Does Losartan Affect Heart Rate? The Drug, Side Effects, and Usage

Suppose you’re going to take regular medication to treat a health condition. In that case, it is critical for you and your doctor to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of a particular medicine. That way, you can determine that the product is right for you and discuss alternatives if necessary.

Like any prescription drug, there are always possible side effects. From digestive discomfort to mood disorders, there are a variety of side effects that may or may not affect you upon taking medication. 

Symptoms can be mild and severe, depending on your body’s reaction to the drug. It’s normal to raise concern over any matters relating to the heart. Noticing a change in the pace of your heartbeats can be alarming, especially if you experience palpitations. 

If you’re wondering whether taking losartan affects your heart rate, keep reading. In this article, we discuss losartan, how it works, and whether it has an impact on heart rate.

What Is Losartan?

Losartan is a medication used alone or along with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, and kidney problems in people with diabetes. It is among a group of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), also called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. 

It works by relaxing the blood vessels to lower blood pressure. This enables blood and oxygen to travel more freely to the heart and throughout the body. In lowering blood pressure, losartan also works to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage.

Losartan comes in oral tablet form and is prescription-only. You may recognize losartan under the US brand name Cozaar, among other generic brand names.

How Much Does Losartan Lower Blood Pressure?

The primary purpose of losartan is to lower blood pressure. Studies have shown losartan to be an effective medication for reducing hypertension, with significant results. How much it affects blood pressure depends on factors such as the dosage, the strength, the individual, and the reason for treatment.

In hypertensive patients with a BP reading of 160–200mmHg systolic and 95–115mmHg diastolic, blood pressure reduced to 144/81mmHg after using losartan (the mean total). While the reading remains in the high category, it does show a substantial drop.

How long for the losartan to work?

Losartan gets to work relatively quickly, reducing high blood pressure within about an hour of taking it. However, it does not treat hypertension overnight and may take 3–6 weeks to reach its full effects. Most hypertensive patients do not have symptoms, so you may not notice any changes when taking losartan.

In most cases, you will need to take losartan long-term. Even if your blood pressure returns to healthy levels, stopping the medicine may cause it to increase again. You should keep taking it unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

How to take losartan?

You should check the prescription label and follow your doctor’s instructions when taking losartan. The amount you need to take depends on what losartan is being used to treat. Dosage varies between patients, and the drug affects people differently.

Losartan comes as a tablet, which you can take with water, with or without food. It can cause you to become dehydrated, so make sure you drink enough water. It comes in doses of 12.5mg, 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. The usual dose for adults is:

For high blood pressure: 50mg to 100mg once per day

For heart failure: 12.5mg to 150mg once per day

To protect the kidneys in patients over the age of 75: 25mg once per day

For diabetic nephropathy: 50mg once per day

You should take a missed dose as soon as possible unless it is nearly time to take your next dose. Overdose is possible with any drug, and you should contact a medical professional or the poison control center immediately if you think you may have taken too much.

Side Effects of Losartan

Aside from the potential risks of affecting your heart rate, losartan, like other medicines, may cause adverse effects. Some people may not experience any negative symptoms, and the effects may ease for those who do as their body adapts to the drug.

The following symptoms are considered common losartan side effects that do not typically require medical attention. However, if they continue or cause you to worry, you should contact your doctor.

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Stuffy nose
• Nausea or stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Pain and cramping in the muscles and/or joints

The following list shows serious side effects of taking losartan:

• Confusion, lightheadedness, and fainting
• Low blood pressure
• Trouble breathing or swallowing
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations, chest pain, fast and/or irregular heartbeat
• Muscle weakness
• Severe stomach pain
• Signs of bleeding
• Swelling in the face, mouth, hands, or feet
• Signs of an allergic reaction such as skin rash, wheezing, trouble breathing, tightness in the chest or throat, swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, mouth, or face

You may experience other symptoms other than those listed here. You should contact your doctor or health care professional if you develop side effects. You can also check the drug information in the leaflet that comes with the medication box.

What Drugs Should Not Be Taken With Losartan?

When taking any form of medication, it is vital to discuss drug interactions with your doctor. Some drugs interact with other drugs, possibly counteracting one another, worsening side effects, and even putting your health in danger.

If using losartan, you should not take it with any of the following drugs to prevent possible interactions:

• Other blood pressure medications
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen
• Diuretics (a water pill)
• Lithium
• Rifampin
• Potassium supplements and salt substitutes containing potassium

You should also discuss with your doctor any herbal medicines, over-the-counter medications, or dietary supplements you currently use. Alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs may also interact with losartan. 

It’s vital to inform your health care provider of all medicines, even with other prescription drugs, as they may need to adjust your dose if using combination therapy.

Conclusion

Although it is fairly uncommon, some people may find that taking losartan affects their heart rate. It is also possible to develop chest pain, trouble breathing, and muscle weakness, among other symptoms. These effects may be due to raised potassium levels or low blood pressure.

Whatever the cause, a change in your heart’s performance is a severe side effect that requires medical attention from a health care professional. You should never take losartan without direction from your doctor, and you should always read the drug information in the packet before use.

When used correctly and without an adverse reaction, losartan is an effective medication for the treatment of hypertension and several other health conditions.