Cozaar Blood Pressure Medication: Benefits and Side Effects You Should Know

Blood pressure medication often has multiple uses. The prescribed drug Cozaar treats high blood pressure, and by lowering blood pressure it also helps to prevent kidney problems, heart attacks, and strokes.

Cozaar is a brand name for the generic drug losartan, which is in the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) class. This blood pressure medication relaxes blood vessels to improve blood flow, according to WebMD. It is often prescribed for diabetics to prevent kidney damage and for patients with an enlarged heart and high blood pressure.

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Side effects may occur in some patients. According to RxList, common side effects include:

• Dry cough
• Muscle cramps
• Pain in the legs or back
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Tiredness
• Insomnia
• Cold or flu symptoms, including sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat, or fever

Doctors can switch patients to a different medication if these effects continue or become bothersome.

Contact your doctor if the blood pressure medication causes:

• Feelings of passing out
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heart rate
• Mood changes or confusion
• Increased thirst
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Pain or burning during urination

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Emergency medical attention is necessary if patients experience such allergic reactions as:

• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat

High potassium levels from use of the blood pressure drug may cause a slow heart rate, weak pulse, tingling sensations, or muscle weakness, according to eMedicineHealth.

Losartan may result in kidney failure in rare cases if it breaks down skeletal muscle tissue. Signs may include muscle pain or weakness, fatigue, dark colored urine, or fever.

Although many patients may not experience serious side effects, it is important to discuss medical history, such as allergies, with the doctor so the best blood pressure medication can be prescribed for an individual’s condition.

Cozaar can cause injury or death to an unborn baby, so pregnant women should avoid the drug or tell their doctor if they become pregnant while taking the blood pressure medication.

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