About Cozaar
The information below should not be taken as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking Cozaar.
Cozaar is a drug used to treat high blood pressure, or hypertension. It works by inhibiting the receptor of a hormone called angiotensin II, that acts on the smooth muscle in blood vessel walls to cause constriction of the blood vessels. When the receptor for angiotensin II is blocked, blood vessels do not narrow and blood pressure is decreased. Cozaar is sometimes prescribed to patients with high blood pressure concurrently with type 2 diabetes, and certain patients with heart disease who are at risk for stroke.
Take Cozaar as directed by your doctor, with or without food. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but do not take a double dose of Cozaar to make up for the missed dose. It is important to keep taking Cozaar until your doctor says it is okay to stop taking it. High blood pressure often has no noticeable symptoms even though it puts you at high risk for cardiovascular problems. Do not take Cozaar with alcohol, as alcohol can also lower blood pressure. Make sure to keep hydrated when taking Cozaar to avoid electrolyte imbalance and kidney problems. Seek medical attention if you have long-term vomiting or diarrhea when you are taking Cozaar, because you are prone to serious dehydration. Do not take potassium supplements when you are taking Cozaar, as an electrolyte imbalance can result. Do not take diuretics when you are taking Cozaar.
Side effects of Cozaar include cold symptoms, muscle cramps, cough, pain in the back and legs, stomach pain, dizziness, diarrhea, headache, drowsiness, and insomnia. More serious side effects of Cozaar that require immediate medical attention are muscle pain and weakness along with dark-colored urine, fever, and nausea. These are signs of a condition in which muscle is broken down, which can cause kidney failure.
| Form: |
Tablet Taken Orally |
| Strength: |
25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg Tablets |
| Storage: |
Room temperature. Keep away from moisture, light, and heat. |
| Contraindications: |
Patients allergic to losartan, patients who are pregnant, patients with kidney or liver disease. |
| Generic Name: |
Losartan |
What is Losartan?
Losartan is the generic form of Cozaar and can be purchased as a cheaper alternative to save money on your medication. The same ingredients are used in the manufacturing of the brand name version of this drug as in Losartan.
