Losartan Actavis 50mg

Losartan Actavis general information

What is Losartan Actavis used for?

Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg are used to treat hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest; particularly with left ventricular hypertrophy, which is when the heart works harder due to high blood pressure, causing thickening of the left pumping chamber of the heart.  Although there are usually no other symptoms, high blood pressure increases risk of cardiovascular disease and Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, by lowering blood pressure to normal resting levels.  This helps the heart to cope better increasing life expectancy.  Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg are also used to treat heart failure, which is when the heart muscles are weakened and cannot pump efficiently; also following heart attack, to improve survival and prevent further damage to the heart.  Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg are also used to help prevent the progression of kidney disease due to type-2 diabetes in which the kidneys are severely damaged and there is protein in the urine; this reduces the need for dialysis or transplantation.

How does Losartan Actavis work?

Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg contain losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which acts by blocking the binding of the hormone angiotensin II to its receptor in a variety of tissues including vascular smooth muscle (blood vessel walls) and kidney cells.  Angiotensin II is a naturally produced hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, which is the force needed to pump blood around the body; as well as regulating fluid balance, the amount of water removed from the blood by the kidneys.  Angiotensin II causes salt (sodium and potassium) and water retention by the kidneys, and causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow); this increases blood volume while at the same time reducing blood vessel volume, which increases blood pressure.  Losartan in Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg blocks the binding of Angiotensin II to its receptor, preventing its pressor actions (blood pressure increasing) resulting in dilation (widening) of blood vessel and an increase in the amount of salt and water removed by the kidneys into the urine, which lowers blood pressure.  Reducing blood pressure reduces the workload on the heart and reduces risk of cardiovascular disease; as well as helping damaged kidneys work more efficiently to reduce loss of protein into the urine.

What does Losartan Actavis contain?

Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg contain the active ingredient losartan potassium, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which is used to lower blood pressure.  They also contain maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, purified talc, colloidal silicon dioxide, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 6000, purified water

Treating hypertension (high blood pressure) with Losartan Actavis

Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg contains losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that is used to treat hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest, particularly with left ventricular hypertrophy, which is when the heart works harder due to high blood pressure, causing thickening of the left pumping chamber of the heart.  Although there are usually no other symptoms, high blood pressure increases risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack.  Losartan in Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg blocks the action of angiotensin II, a naturally produced hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, and works by preventing the binding of angiotensin II to its receptor in vascular smooth muscle (blood vessel walls), where it causes constriction (narrowing); and in the kidneys, where it causes salt and water retention.  Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg increase urine volume, decreases blood volume and increases blood vessel volume, all of which reduce the force needed for the heart to pump blood around the body, and lowers blood pressure.  Lowering blood pressure helps the heart to cope better, increasing life expectancy in people with high blood pressure, who are at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Losartan Actavis for treating congestive heart failure

Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg contains losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that is used to treat heart failure, which is when the heart muscles are weakened and cannot pump efficiently.  Losartan in Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg helps widen blood vessels and reduce the force needed for the heart to pump blood around the body.  This helps weakened heart muscle to work more efficiently and reduces symptoms of breathlessness on exertion. 

What are the side effects of Losartan Actavis?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg include: dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, upper respiratory tract infections, like sinusitis or pharyngitis, cough, increased blood potassium levels.

When should Losartan Actavis not be used?

You should not use Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg if you:

• are allergic to losartan or any ingredients in Losartan Actavis tablets
• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding
• have liver or kidney disease
• are taking medications that interact with Losartan Actavis, including: other antihypertensives like ACE inhibitors, diuretics like furosemide, potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, potassium tablets or potassium-containing salt substitutes, lithium for mood swings, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the antifungal fluconazole
• are taking Co-trimoxazole (Sulphamexthoxazole/Trimethoprim) [Trusul/Bactrim DS]

What medications interact with product name?

Several medications interact with Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg and should either not be taken while you are taking product name or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that increase potassium levels with Losartan Actavis: other antihypertensives like ACE inhibitors diuretics like furosemide, potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, potassium tablets or potassium-containing salt substitutes
• Drugs that affect Losartan Actavis: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the antifungal fluconazole
• Drugs that are affected by Losartan Actavis: lithium for mood swings

How should Losartan Actavis be taken?

You should take your Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg with a glass of water, with or without food once a day, at the same time each day.  The dose you take depends on what you are being treated for and your doctor’s recommendation.  It may take up to 3-6 weeks for Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg to become effective in reducing your blood pressure; they will help control your blood pressure but will not cure it, so you should continue to take your Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg for as long as your doctor recommends, to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

How long should you take Losartan Actavis?

Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg will help control your blood pressure but will not cure it, so you should continue to take your Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg for as long as your doctor recommends, to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

Missed dose of Losartan Actavis

If you miss a dose of Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Losartan Actavis be stored?

You should keep your Losartan Actavis tablets 50mg in their blister packs until use and store below 25°C in a cool dry place.