diuretics in high doses, in patients with liver impairment, or in patients over the age of 75 years. The use of losartan is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see section "Do not take Losartan Tablets").
The tablets should be swallowed with a glass of water. You should try to take your daily dose at about the same time each day. It is important that you continue to take Losartan Tablets until your doctor tells you otherwise.
If you accidentally take too many tablets, contact your doctor immediately.
Symptoms of overdose are low blood pressure, increased heartbeat, possibly decreased heartbeat.
If you accidentally miss a daily dose, just take the next dose as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience the following, stop taking losartan tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department of your nearest hospital:
A severe allergic reaction (rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat that may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing).
This is a serious but rare side effect, which affects more than 1 out of 10,000 patients but fewer than 1 out of 1,000 patients. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
The following side effects have been reported with losartan:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
Side effects in children are similar to those seen in adults.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after Exp. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store Losartan Tablets above 25°C. Store Losartan Tablets in the original package. Do not open the blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
The active substance is losartan potassium.
Each Losartan potassium 12.5 mg Tablet contains 12.5 mg of losartan potassium.
Each Losartan potassium 25 mg Tablet contains 25 mg of losartan potassium.
Each Losartan potassium 50 mg Tablet contains 50 mg of losartan potassium.
Each Losartan potassium 100 mg Tablet contains 100 mg of losartan potassium.
The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, starch pregelatinised, colloidal anhydrous silica, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, carnauba wax, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171) and macrogol 400.
Losartan potassium 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg Tablets contain potassium in the following amounts: 1.06 mg (0.027 mEq), 2.12 mg (0.054 mEq), 4.24 mg (0.108 mEq) and 8.48 mg (0.217 mEq) respectively.
Losartan potassium 12.5 mg Tablets are supplied as a white, film-coated round, biconvex tablet.
Losartan potassium 12.5 mg Tablets come in calendar packs of 28 tablets.
Losartan potassium 25mg Tablets are supplied as white, film-coated, round, biconvex tablets, scored on both sides.
Losartan potassium 25 mg Tablets come in calendar packs of 28 tablets.
Losartan potassium 50mg Tablets are supplied as white, film-coated, round, biconvex tablets, quadrisected on one side. Losartan potassium 50 mg Tablets come in calendar packs of 28 tablets.
Losartan potassium 100mg Tablets are supplied as white, film-coated, oblong, biconvex tablets, scored on both sides. Losartan potassium 100 mg Tablets come in calendar packs of 28 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
. This leaflet was last revised in February 2024