Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide

Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide is an FDA-approved medication. This is an anti-hypertensive drug used in people with high blood pressure. This comes as a tablet for oral use.  

 

What condition does Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide treat? 

Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide is a combined medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure. Losartan Potassium is in the class of medications called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill or thiazide diuretic that helps lessen the quantity of water in the body. It does this by increasing the flow of urine that helps lower the blood pressure.  

 

How does Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide work? 

Angiotensin is involved in regulating fluid balance and blood pressure. This has two main actions increases the pressure in the blood vessels: 

• It causes the blood vessels to narrow and constrict 
• It lessens the amount of salt and water that the kidneys remove from the blood.  

By blocking the action of angiotensin II, Losartan Potassium lets the blood vessels widen and more fluid is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. As a result, this lowers blood pressure.  

Thiazide diuretic acts in the kidneys. It is where they increase the production of urine. The drug works by causing the kidneys to increase the number of salts that are filtered out of the blood and into the urine. Once the salts are filtered out, water is drawn along with them. As Hydrochlorothiazide raises the deduction of salts from the blood, it also causes additional water to be drawn out of the blood and into the urine. By removing water from the blood vessels, it lowers blood pressure.  

 

What is the dosage of Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide? 

The dosage for this prescription will depend on several factors including: 

• Your age and weight 
• Your medical condition and how severe it is 
• Other medical conditions you may have  

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage and overtime adjust it to reach the dose that is suitable for you.  

For adults aged 18 to 64 years: 

• The typical starting dose is 50 mg to be taken once a day. The doses range between 25 mg to 100 mg each day. You may take it once or twice a day.  

For children aged 6 to 17 years: 

• The recommended dose is based on the weight of the child. The usual dose is 0.7 mg/kg. Each dose may be taken once a day. The dose will be increased based on the reaction of the child.  

Take this medication exactly as it is given by your doctor. You should not take in the smaller or larger amount than recommended. Do not suddenly stop taking the medicine unless your doctor tells you to do so. Also, do not change the prescribed dosage. To help you remember taking it regularly, take each dose at the same time each day.  

 

What are the precautions in using Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide? 

• Blood pressure–lowering medications can make some people feel tired or dizzy. This may be worse by drinking alcohol. If you are affected, it is important to take extra care when operating machinery or driving. 
• While you are having treatment with this medicine, your kidney function and blood pressure should be regularly monitored.  
• This prescription is not recommended for use during the first trimester of pregnancy as well as during second and third trimesters. If you think you are pregnant while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.  

• Do not breastfeed while having treatment with this medicine.  
• Your doctor must know what medications you are taking including non-prescription, prescriptions, or herbal medicines.  
• Your doctor or pharmacist must know you are allergic to any ingredients of this drug. If you have any signs of an allergic reaction, call for medical assistance right away.   

While you are taking this medicine, extra monitoring is needed if you have: 

• Liver problems 

• Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy 
• Severe heart failure 
• A history of gout  
• Diabetes 
• Kidney problems. 

This is not recommended for use in people with: 

• Severely decreased liver function 
• Kidney stones  
• Biliary cirrhosis 
• Kidney failure 

• Failure of the normal flow of bile from the liver to the intestines  
• Anuria  
• Low blood levels of potassium or sodium  
• High blood levels of calcium that don’t respond to treatment