LOSARTAN for High Blood Pressure: What are the Side Effects?

Have you recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure? Do you have diabetic nephropathy or other kidney disease? Has your doctor recommended taking Losartan or other ARB's as part of your treatment? Learn about the most common side effects as well as the more rare ones that you should watch out for. Starting a new medication can be scary so be informed.

Medication is not the only way that you should treat your high blood pressure. Many times through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise as well as managing your stress you can make a big impact on controlling it. For some simple steps you can start with in your diet watch my video on how to approach weight loss:

Monitoring your blood pressure at home is a critical element to keeping your blood pressure under control. When it's high you typically don't have symptoms and oftentimes when you come see me you get nervous and your blood pressure goes up. It's very helpful if you are taking it on a regular basis at home so we can tell if we need to make some adjustments. Here are a few options in blood pressure monitors that can help you with this:

OMRON 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

iProvèn Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Watch

Omron Evolv Bluetooth Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

For more ideas on ways to lower blood pressure naturally you may want to check out these books:

Blood Pressure Down: The 10-Step Plan to Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Weeks--Without Prescription Drugs

Thirty Days to Natural Blood Pressure Control: The "No Pressure" Solution

The Mediterranean DASH Diet Cookbook: Lower Your Blood Pressure and Improve Your Health

Just in case you were wondering here is the equipment I use for filming:

Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera Kit w/EF-M15-45mm and 4K Video - Black

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens

Canon EOS M Mount Adapter

TAKSTAR SGC-598 Interview Microphone for Nikon/Canon Camera/DV Camcorder

Glide Gear TMP100 Adjustable iPad/ Tablet/ Smartphone Teleprompter

HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit Professional Studio Photography

DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, FamilyMed may receive a small commission.

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** The information in this video is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/mental health professional **

[gloriamaddock]

I told my doctor the first time I met her that I’m not a good patient and don’t prescribed drugs for me unless there is an emergency. The only prescription I take is Losartan nothing else. I’m 79 and going strong and still employed.

[kathe.o.]

I was diagnosed with HBP in 2003, only after I had a stroke. My BP was 210/198. I had a horrible headache for 8 days straight. I had to work to support my family. So when the pharmacist said I had to go to a doctor or the ER. I went to the doctor next door. He said I needed to take a pill + HCTZ daily for the rest of my life. I was put first on Losartan. After about 5 years I was switched to Lisinopril with HCTZ for about 5 years due to the issue this doctor mentioned. But, I've been back on Losartan with HCTZ for the last few years. I test my BP daily before taking my pills. Today my reading on my wrist cuff was 145/80. Yesterday it was 128/78.
Listen to your doctor. Take the medicine, it beats having a life threatening stroke. My stroke was bad in so many ways, yet in the long-run it saved my life. It will be 20 years in August. I have gotten to see all 3 children graduate high school. 2 college graduations. Now there are 7 grandchildren. All of which I would have missed if the pharmacist hadn't insisted I go immediately to the doctor.

[gloriaguererro]

I’m taking Losartan for almost 30 yrs and still working out and tried to eat healthy, for sure it prevented me from having a stroke.. I also monitor my blood pressure 3 times a week. So far so good!

[jaypaul]

Much more thorough than my docs explanation. Been on it for over 10 years with no side effects. Thanks

[markbn]

after taking losarten for about three months I got a terrible stabbing earache and sore throat so I the doctor said I had a ear infection and put me on antibiotics and pain pills for seven days but that didn't work so I stopped taking losarten for one day now I feel fine so far . I'm being to lose my confidence in doctors it seems all they care about is money and making you come back and giving you more prescriptions .

[louisd]

This is one of the best advice videos that I’ve ever seen. Very well done!

[markl]

Thank you for posting this. I've been on Losartan for 4-5 years now, and while the doctor who prescribed it first was very good about explaining things, she didn't have time to explain exactly how this medication works. While I'm not a medical professional my self, most of my family members are, so I grew up hearing medical terminology on a regular basis, and the mechanics of how medicines work is of interest to me. But the most valuable part of your presentation, for me at least, is the info about drug interactions.

[marktaylor]

Im 49 years old lift weights and run everyday and have for years. I am in excellent shape and muscular . My diet is excellent as well but i still had high bp consistently when i would goto my Doctor. Finally my Dr asked me did i want to start on low dosage Losartan 25mg to protect me from stroke and heart attack. So I started it and so far the last 5 months my bp has been excellent. I guess i inherited the blood pressure problem from my parents and just have to accept it. So far so good

[susanjerrell]

Losarten k+ gave me profound fatigue, very rapid heart rate, sweating. And my BP was never consistently good or bad. Have switched to Monopril for Afib but the great thing that happened is the profound fatigue almost entirely has 10 years of telling anyone who could hear me, doctors included, that I felt I was dying every day. So, if I hadn't developed Afib, I'd still be taking that crap probably and dragging myself every step I took. Fate.

[christinedealino]

Thank you sooo much for the information Dr. Erik Richardson you helped me a lot im also taking losartan for 5 yrs.now im 64 yrs. old im glad my blood pressure is always normal, happy valentine's to you doc and family god bless from Manila, Philippines

[TR-vbni]

Unfortunately I cannot watch this through - I find it very stressful having music playing this loud whilst trying to her someone talk.

[Mike-]

I kept getting chest pain when I take this. I go to the ER after waiting there for 10 hours they found nothing wrong. Then I read Losartan can cause chest pain I quit taking it within a few days I felt better the chest pain was gone. I was obese I lost weight exercised and my BP went down without any drugs. It took lot of work wasn't easy. I changed doctors also the previous doctor wanted to keep me on BP meds didn't want to let me try and get it down with exercise. I never had any chest pains again after that.

[johnorengo]

used Losartan 8 years ago in California. Began to feel light headed and dizzy. checked my pulse and found it was irregular... 3 beats then a long pause.. about 3 seconds! VERY SCARY!!!! Stopped Losartan immediately.

[melvinsurita]

i am now 70 years old and had been using losartan for 10 years without any issues.

[dobby]

Your explanation was accurate and easy to understand. I agree with all you shared. Thank you.

[kati-ana]

My SIL apparently had high blood pressure for a long time and yes, she indeed died from it, as it caused kidney failure. My doctor recently started me on Losartan. Which is why I'm here. Thank you Dr. Richardson for the information. She put me on Lisinopril first but I got such a bad continuous cough, it was painful like my brain was shaking.

[daniellehelliker]

The side effect of Losartan I have finally discovered was diarrhea. It was so bad, I stop to take it and today, I am asking to see my doctor. I am also allergic to lisinopril, which I took for many years until I had problem with my throat.

[dougdrake]

Been on Cozaar for 30 years. I cannot tolerate the generic versions. The side effects are due to the compounding and the absorption rate of the generic. One bonus is that it has reduced my migraines

[rj]

I'm on losartan for 7 years now, my BP is fine now but yes there are side effects, higher heart rate, dizziness getting up, muscle pain

[williamwalters]

My wife is on Losartan 100 mg once a day, however if she eats food that is high in potassium it drops her blood pressure down to 96/38 it has happened twice now!